Restrictions have eased in NSW from today and while it is welcome news for many, Sydneysiders shouldn't pack away their masks just yet.
Key points:
- Several restrictions were lifted at 12.01am today, with 30 people now allowed in homes
- Masks are no longer mandatory in supermarkets but must still be worn on public transport
- NSW Police has issued 127 fines and charged 27 people for not wearing masks
Face coverings are still mandatory on public transport, in places of worship, gaming rooms, hairdressing and beauty salons in Greater Sydney (which includes Wollongong, the Central Coast and Blue Mountains).
Hospitality workers are also still required to wear masks.
Aged care facilities and hospitals will receive tailored advice depending on their location, a NSW spokesperson advised.
While wearing a mask in supermarkets is no longer mandatory, the NSW Government says it's "recommended".
Woolworths — including BIG W, BWS and Dan Murphy's — and Coles are "strongly encouraging" their customers to wear masks.
A spokesperson said masks would remain compulsory for Coles staff "until further notice", while Woolworths said its staff would wear masks "as a precautionary measure" for the next two weeks.
"We'll review the data on community transmission and public health advice at the end of this two-week period to determine our approach to face masks after this time," the Woolworths spokesperson said.
"Face masks remain freely available to our team members."
The change comes after NSW yesterday recorded its 11th day straight of no new locally-acquired COVID-19 cases.
It also comes almost four weeks after the NSW Government answered long-held calls by some health experts for masks to become mandatory.
The rule first came into effect on January 2 for certain settings across Greater Sydney, in response to the Avalon and Berala clusters.
A day later, on-the-spot fines started being issued for non-compliance: $200 for individuals, $1,000 for hospitality workers and $5,000 for hospitality venues in breach of the rules.
Since January 3, police have charged 27 people for not wearing masks and issued 127 fines — including one to a corporation.
Most fines were issued at train stations, including at Campbelltown, Central, Ingleburn, Campsie, Mt Druitt, Epping, Gosford and Wolli Creek, while two were issued at shopping centres in Wetherill Park and Dee Why.
Police also charged a man for allegedly assaulting a security guard and stabbing another man after he was asked to wear a face mask at a shopping centre in Windsor, in Sydney's west earlier this month.
More house guests allowed
Other restrictions have been eased from today to allow people across Greater Sydney to host 30 guests, including children, at their home. Up to 50 people can also gather outdoors.
Up to 300 people can attend weddings and funerals, as long as they comply with the rule that allows one person for every 4 square metres.
There are no caps on the number of people allowed in hospitality venues or places of worship — again, as long as they stick to the 4-square-metre rule.
That rule is expected to further lift in a fortnight, allowing one person per 2 square metres for all businesses.
But with this newfound freedom, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has flagged more compliance checks will take place to ensure the rules are being followed.
Exemptions for mask-wearing still remain in some cases.
Children under 12 still are not required to wear masks in settings where they are mandatory, and exemptions are in place for people with a physical or mental illness or a condition that makes mask-wearing unsuitable.
Just as before the changes, people are allowed to remove their mask to eat or drink, to communicate with someone who is deaf or hard of hearing and if they are asked to remove it to confirm their identity.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMia2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIxLTAxLTI5L25zdy1jb3ZpZDE5LXJ1bGVzLWVhc2UtYnV0LW1hc2tzLW1hbmRhdG9yeS1wdWJsaWMtdHJhbnNwb3J0LzEzMDk4NTky0gEnaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAuYWJjLm5ldC5hdS9hcnRpY2xlLzEzMDk4NTky?oc=5
2021-01-28 18:32:00Z
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