NYE restrictions for Sydney
Please know that singing, dancing and speaking loudly and mingling really accelerate the virus spreading. Gladys Berejiklian, NSW Premier
Premium seats for frontline workers at Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks have been scrapped in response to the growing outbreak in the city’s Northern Beaches.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the scheme, designed to reward healthcare and other frontline workers for their efforts during the height of the pandemic, would no longer be going ahead as she announced restrictions for the rest of the city.
While the fireworks will go ahead, they can no longer be watched from the foreshore unless a person has a restaurant or hospitality booking with a good vantage point — and a permit from Service NSW to get into the city.
Restrictions will remain under their current provisions for greater Sydney and the southern region of the Northern Beaches with only 10 visitors to a home, including children. Those in the northern region of the Northern Beaches may only have five guests to their home.
Outdoor gatherings for greater Sydney have also been reduced to 50 from 100.
Berejiklian apologised to frontline workers for cancelling their celebrations.
“We’ll find another opportunity during the year to recognise what you have done. On New Year’s Eve, we don’t want any crowds on the foreshores around Sydney whatsoever.”
Berejiklian urged business with New Year’s Eve functions in the CBD to obey the one person per four square metres rule and to be
prepared to record all visitors.
“Unless it’s controlled, ticketed and seated we don’t recommend those events go ahead,” she said.
“So long as the four-squaremetre rule is in place, and those venues have Covid-safe plans and you have a permit from Service New South Wales, you’ll be allowed into those venues in the CBD.”
Bans on dancing, singing and talking loudly at gatherings also remain.
“Please know that singing, dancing and speaking loudly and mingling really accelerate the virus spreading,” Berejiklian said.
Those who live in the CBD and are planning on having people over will need to obey strict conditions.
There is a limit on 10 visitors to any home in the CBD, and all guests will need to have a permit to attend and log in via the Service NSW app.
Berejiklian said further announcements about the Northern Beaches lockdown would be made on January 2.