Stay-at-home order issued for four Sydney council areas

A stay-at-home order has been issued by the NSW government to four local government areas in inner Sydney.

Announcing the COVID-19 pandemic measures on Friday morning, the state government said the order is to protect the people of NSW from the evolving outbreak.

Current restrictions will be extended to at least midnight on Friday, July 2.

Following updated health advice from the Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant about the growing risk to the community, stay-at-home orders are being introduced for at least one week for those who live in, or whose usual place of work is in, Woollahra, Waverley, Randwick and City of Sydney councils.

“Due to the risk associated with an increasing number of exposure venues where transmission has occurred, from 11.59pm tonight until at least 11.59pm on Friday, July 2, residents of, or people whose usual place of work is in, the four LGAs must stay at home unless it is for an essential reason,” Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Health Minister Brad Hazzard said in a joint statement.

The reasons people may leave their home include:

Shopping for food or other essential goods and services;

Medical care or compassionate needs;

Exercise outdoors in groups of 10 or fewer;

Essential work, or education, where you cannot work or study from home.

“We understand this is a difficult time for everyone, however we need to take these steps now to get on top of this outbreak,” the statement reads.

“People should only enter the four LGAs for essential purposes.

“As previously stated, if you live or work in the City of Sydney, Waverley, Randwick, Canada Bay, Inner West, Bayside, and Woollahra local government areas, you cannot travel outside metropolitan Sydney for non-essential reasons.”

Ms Berejiklian and Mr Hazzard said residents across greater Sydney should also limit unnecessary activity and avoid large gatherings in coming days and comply with the current restrictions.