Given the growing number of infectious cases in the community and unlinked cases of community transmission, COVID-19 restrictions have been tightened across Greater Sydney, including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong, and Shellharbour. NSW Health is asking people not to seek exceptions to the rules but to ensure they comply with them, so the number of infectious cases of COVID-19 in the community reduces.
You can view the public health order here (released on 18th July 2021). We have put the new restrictions first – all other restrictions remain in place.
Retail Not Allowed To Be Open to Public
From Sunday 18 July 2021, most retail premises in Greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour, are closed to the public. This does not mean that owners and employees are not allowed to access their shops. We have heard a few retailers tell us that the owners have been in the closed shop working on orders or undertaking necessary work, and they have been “told off” by people walking by.
Retail premises providing essential products and services that can be open are:
- supermarkets
- food and drink premises (but only if they offer takeaway)
- grocery stores (including butchers, bakeries, fruit and vegetable, seafood and other food retailers – so any shop that predominately sells food or drink)
- kiosks and other small food and drink premises
- petrol stations
- liquor stores
- chemists
- businesses that predominately sell office supplies, pet supplies, newspapers, magazines, stationery, alcohol, maternity and baby supplies
- banks and financial institutions
- hardware, building supplies
- landscaping material supplies
- agricultural and rural supplies
- timber yards;
- post offices and newsagents
- office supplies
- garden centres and plant nurseries
- vehicle hire premises, not including the premises at which vehicles are sold;
- shops that predominantly carry out repairs of mobile phones.
Note Service Stations, Banks, Post Offices, Laundromats, Dry Cleaners are NOT retail premises and can remain open.
‘Click and collect’ and home delivery.
Retail Businesses not listed above may continue to operate if they provide goods and services to customers that are ordered by phone or internet and collected by customers via click and collect. You cannot take orders at retail premises.
A ‘click and collect service can also be used by customers to return or exchange goods by prior arrangement either by phone or internet.
If you click and collect, customers must:
- wear face masks and
- check-in requirements (for example, using QR codes).
Tradies At Your Home
To reduce the risks associated with mobile workers, restrictions apply to services provided to residential premises in Greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour.
From Sunday 18 July 2021, services cannot be provided to residential premises for
- repairs
- maintenance
- cleaning.
Repairs, maintenance or cleaning services are allowed only if urgently required for the health, safety or security of the premises or members of the household or because of an emergency (for example, a hot water tank leaking or a gas leak)
Any repairs, maintenance or cleaning that can be delayed should be rearranged.
From Sunday 18 July 2021, it is not a reasonable excuse to leave your home in Greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour, to provide these services.
Construction Work
From Monday 12:01 am on 19 July 2021, work at construction sites in Greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour, is not to be carried out unless the work is urgently required:
- to ensure the safety or security of the construction site
- to deal with environmental risks
- to maintain critical plant or equipment that would otherwise deteriorate
- to receive deliveries of supplies that would otherwise deteriorate
- to maintain public utilities
- to ensure the safe operation of existing transport infrastructure
- by or on behalf of NSW Health in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
- because of an emergency.
Home Renovations, Alterations and Additions
All renovations or other works at a place of residence to make alterations or additions are not allowed unless necessary for the site’s safety or security.
This means that the site of any existing renovations can be made safe and secure, but then all work must stop.
Face masks
In Greater Sydney, when you leave home, you must carry a face mask with you at all times. You also need to have your ID on you at all times.
They must be worn when working outdoors, by all school staff, by all people in outdoor markets, outdoor shopping strips, and in an outdoor queue waiting for products such as coffee and food. The Public Health Orders specifically use the example that a mask is needed if you are queuing outside a cafe or shop to collect take away food or drink or a person walking on a street near shop fronts. So this would mean if you are walking near shops in The Canopy, Lane Cove Plaza, Longueville Road, Lane Cove Market Square etc., you need to be wearing a mask.
You do not have to wear a face mask if you are exercising. However, Dr Chant has requested that if you can please wear one when you are out and particularly if you are exercising with a person not from your household (limit of two people)
You must wear a face mask
- in all indoor areas of non-residential premises
- at certain outdoor gatherings
- if you are on public transport
- in a major recreation facility such as a stadium
- if you are working in a hospitality venue
- in indoor areas of construction sites, except when an exemption applies, such as when
- wearing a face mask creates a safety issue or
- there is a worksite emergency.
Common Areas in Units and Apartments
In Melbourne, you may have seen that they are locking down several apartments where COVID19 cases have been identified. This is because it is being spread in common areas.
You must wear a fitted face mask when you are in an indoor area of common property in a residential building that is
- strata-titled
- community titled or
- company titled.
You do NOT need to wear a mask inside your own apartment.
- Common areas where you must wear a mask include
- a shared foyer or lobby of an apartment block
- lifts, stairwells and corridors
- shared laundry facilities.
- Masks must be worn by anyone entering, including
- residents and visitors
- building managers, concierge staff and cleaners
- people providing goods and services, including tradespeople and contractors
- people delivering food, mail and parcels.
Learn more about face mask rules.
Previous Restrictions That Still Apply
From Friday, 9 July 2021, the following additional restrictions are in place:
- Outdoor public gatherings limited to two people (excluding members of the same household);
- People must stay in the Lane Cove Council Area or within 10kms of home for exercise and outdoor recreation, with no carpooling between non-household members (see below details of where you can check the 10km rule);
- Only one person per household, per day, may leave home for shopping;
- Funerals are limited to ten people in total.
The four reasons to leave your home remain in place:
- Shopping for food or other essential goods and services (one person only – dependents are permitted if there is no care available (i.e., single parent));
- Medical care or compassionate needs (only one visitor can enter another residence to fulfill carers’ responsibilities or provide care or assistance, or for compassionate reasons);
- Exercise with no more than 2 (unless members of the same household);
- Essential work, or education, where you cannot work or study from home.
Restrictions in regional NSW remain unchanged.
Working from home
Employers must allow an employee to work from home if it is reasonably practicable to do so.
If you cannot work from home and you go to your workplace, you must wear a face mask (unless an exemption applies).
Get Tested
High testing numbers are key to finding unrecognised chains of transmission in the community, so please continue to come forward for a COVID-19 test, even if you have the mildest of symptoms. Details on where to get tested near Lane Cove are here. PLEASE NOTE TESTING TIMES ARE TAKING MUCH LONGER THAN A WEEK AGO. This is impacting all testing stations.
This is an excuse to leave home.
Vaccinations
You are permitted to leave home to be vaccinated. Check your eligibility here.
The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is the preferred vaccine for people aged 16 to 59 years. If you are over 40 or fall within another eligible group, you can book a vaccination. Lane Cove residents have been going to Homebush, RNSH, RPA, or Westmead.
The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine can be used in adults aged 60 years and over or for those under 60 years where the Pfizer vaccine is not available, and the benefits clearly outweigh the risk for that individual. You should speak to your GP (doctor) to understand the risks and benefits.
Local GP’s have AstraZeneca, and RYDE RESPIRATORY has availability.
The NSW Government is urging people of any age without contraindications who have had their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine without any serious adverse events should receive the second dose. Please see our latest article on vaccinations here.
Visitors to a residence in Greater Sydney
Generally, visiting another person is not a reasonable excuse to leave your home.
You must not allow a person to visit your home, except if it is for:
- for work (but see above the new rule re tradies and construction workers)
- for childcare
- to give effect to arrangements between parents and children under 18 or their siblings
- to assist a person in moving places of residence
- to avoid an injury or serious risk of harm
- because of an emergency or for compassion (i.e. your significant other)
- to view or inspect the property to lease or purchase it.
10km Rule
The new rules state that if people do leave their homes for exercise and outdoor recreation, they must stay in their Local Government Area (LGA) or within 10kms of home.
This means people must stay within their LGA, but they can also cross LGA borders as long as they do not travel further than 10km from their home. This acknowledges the pragmatic reality that many people live in close proximity to LGA borders, and their closest park may be in a neighbouring LGA (for example, one side of Mowbray Road is in the Lane Cove LGA, and one side is in Willoughby City Council LGA)
The aim of this measure is to minimise movement among the community and reduce the risk of further transmission of COVID-19.
NSW Health has an interactive map here so you can check the 10km rule. The map below shows 10km from The Canopy.
The LGA and 10km restriction apply to exercise and outdoor recreation, not to the three other essential reasons you can leave home:
- Shopping for food or other essential goods and services (one person only);
- Medical care or compassionate needs (only one visitor can enter another residence to fulfil carers’ responsibilities or provide care or assistance, or for compassionate reasons);
- Essential work, or education, where you cannot work or study from home.
Nonetheless, people should only leave their home if absolutely necessary, and try to minimise the time they are out and the distance they travel from their home if they must leave for an essential reason.
Funerals and memorial services
From 12:00 am on Sunday 11 July 2021, a maximum of 10 people can attend a funeral or memorial service. The maximum number includes the person conducting the service.
Funerals and memorial services can continue to take place in Greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong, and Shellharbour, with the maximum number of people allowed.
Attending a funeral or memorial service is a reasonable excuse to leave home and to enter Greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong, and Shellharbour.
If you live in Greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong, and Shellharbour, you cannot participate in a funeral or memorial service or a gathering after a funeral or memorial service at a place of residence.
Caring and compassionate visits (personal visits)
You are allowed to visit a home and have a person visit your home for the purposes of caring, providing care to vulnerable persons, or for compassionate reasons, including where 2 people are in a relationship but do not live together.
Only 1 person may visit a place of residence to fulfil carers’ responsibilities, provide care or assistance to vulnerable persons, and for compassionate reasons at any one time. You may bring a dependent child with you if they need supervision and childcare arrangements are not reasonably available.
Gatherings
If you are in Greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong, and Shellharbour, you must not participate in an outdoor public gathering of more than 2 people unless you are:
- working or attending a university or other tertiary education facility
- providing care or assistance to vulnerable persons
- gathering with other people in your household
- providing emergency assistance to a person
- fulfilling a legal obligation
- moving home or moving your business to a new premises
- gathering for a funeral or memorial service that complies with the rules for funerals and memorial services.
QR Codes Scan In
From 12 July 2021 (and when some of these businesses reopen after lockdown), the businesses below will need to display the Service NSW QR code and take reasonable steps to ensure people entering their premises check-in using the Service NSW QR codes or digital sign-in sheet:
- Retail businesses and supermarkets
- Individual shops within shopping centres
- Shopping centres will also be asked to display QR codes at entry points where practicable.
- Gyms
- Offices, including call centres
- Manufacturing and warehousing
- Universities and TAFE
- Schools including teachers and visitors (such as parents and contractors) but excluding students.
Businesses such as hospitality and hairdressers that were already using the Service NSW QR code will also need to ensure staff and visitors such as maintenance workers and delivery drivers check-in when they resume services after the lockdown period.
Hospitality businesses will now need to extend the use of the Service NSW COVID-Safe check-in to all customers, including takeaway orders.
Businesses that fail to comply with the new health order requirements may be subject to fines and, in case of flagrant breaches, temporary closure orders.
Lane Cove Council Facilities and Services that are Closed
Lane Cove Council has suspended walk-in services at the Lane Cove Civic Centre, including Justice of the Peace services. Council services are available online, by email [email protected]or by phone 9911 3555.
Lane Cove Library and Greenwich Library are now closed to the public until further notice.
Library to Your Door provides an alternate option for books, magazines, DVDs, and audiobooks to be delivered directly to your home.
Return chutes are still open. Information on loans, renewals, and Library services will be available on the Library website early next week.
Lane Cove Youth Centre and Lane Cove Aquatic Leisure Centre are also closed to the public.
Anyone who has hired a Council venue or sportsfield for community sport will be contacted from 28 June to cancel or postpone any bookings up to and inclusive of 9 July.
Lane Cove Council Events taking place up to and including 9 July 2021 will be postponed or cancelled – where events have involved registrations, any affected participants are being contacted.
Some Winter in the Village events have already been rescheduled, and they have paused their plans to release tickets for the highly anticipated ice rink while we observe NSW Health advice. Updates on the Winter in the Village program will be advised when further information is known.
The Community Recycling Centre (CRC) in Artarmon and the eWaste bin at The Canopy are closed due to the current COVID-19 restrictions.
Where Can I Exercise in Lane Cove LGA?
At this stage, all parks and playgrounds remain open (unlike last time when playgrounds were closed). Why not try some new playgrounds? You are allowed to visit them for outdoor exercise and recreation – but no more than 2 people can gather together (except if a family household). You must observe social distancing and the 4 sq meter rule.
ITC has been updating its playground list and featuring a playground of the week. Check out parks and playgrounds here.
You must maintain the social distancing measures and observe the four square meter rule when you are exercising.
Lane Cove Council has responded to ITC lights will be turned on at the following sports grounds from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm to extend the opportunity to exercise safely:
* Pottery Green Oval
* Tantallon Oval
ITC asked Mayor Gail Giles-Gidney if Willoughby City Council would look at lighting some ovals in walking distance for Lane Cove North Residents and our Artarmon followers.
Mayor Gail Giles-Gidney advised ITC of the following:
“Thompson Oval, Mowbray Public Oval and Rotary Field, Artarmon Reserve will have lights on until 8 pm Monday to Friday.
What is Happening With Our Local Cafes and Eateries?
Our local eateries are allowed to remain open for takeaways
You must not sit at a cafe and restaurant. Pubs and Clubs are closed. Lusso Kitchen, which operates from the Diddy, is allowed to stay open as they only sell takeaway food delivered to your door. We have put together a list of offerings from local eateries with a direct link to their delivery platform for one-click ordering. Read more here. Make sure you bookmark this article.
I Am Concerned About My Neighbour – How Do I Help Them?
If you have an elderly or vulnerable neighbour who needs help – please ask them to contact Sydney Community Services as they provide services such a Meals on Wheels and help with online grocery shopping. You can contact them on (02) 9427 6425 or email at [email protected].
Lane Cove Cares Reach Out if You Need Help
If you need help, please reach out and email us at [email protected].
We have so many people who are offering help that we can assist you in some way. It does not have to be financial; it could be an issue that you just need a kind voice on the end of the phone.
Schools and Early Childhood Education
The NSW Education Department has stated:
Students are encouraged to learn from home. No student is to be turned away. Early childhood education services can continue to operate.
All non–core curriculum-related activities are to cease on the school site.
Schools should not turn away any student from attending the school site in person. Schools will provide a program of learning for students who attend school and students who are learning from home.
Schools should revert to their remote learning mode, using existing resources and programs. For additional support, including a readiness checklist for principals, refer to Learning from home.
Under the current health orders, there is nothing to restrict students and staff who must attend school from moving between two areas with different levels of restrictions.
OSHC services on and off school sites can continue to operate for before and after school care for any children requiring it.
Even though child care services remain open in NSW, from Monday 19 July, services in Local Government Areas (LGAs) subject to stay-at-home orders can waive gap fees for parents on days they choose to keep their children at home.
Services can also waive gap fees if they are directed to close by a local authority because of COVID-19 until 31 December 2021.
Real estate auctions and open inspections
The following restrictions apply:
- Auctions that people attend in person can not take place.
- Open inspections of properties can not take place, but inspections may be conducted by private appointment for one person only.
Weddings and Church Services
You cannot:
- enter Greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong, and Shellharbour to hold or attend a wedding
- leave your place of residence to attend a wedding if you live in, usually work in, or usually attend a university or other tertiary education facility in Greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong, and Shellharbour.
Services may be live-streamed from a church, meeting house, mosque, synagogue, temple, or another place of worship that is not open to members of the public.
You can attend the premises if you are directly involved in the service or the operation of the equipment for the Livestream event. Find out about the rules that apply to singing in a place of public worship during a live-streamed event.
The place of worship must not be open to members of the public.
Are You Looking to Buy or Sell in Lane Cove?
In The Cove is now producing a weekly Lane Cove Property Update. See our latest update here.
If you are selling, ask your agent if they are an ITC Lane Cove Property Guide supporter.
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