Confused What You Can And Can't Do In Your State? Here's A Restriction Round Up

As the COVID-19 situation continues to change on a daily basis, please check with your local State Government for regular updates. The below information is current at the time of publication.

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NEW SOUTH WALES

It's no secret New South Wales is still very much in the thick of an extensive and challenging battle with the COVID Delta variant, with today's bleak announcement of 1,288 new local COVID-19 cases and seven deaths. 

While Sydneysiders and surrounds have been enduring lockdown since late June, the entire state eventually followed suite, with regional NSW joining the 'stay at home' club in mid-August. Current key restrictions that remain in place are as follows, separated by Greater Sydney, specific Sydney LGAs of concern and rural and regional NSW.

GREATER SYDNEY RESTRICTIONS 

• Stay at home orders apply to Greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains and Wollongong local government areas; these orders apply to anyone who lives in, usually works in or usually attends university or another tertiary education facility in these areas
• You must stay home unless you have a reasonable excuse, including shopping for food or other essential goods, medical care or compassionate needs (including getting a COVID-19 vaccine), exercise outdoors in groups of two, and/or essential work or education where you cannot reasonably work or study from home
• Residents in Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains and Wollongong are advised to remain within their local government authority and/or within 5km to home unless absolutely necessary to trek further. Those living outside of the areas of concern (see next section) are advised not to enter these LGAs unless absolutely necessary
• Generally, visiting another person is not a reasonable excuse to leave your home; but if you live alone - meaning no other adults live in the same home as you - you can nominate a visitor (also known as the "singles bubble")
• All hospitality venues in Greater Sydney remain closed, including all pubs, restaurants and cafes (except for takeaway only)
• And, sadly, this means no venues or clubs are open currently, so gigs are entirely off the table for the foreseeable future
• A face mask must be carried at all times, and face masks must be worn when you're outdoors in a public place, in all indoor areas of non-residential areas (including workplaces). Masks must be worn to and from exercising, but are not required during exercise.
• You may need a COVID-19 test to leave your home to go to work if you work more than 50km from Greater Sydney, or work on a construction site in Greater Sydney
• The current stay at home order for Greater Sydney and surrounds is currently in place until at least the end of September
  
  

GREATER SYDNEY LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF CONCERN - SPECIFIC & ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS

• In addition to the above restrictions: if you live in the NSW local government areas of Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta Strathfield or some suburbs of Penrith, you are unable to leave your LGA, and curfews are currently in place
• The suburbs of Penrith in question include: Caddens, Claremont Meadows, Colyton, Erskine Park, Kemps Creek, Kingswood, Mount Vernon, North St Marys, Orchard Hills, Oxley Park, St Clair and St Marys
• If you live in an area of concern, you cannot go farther than 5km from your home, even for exercise, shopping and single bubble visits
• In addition to the above, if you live in an LGA of concern, a curfew is in place and you cannot leave your house between 9pm and 5am, unless for a permitted reason
• You must wear a mask at all times from the moment you leave your home, and exercise is currently limited to one hour per day maximum if you live in an LGA of concern. However, as of tomorrow (Friday 3 September), the one hour exercise rule will no longer apply in these local government areas of concern, with unlimited exercise back on the table between the hours of 5am and 9pm
• Essential workers who either live or work in the LGAs of concern will be required to register for a permit to aid police with carrying out compliance checks
• At the time of publication, health authorities are currently assessing if any of these LGAs of concern can have more restrictions eased
  
  

REGIONAL & RURAL NSW RESTRICTIONS

• Stay at home orders for regional and rural NSW have been extended until at  least 11.59pm on Friday 10 September. The reasons for leaving your home are the same as Greater Sydney's (excluding the directives for the LGAs of concern)
• If you must reasonably leave your home, it's recommended to stay within your local are and avoid travel outside your LGA as much as possible
• People who are not residents are not permitted to visit your home unless under specific circumstances, or in the case of the 'single bubble'. At this stage, the government has stipulated that for regional and rural NSW, your nominated visitor must live within the same LGA as you
• You must carry a face mask with you at all times (when not at home) and wear a face mask when required. The current requirements for mask wearing in rural and regional NSW is the same as all of NSW: you must wear a mask whenever you leave your home, unless exercising, eating or drinking and some other key circumstances
• All hospitality venues across NSW remain closed, including all pubs, restaurants and cafes (except for takeaway only)
• From Saturday 28 August, if you live in regional or rural NSW and need to enter a NSW LGA of concern for work, you'll need to register for travel 

In-depth information on New South Wales' restrictions is available on the State Government website here. 

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VICTORIA

With Victoria recording 176 COVID-19 cases today, residents in the state are continuing to endure their sixth lockdown since the pandemic first took hold back in March 2020. 

While the current lockdown is slated to extend until the state reaches its 70% first vaccine target, some minor changes will come into effect at 11.59pm tonight. The regular stay at home orders apply, with the added below changes starting at midnight tonight as a lockdown-weary Victoria aim to exit its latest outbreak.

• There are still only specific reasons for Victorians to leave home: to obtain food and supplies, to exercise for up to two hours, for care or care-giving, for work and education that can't reasonably be done at home, and to leave to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine
• In Metropolitan Melbourne only, from 11:59pm tonight, from 9pm to 5am, a person is not permitted to leave their home unless for approved reasons. Outside of Metropolitan Melbourne, the curfew does not apply
• Residents are currently restricted to within 5km of their residence currently, but Premier Daniel Andrews has flagged that the radius could be extended to 10km pending the state hitting its 70% first vaccine target 
• Masks are still required while indoors (excluding your own home) and outdoors, unless you have a valid exemption
• Playgrounds will reopen, but will be open for children aged under 12 and only. Only one parent or carer will be permitted at the playgrounds. Adults on-site will be required to wear masks, and playgrounds will have QR codes to check in.
• In-home care, e.g. babysitters, will be expanded to school-aged children, providing both  parents are authorised workers
• Private and public gatherings are not permitting, but intimate partner visits/single person bubble is allowed in private
• Essential retail will remain open, but entertainment venues, hairdressing, beauty and personal care remain closed
• Restaurants and hospitality venues are open for take-away only
• Andrews had previously mentioned that regional Victoria, excluding Shepparton, would be likely to be free of lockdown in early September, but for the time being, most lockdown rules apply state-wide

In-depth information on Victoria's restrictions is available on the State Government website here.

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QUEENSLAND

Queensland today recorded one new locally acquired COVID-19 case, with a truck driver testing positive to the virus. While Queenslanders are not currently in lockdown, certain restrictions still apply for those living in and/or entering the state:

• From midday on Wednesday 25 August to midday Wednesday 8 September, there is a pause on hotspot arrivals into Queensland. Exemptions apply, but these are extremely limited and only given under exceptional circumstances
• South East Queensland's restrictions have eased to stage 3 restrictions, joining the rest of Queensland, with the exception of mask wearing. Mask wearing requirements are still in place until 4.00pm on Friday 10 September
• Currently, the ACT, the Jervis Bay territory, New South Wales and Victoria are all declared hotspots; until Wednesday 8 September, Queensland residents and those intending to relocate to Queensland who have been in a hotspot in the last 14 days will not be granted entry into Queensland
• With Queensland entering Stage 3 from 4pm last Friday 27 August, up to 100 people can gather in homes, and there's no limit for people gathering in public spaces
• 100% allocated seated and ticketed events can take place, with patrons required to wear a mask at all times for indoor events, including while seated. Patrons must be seated to eat and drink
• Masks must be worn when at stadiums, an airport, and on a domestic or international flight departing or arriving in Queensland, and all residents are encouraged to carry and wear a mask when social distancing is not possible
• Check ins via the Check In Qld app is mandatory for hospitality venues, and a range of other sectors

In-depth information on Queensland's restrictions is available on the State Government website here.

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SOUTH AUSTRALIA

South Australia is currently under Level 1 COVID-19 restrictions, with some additional restrictions in place. 

While currently experiencing no community transmission, fears have been sparked following the addition of more exposure sites today linked to infected truck drivers who travelled into the state recently. Current Level 1 restrictions for South Australia include:

• For seated activities, a 3 person per 4 square metres rule
• No communal consumption facilities
• Seated consumption only. People are permitted to sit at a bar to eat or drink, provided consumption is separated from other patrons placing food or drink orders, and also distance from the preparation of food

Additional restrictions currently in place in South Australia:

• 1 person per 2 square metres (for non-seated activities) and 1 person per 4 square metres (indoor fitness facilities)
• Gathering at home cap: 20 (gatherings at residential premises, including residents of residential premises)
• Private activity cap: 50 (private activities at non-residential premises)
• Masks for high risk settings, personal care services (except for the person receiving the service, if necessary for the provision of the personal care service), health care services (except for the person receiving the service, if necessary for the provision of the health care service), passenger transport services, indoor fitness facilities (except while exercising) and shared indoor public places (except bridal parties during ceremonies)
• Restrictions on dancing and singing
• Private activities with food and beverage consumption whilst standing at 1 person per 2 square metres and approved contact tracing system, cap of 50 (excluding non-residential)
• Private functions with food and beverage consumption whilst standing at 1 person per 2 square metres with approved contact tracing system cap of 150 (at relevant licensed premises)

In-depth information on South Australia's restrictions is available on the State Government website here.

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WESTERN AUSTRALIA

While Western Australia remain relatively unscathed from this current round of COVID-19 outbreaks, a slew of restrictions apply for anyone attempting to enter the state.

• Depending where you're travelling from, interstate travellers are only permitted to enter WA under strict conditions
• The controlled border arrangement currently deems New South Wales as an extreme risk, meaning you cannot get access to enter WA at all, except under extreme circumstances restricted to Commonwealth, State and specialist functions only. If you are permitted entry, you will have to undertake 14 days hotel quarantine at a Government approved quarantine facility at your own expense, and provide proof of a negative COVID text in the 72 hours prior to departure
• The ACT and Victoria are considered a medium risk currently by Western Australia, meaning you are not permitted to enter the state without an approval through a G2G Pass. If you are permitted entry, you must quarantine for 14 days at a suitable premises, and will be subject to a COVID test within 48 hours of arrival
• Queensland is currently deemed low risk, while all other states and territories are currently at very low risk status
• While WA is not under lockdown and all venues and events are running uninterrupted, it is advised to practise physical distancing, good hygiene and wear a face mask in certain settings 

In-depth information on Western Australia's restrictions is available on the State Government website here.

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NORTHERN TERRITORY

Following a three day lockdown for Greater Darwin and Katherine when a new local case of COVID-19 was uncovered back in mid-August, some restrictions have since eased. However, some key points remain if you live in or are planning to visit the Northern Territory: 

• Residents and visitors are advised to check in with The Territory Check In app everywhere they visit, and all businesses and places where customers and clients visit are required to use a check in system
• Residents are also encouraged to get vaccinated, with all people aged 12 years and older in the Northern Territory eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine
• Anyone arriving in the Northern Territory must complete a border entry form no more than 7 days prior to their planned arrival (this also includes returning residents)
• If you have been in a current declared hotspot (currently the ACT, NSW and Victoria) or public exposure site in the 14 days before your arrival, you will generally be denied entry to the NT (like other states, there are exemptions, but these can take up to 72 hours to process)

In-depth information on the Northern Territory's restrictions is available on the State Government website here.

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TASMANIA

Residents in Tasmania are not currently in lockdown, but anyone travelling to Tasmania from other states needs to be mindful of strict border restrictions, as well as some other key requirements for those living in and visiting the Apple Isle.

• Face masks are required to be worn in certain settings in Tasmania, including at airports and on the Spirit Of Tasmania
• Tasmanians and visitors may be required to use the Check in TAS app when visiting a range of businesses, organisations and events
• Gathering limits apply for household, businesses, events and activities; for venues with multiple indoor spaces, a 250 person indoor gathering cap applies separately to each single undivided space indoors, while outdoor gatherings are capped at 1,000
• The maximum density limit still applies to prevent crowding of people in a space. Currently, a premises must not have a density of more than 1 person per 2 square metres of floor space (currently applying to both indoor and outdoor premises)

In-depth information on Tasmania's restrictions is available on the State Government website here.

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ACT

The ACT is currently in lockdown, with the lockdown extending until at least mid-September at this stage; but, as of today, some slight changes were made to what you can and can't do in the area. Key info is below for the current situation in the ACT:

• The lockdown currently in place in the ACT will, at this stage, remain until 11.59pm on Friday 17 September
• The wearing of face masks became mandatory from 5.00pm on Thursday 12 August, and all individuals aged 12 years and over must wear a mask at all times when leaving home, including in workplaces
• From 5.00pm today, outdoor playgrounds will be open, and people will be able to gather in groups of up to 5 outdoors for exercise or recreation activities
• Other relaxed restrictions in ACT include the news that small weddings and funerals are also allowed as of 5.00pm today. The number of people allowed to attend a funeral will increase to no more than 20 people (outside of necessary people required to conduct the funeral), and guests of up to 10 people will be able to attend weddings (excluding the celebrant, but not excluding the bride, groom and witnesses)
• Businesses that operate outdoors, including gardening and landscaping services, will be allowed to recommence under strict COVID-19 rules

In-depth information on the ACT's restrictions is available on the State Government website here.