This Advice has been updated to reflect the Premier’s announcement that the current restrictions in NSW, including the lockdown of Greater Sydney, would be extended for at least two weeks, to 11.59pm on 30 July 2021.

It also clarifies the commencement date of new COVID-19 surveillance testing requirements. The new Directions commenced at the start of 14 July 2021. However, in the media conference today the Premier clarified that the testing requirements come into effect on the weekend.

Restrictions are now in place across all of NSW that establish:

• restrictions on the number of visitors to residential premises, holiday homes and short-term rentals;
• restrictions on the number of persons in certain non-residential premises;
• requirements to wear fitted face coverings in indoor areas of non-residential premises and at COVID-19 safe outdoor gatherings or controlled outdoor public gatherings, unless an exclusion applies;
• restrictions on singing and dancing in non-residential premises;
• restrictions on consuming alcohol while standing in non-residential premises; and
• a requirement in most workplaces to check-in using the Service NSW QR code system.

The Directions also require that, across the whole of NSW, an employer must allow an employee to work at the employee’s place of residence if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Additional restrictions are also in place for certain persons who have been in Greater Sydney since 21 June 2021. Greater Sydney includes the Blue Mountains, Wollondilly and Hawkesbury local government areas and also the Central Coast, the City of Shellharbour and the City of Wollongong.
The restrictions include a requirement for these people to not leave their place of residence or temporary accommodation without a reasonable excuse and for some people to undergo regular COVID-19 surveillance testing before attending work. People from outside Greater Sydney are also restricted from entering Greater Sydney unless they have a reasonable excuse. Once such a person has entered Greater Sydney they must comply with the restrictions that apply to Greater Sydney, for 14 days.