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Effective immediately, new COVID-19 restrictions in New South Wales will come into effect to slow the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant of the virus in the state as health authorities report 14 new locally acquired infections.
The restrictions, which will be enforced from 4pm today for at least a week, will see household visitor numbers reduced, the one person per four square metre rule return, and a ban on those living or working in metropolitan Sydney from travelling outside of the area.
Of the 14 new cases, one was detected before the 8pm reporting cut-off time yesterday, and 13 came through overnight and will be included formally in tomorrow's numbers.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says the imposition of these new restrictions is necessary considering how easily transmissible the variant of COVID-19 circulating in Sydney is.
"Clearly this is an evolving situation we would have preferred not to have occurred, but given what has occurred the New South Wales government will be taking action today to limit the spread of what is a very contagious variant of COVID," says the Premier.
"On this occasion our contact tracing has been better than I've ever seen, but what we haven't seen before is the contagiousness of this variant of the virus.
"It is extremely contagious and the fleeting exchanges, not even physical touching, has meant people have transferred the virus."
The following restrictions will be enforced from 4pm today in the Sydney, Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Shellharbour regions of NSW:
- No more than five visitors to any household, including children
- Vertical consumption at hospitality venues will be banned all patrons must be seated
- No singing or dancing at any venue, except for weddings which can have 20 people on the dance floor
- Venues must revert to the one person per four square metre rule
- Major outdoor events can only welcome up to 50 per cent of total capacity
- Mask wearing will be more widespread and now must be worn in any indoor setting including workplaces
- Masks must be worn at organised events like outdoor sporting events or concerts
- Gym classes can only have 20 people in attendance and masks must be worn
- Those riding on public transport must be socially distanced
- Those living or working in the following seven local government areas cannot travel beyond metropolitan Sydney unless it is essential travel: the city of Sydney, Waverley, Woollahra, Bayside, Canada Bay, Inner West and Randwick
"These stringent rules will be in place to make sure we prevent the spread of the virus," says the Premier.
Updated at 11.29am AEST on 23 June 2021.
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