Even stricter face mask rules and travel restrictions have been introduced in Sydney to force the city’s coronavirus outbreak under control.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard ramped up restrictions as the citywide lockdown enters its third week and the city recorded 77 cases on Sunday.
Residents will have to wear masks in more places – including their own apartment buildings – and everyone outside Sydney banned from coming in.
But a respected expert claims this will not be enough and a draconian lockdown similar to Melbourne’s stage-four, with troops on the street to enforce it, is needed.
New face mask rules and travel restrictions have been introduced in Greater Sydney with a draconian-style lockdown and troops on the street possibly on the way, a top epidemiologist has warned
Residents will only be able to travel to Greater Sydney to access goods and services that are not available in their area
Under the new restrictions coming into effect this week, residents are only be able to travel to Sydney to access goods and services that are not available in their area.
Travelling into the area for exercise or outdoor recreational activities is no longer a valid reason.
They are also only be allowed to travel to attend a funeral or memorial service as long as there are no more than 10 mourners.
Sydney residents wanting to leave the area must also carry identification that contains their residential address.
Face masks must also be worn at indoor construction sites at all times.
On Tuesday, the restriction will be extended to all indoor common property areas of residential premises in Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour.
Residents who live in apartments will be required to wear the extra protection when taking the lift or waiting in the lobby.
Epidemiologist Tony Blakely warned the restrictions are not tough enough and suggested the city should be placed into a much tougher lockdown with soldiers patrolling the streets.
Dr Blakely said the state government had three options: Let the Covid-19 outbreak circulate in the community, continue with a partial lockdown, or deploy troops and police to patrol the streets.
‘The third option is the only one. It’s very hard to say those words: ‘We’re going into a hard lockdown, we’ve called in the military, the police and we are going to police it,’ he told news.com.au.
‘It’s not a pretty look but if you want it to be over and done with as quickly as possible that, most unfortunately, is what needs to happen.’
The draconian lockdown would be similar to the one introduced in Victoria last year – which lasted 111 days.
The draconian-style lockdown would be similar to the one introduced in Victoria last year – which lasted 111 days (pictured, a deserted Melbourne laneway during the lockdown in September)
Non-essential businesses were closed, an 8pm curfew enforced and a ring of steel placed around Melbourne with residents only allowed to leave their homes and exercise within a five kilometre radius (pictured, an empty Flinders Street during the draconian lockdown in September)
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured) announced new social distancing restrictions for Greater Sydney residents on Friday
Non-essential businesses were closed, an 8pm curfew enforced and a ring of steel placed around Melbourne with residents only allowed to leave their homes and exercise within a 5km radius.
Police patrolled the streets and were assisted by military troops during the tough three months.
Dr Blakely warned continuing with a partial lockdown meant Sydney might only begin to reopen in September.
‘If they keep going the way they are now, without really stepping it up now it could go on for months,’ he said.
The additional face mask and travel restrictions were introduced by NSW Health after it announced it would be tightening lockdown across Sydney from 5pm Friday.
Exercising outdoors must be limited to groups of two and people must stay within 10km of their homes when exercising.
Residents in Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Woollongong, Central Coast, and Shellharbour are in the midst of an already extended three week lockdown – with the premier hinting another extension was not off the table.
Exercising outdoors has been limited to groups of two from 5pm on Friday under expanded restrictions (pictured: people exercising in Sydney last weekend)
Can you still exercise outdoors?
Yes, but in reduced groups. Locked down residents from Friday evening will only be allowed to exercise outdoors in groups of two – down from the 10 previously allowed.
The only exception to this rule is members of the same household already living together can exercise outdoors together.
How far can you travel to exercise?
Additionally locals can only travel within their own local government area or at most 10km of their homes to exercise.
‘Please do not leave your house. Do not leave your home, unless you absolutely have to,’ Ms Berejiklian pleaded with Sydneysiders.
What about leaving the house for essential items?
Locals should only leave their house for essential supplies and should not browse, the premier said.
Only one member of a household should be traveling to the shops for essential items and this should not be an excuse to socialise.
Can you visit a partner in another household?
This is still allowed under the new restrictions provided you are in a relationship.
Is carpooling allowed?
Carpooling with other households – whether to the shops, to exercise or work – is also not allowed from 5pm on Friday.
Centennial Park in Sydney was packed with crowds last Saturday morning (pictured)
Can you still travel to work?
Ms Berejiklian restated only people who need to travel for essential work should leave their house.
‘Too many people who have continued to go to work, too many people have either misunderstood the rules or not followed them. And that has to stop.’
Is there a curfew?
No. You can leave your house at any hour as long as it is for one of the essential reasons.
What about funerals and weddings?
Health officials have also made the decision to cap funerals at 10 attendees from Sunday.
Weddings were already prevented from going ahead early on in the lockdown.
Exercising is still allowed in groups of two from 5pm Friday in Greater Sydney and surrounds
Only one member of a household is allowed to go to the shops for essential items on each trip
How many people can you have at your house?
Only those providing essential care are allowed to visit another household. This includes caring for elderly family members.
In other cases guests are not allowed to visit other households unless in exceptional circumstances.
‘We are still getting questions through Service NSW about how many people you can have into your home. The answer is zero.’ Ms Berejiklian said.
‘I don’t mean these words lightly, or say these words lightly. But we are facing the greatest threat that we have faced in New South Wales and the pandemic started. And it is up to all of us to turn things around’.
Shoppers are pictured in Cabramatta in Sydney’s south-west. Only one member of each household will be allowed to go out to shop for essential items from Friday evening
Ms Berejiklian added with the rate of vaccination hovering around 9 per cent, allowing the virus to spread in the community was not an option.
‘Unless there is a dramatic change, unless there is a dramatic turnaround in the numbers, I can’t see how we would be in a position to ease restrictions by next Friday.’
Of the 44 new local cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday, at least 29 were in the community for part or all of their infectious period.
It is the highest number of NSW daily infections since the pandemic’s first wave in early 2020.
Additional police have been dispatched to some areas from Friday including south-western Sydney (pictured: police at Bondi Beach last weekend)