The National Cabinet met today, December 11, in person for the first time in nine months, with the exception of WA Premier Mike McGowan who joined the meeting online.
The Prime Minister announced that Australia would be open for Christmas.
NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian has backed the PM in saying the focus of hotel quarantine programs should be focused on returning Australians, and that their capacity won’t grow until next year:
Ms Berjeklian said:
“I would like to have a conversation next year not just about international students were skilled migrants. The priority is to reduce the list of Aussies coming back home. I support the PM in that.”
When asked whether they regret their border stoush, the Premiers of Queensland and NSW responded as follows:
NSW Premier: “No, we would do it all again.”
Queensland Premier : “It was all based on health advice.”
The good news is that NSW has once again recorded no new locally acquired cases of the coronavirus in the past 24 hours. Nine cases were reported in overseas travellers, however, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 4,444.
The restrictions were eased in NSW effective on December 7. Here are some notes to frequently asked questions:
How many people visit family and friends at their house?
People are allowed a maximum of 50 visitors in their homes at a time. However NSW Health strongly recommends having no more than 30 visitors at a time if the residence has no outdoor area. If there are more than 50 visitors at a home, every person can be held individually responsible for a breach of the public health order.
How many people can gather outside?
Public gatherings of up to 50 are allowed. This limit does not apply if the group of people are all from the same household or if it is a controlled outdoor event.
Are visits to someone in an aged care facility allowed?
In every state, all visitors must have received this year’s flu vaccination unless they have a documented medical contraindication. Visitors are not allowed to visit an aged care facility if they have recently been overseas, been in recent contact with a positive case of Covid-19, or feel unwell.
Residents are only allowed two visitors a day, no large group visits or gatherings, and all visits should be short and take place in the resident’s room, outdoors or a specified area (but not allowed in a communal area).
Are we allowed to eat in restaurant, cafe or pub?
Yes, with group bookings being limited to 30, with venues observing the 4 sq m a person rule up to a cap of 300 for each separate area at any time. Small venues (up to 200 sq m in size) can have one person per 2 sq m indoors. All customers dining in must provide name and contact details, including a phone number or email address, for contact tracing. Food courts have also now reopened.
Can people visit from another state?
Anyone can enter NSW. The Queensland-NSW border was opened to all travellers from NSW as of Tuesday 1 December 2020. However, anyone coming in NSW who has been to South Australia for 14 days prior to the visit, needs to complete a NSW Entry Declaration form. There are no restrictions of travel by NSW residents within NSW.
What is the limit for attendance at a wedding or funeral?
Now up to 300 can attend a wedding subject to the distancing requirement of 4 sq m rule indoors and 2 sq m rule outdoors. For weddings, up to 50 people are permitted on an indoor dance floor or up to 500 people on an outdoor dance floor. This applies only to members of the official wedding party and dancers cannot be rotated or substituted throughout the celebration. The number of people who may attend a funeral or memorial service or a gathering following a funeral or memorial service, is subject to the one person per 2 square metre rule.
What is the limit for places of worship?
2 square metre rule replaces the 4 square metre rule. The 2 square metre rule replaces the 4 square metre rule. The state’s chief health officer has urged congregations to reconsider activities that might spread the virus – such as group singing and passing collection baskets around.
Are schools back in session?
Yes, schools across all states have reopened to face-to-face learning.
Are salons, spas and other beauty services open?
Yes, hairdressers, barbers, nail waxing, tanning and beauty salons, tattoo and massage parlours have reopened across the country, provided businesses meet density limits
What about cinemas, entertainment venues, museums, libraries and open houses?
These are open to guests, as long as 2 sq m is allowed per person and they have a Covid-19 safety plan. For large venues attendance to a ticketed event with allocated seating must not exceed 50% of capacity . The total number of people in a major recreational facility hosting a non-ticketed or non-seated event must not exceed one person per 4 sq m (excluding staff) with no maximum capacity.
What are the limit to the gym and other places for exercise?
New South Wales: gyms, fitness centres and studios (such as dance studios) may open for up to 50 a class. The total in a facility must not exceed one person in 4 sq m, excluding staff. Indoor pools and saunas have also reopened to up to 20.
For more details, refer to the website of the NSW Department of Health.