NSW recorded 15 locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night which are directly linked to the Avalon cluster and an additional eight cases in returned travellers in hotel quarantine. 83 cases are now linked to the Northern Beaches outbreak. There were a record 38,578 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with 28,210 in the previous 24 hours. This has been the highest amount of COVID-19 testing ever done in a single day. NSW Health thanks the community for their excellent response in coming forward for testing and following public health advice which is vital to helping contain the virus by stopping community transmission. More here.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says a decision about Christmas/New Year arrangements will be made on Wednesday 23 December 2020. Greater Sydney residents are being urged to avoid non-essential activity. People from the Greater Sydney region, Central Coast and Blue Mountains are being asked not to visit aged care facilities, disability services or vulnerable people. All people across the Greater Sydney region are being encouraged to wear masks in public indoor settings and on public transport. Sydney people are being asked not to visit regional NSW. NSW residents have been reminded to complete QR codes correctly (and not leave false details) and for all businesses and venues to have them in place to assist health authorities with contact tracing at this critical point in the outbreak. View today’s COVID-19 update from the NSW Government here.

NSW Health has issued new public health alerts for more venues on the northern beaches, north shore, eastern and southern suburbs including updated advice for the Turramurra Salon for Hair and the Rose of Australia Hotel, Erskineville. Venues are being added to the list throughout the day so NSW residents are being asked to regularly check NSW health for information about the locations and action required here.

NSW Health is asking anyone who has travelled on a number of public transport routes in Sydney, on specific dates and times, to get tested and isolate immediately until they receive a negative result. They should also continue to monitor for symptoms and if any symptoms occur, get tested again. The list of public transport routes, with specific dates and times, is available here. 

The Public Health (COVID-19 Northern Beaches) Order 2020 contains directions on staying at home, entering the Northern Beaches, public gatherings, exempted gatherings and places that are closed. The Order commenced at 5.02 pm on 19 December and is repealed at the end of Wednesday, 23 December 2020. Residents of Sydney’s northern beaches are only allowed to leave their homes for the following reasons:

• obtain food or other goods or services for the personal needs of the person’s household, or other household purposes (including for pets) or for vulnerable persons
• travel for work purposes, if the person cannot work from home, and to travel to and from a school or other educational institution
• exercise
• obtain medical care or supplies, or to fulfil carer’s responsibilities.

A person must not enter the Northern Beaches unless they have a reasonable excuse. A reasonable excuse includes entering the Northern Beaches to:

• go to the person’s place of residence in the Northern Beaches>
• travel through the Northern Beaches in a vehicle if the person does not leave the vehicle while in the area
• do any of the activities that people living or staying on the Northern Beach may leave home to do, except for exercising.
• Public gatherings are limited to two persons, with certain exceptions. A number of premises and places are directed to close. For more information visit the NSW Government website.

The restrictions apply to Sydney’s Northern Beaches Local Government Area which covers the suburbs contained in five wards: Pittwater, Narrabeen, Frenchs Forest, Curl Curl and Manly. Any residents of the Northern Beaches who have left the area on or since 11 December 2020 must comply with the same restriction regardless of their current location.  

The Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order (No 7) 2020 was amended on 20 December 2020 to make additional restrictions for the Greater Sydney Region (which includes the Blue Mountains) and the Central Coast and Wollongong. Under the Order there are stricter requirements for the number of persons able to attend premises and other activities taking place in indoor areas.

• Generally, all indoor premises are restricted to one person per 4 square metres.
• People cannot allow more than 10 visitors at their residence at any one time.
• The occupier of a holiday let or short stay rental cannot allow more than 10 persons on the premises, unless the persons were already staying at the beginning of 21 December.
• Dance floors will not be permitted, except for 20 persons in a wedding party. Dance floor requirements will be addressed in COVID-19 Safety Checklists.
• There are new requirements for hospitality venues, places of public worship, and religious services. Each separate area in a hospitality venue or a place of public worship is limited to the lesser of 300 persons or 1 person per 4 square metres. Services, activities or events in separate areas of a place of public worship must not start or end at the same time.

Find your nearest NSW coronavirus testing centre here.

Travel restrictions for NSW residents have changed in some states and territories as a  result of the northern beaches COVID-19 outbreak. 

The Queensland border is closed to anyone who has been in a COVID-19 hotspot in the last 14 days or since the hotspot was declared (whichever is shorter). From 1am AEST Monday 21 December 2020, 35 New South Wales LGAs, comprising Greater Sydney, are considered COVID-19 hotspots. Find out more about QLD border restrictions here.

People who live in the Greater Sydney region and the Central Coast or have visited these communities since 11 December 2020 cannot enter Victoria. Victorians who have recently visited  or are currently in Greater Sydney and the Central Coast (other than those in the Northern Beaches area) have until 11:59pm Monday 21 December to return home. Victorians in the Northern Beaches area will not be permitted to enter Victoria. The rest of regional NSW remains a green zone, but residents in these areas will still need to apply for and receive a valid permit to enter Victoria. More information about Victoria border restrictions here.

Anyone entering the ACT from Greater Sydney, Central Coast, Nepean/Blue Mountains or Illawarra/Shoalhaven regions must quarantine for 14 days. More here.

Travellers from Sydney’s Northern Beaches are banned from entering South Australia.  In you have been in the Greater Sydney region (excluding the Northern Beaches area), the Central Coast LGA or the City of Wollongong LGA on a relevant date define, you must self-quarantine at suitable location for 14 days and get a COVID-19 test immediately and on day 5 and day 12 of quarantine. More about SA travel restrictions here.

People who have spent time in the Greater Sydney region in the 14 days before arriving in Tasmania are required to quarantine for 14 days, either in a suitable premises or in government designated accommodation (fees apply). More information about travel into Tasmania here.

Travel from NSW into Western Australian is no longer permitted unless you are an exempt traveller. This also applies to anyone who may have been in NSW since December 11 and hasn’t completed 14 days in a lower risk state or territory. More here.

The Northern Territory has closed its borders to travellers from Greater Sydney and the Central Coast, effective immediately. More here.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has confirmed that Australia is on track to begin the first COVID-19 vaccinations in March. Read the transcript of his radio interview here.

The Family Court of Australia and Federal Circuit Court of Australia will expand its COVID-19 list, which was implemented during the height of the restrictions to assist Australian families directly impacted by the pandemic. Since commencement in April 2020, the Courts have received more than 430 applications for the COVID-19 list. More information here.