Wednesday 2 December
The 2sqm rule will be expanded and venue caps will be removed under a major easing of restrictions, as NSW continues to record zero cases of community transmission. https://www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/major-rolling-back-of-covid-19-restrictions-nsw
Venues including hospitality venues, retail and places of worship:
- 1 person per 2sqm (with 25 people permitted before the rule applies), except for:
gyms and nightclubs (1 person per 4sqm, with a maximum of 50 people allowed in gym classes or on the dancefloor at nightclubs)
Stadiums and theatres:
- outdoors: 100 per cent seated capacity, and 1 person per 2sqm rule for unstructured seating areas
- indoors: 75 per cent seated capacity.
Gatherings in outdoor public spaces:
- up to 100 people for outdoor gatherings (up from 50)
- up to 5,000 people for outdoor events that are fenced, ticketed and seated (subject to the 2sqm rule)
- up to 3,000 people for other organised outdoor events i.e. community sport and outdoor protests (subject to the 2sqm rule).
Dance Floors:
Singing
- up to 50 performers indoors, no maximum cap outdoors
- advice is for congregation/audience to continue wearing masks if singing.
Under the changes, maximum capacity caps will be removed subject to the 2sqm rule for:
- bookings at hospitality venues
- weddings
- funerals
- regional agricultural shows
- corporate events
- religious services.
Wednesday 3 June
For live updates on what you can and cannot do: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/stay-safe/rules
Weddings
In addition to the couple, the people conducting or assisting in the conduct of the wedding, a photographer, videographer, and up to 20 guests (including adults and children) may attend a wedding.
People attending will be required to provide their name and contact details so that they can be used for contact tracing.
Wednesday 25 March
"Now, weddings can continue to be conducted where it is just the couple, the celebrant and the witnesses. That's no more than five people and the four square meeting rule has to be observed within the venue in which that is taking place. But, large gatherings for weddings, sadly, won't be possible under these new arrangements. And sadly, also, and I know this will be very difficult, funerals to no more than 10 persons observing the rules around the four square metre rule and the social-distancing practices. Particularly on these types of activities this is not an easy decision. Where we have already found, and Dr Murphy can speak to this, some of the events that have been some of the major transmitting events, it has been exactly these types of events, particularly weddings. And that is why, regretfully, we have to be able to put these arrangements in place. Now, these are the rules and arrangements that are applied when it comes to the strict enforcement of these arrangements and that will come in from midnight tomorrow night and states and territories will be moving tomorrow to put those arrangements in place." - Prime Minister Scott Morrison
Friday 20 March
Limits on organised gatherings Employers and event organisers need to be aware of the new restrictions for indoor and outdoor gatherings. These restrictions are to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.
The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) has recommended limits on organised gatherings. These include limiting non-essential:
- indoor gatherings to fewer than 100 people
- outdoor gatherings to fewer than 500 people
Four square metre rule for inside gatherings. This was flagged this yesterday, but indoor gatherings just got more strict:
"But what we are now moving to is an arrangement for gatherings of less than 100, is that they would be four square metres provided per person in an enclosed space, in a room. So that’s 2m by 2m. Now, in addition to that, you should continue to practise wherever possible the 1m or 1.5m of healthy distance between each of us, to ensure that we are limiting the contact and limiting the potential for the spread of the virus."
Wednesday 18 March
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has declared a national human biosecurity emergency and announced a ban on all non-essential indoor gatherings of more than 100 people.
Friday 13 March
Upcoming bans on non-essential mass gatherings over 500 people that will be enacted from Monday 16th March.
“It is precautionary. It is getting ahead of this to ensure that we can minimise the impact on your health and [so] we can ensure with confidence the ability for people to be accessing the health services that they and their families will need.” - Prime Minister Scott Morrison
