Here is everything you need to know about the lockdown rules currently in place in Newcastle and the Hunter region.
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What dates and areas does the lockdown apply for?
People from Newcastle and Hunter region, or who have been in Newcastle and Hunter region since 31 July and it has been less than 14 days since they were last in Newcastle and Hunter region cannot leave their residence unless they have a reasonable excuse.
The lockdown is in effect until 12.01am Friday, August 13.
The Newcasle and Hunter region includes the local government areas of City of Newcastle, Port Stephens, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Cessnock, Dungog, Singleton and Muswellbrook.
What is a reasonable excuse to leave home?
Obtaining food or other goods and services
- Only one person per household can leave for food, goods or services per day; but you can take a dependent person if they cannot be left at home on their own.
- Browsing in shops is prohibited
- Only buy goods and services in your local government area (LGA) or within 10 kilometres of home, unless the goods or services are not available in that area
Travelling to attend work or education (where it is not possible to do at home)
Exercise outdoors in groups of no more than two (excluding members of the same household)
- People must stay in their LGA or within 10 kilometres of home
- No carpooling between non-household members
- A person over 18 must carry documentary evidence showing their address
Obtaining medical care or supplies - including obtaining a COVID-19 vaccination
Providing care or assistance to a vulnerable person
Attending a funeral
- Attending a funeral of no more than 10 persons (excluding the person conducting the service and any other person necessary for the conduct and preparation of the service). A funeral cannot occur in a place of residence.
Donating blood
Accessing childcare, social services, employment services, services provided to victims, domestic violence services, and mental health services
Moving to a new place of residence, or between your different places of residence
Undertaking legal obligations
Avoiding injury or illness or to escape the risk of harm
For compassionate reasons, including where two people are in a relationship but do not live together
To provide pastoral care if you are a priest, minister of religion or member of a religious order
Gathering at Parliament for the purpose of its normal operations
What venues are closed to the public?
Food and drink premises and pubs (except for take-away)
Entertainment, amusement centres, and indoor recreation facilities (including gyms)
Casinos and nightclubs
Places of public worship, except for the purposes of a funeral or memorial service or providing education or childcare
Spas, nail and beauty salons and hairdressers
Caravan parks and camping grounds, except for the purposes of permanent residents of the caravan park or camping ground, overnight travellers, persons working in the local area or other persons who have no other place of permanent residence
Non-essential retail businesses (click and collect and delivery still allowed)
Are construction sites open?
Construction sites in the Hunter region are allowed to be open.
'Prescribed' trades work (cleaning, repairs, maintenance, alterations and additions to buildings, trade work, gardening and landscaping) can commence if:
- No more than two workers are working at the same time, or five persons if they are all outside and
- No person, other than a worker, is in the same room when the worker is carrying out the work.
Can I have visitors?
Visitors are not allowed in residences in the Hunter region unless authorised for one of the following purposes:
- One visitor to fulfil carers' responsibilities or provide care or assistance, or for compassionate reasons (including where two persons are in a relationship but do not live together)
- A child dependent of the one visitor is permitted to attend the residence, but only if the child needs to be supervised and alternative childcare arrangements cannot be made
- Work
- Childcare
- Giving effect to custody arrangements
- Assist a person to move house
- Avoiding injury or illness or to escape harm
- In an emergency
- To view or inspect real property for sale or lease or participate in an auction
Each visitor would need to meet the reasonable excuse exemption before they could visit another residence
- The one person per four square metre rule applies for indoor and outdoor settings. The occupier of non-residential settings must ensure the number of persons on a premises is limited to 1 person per four square metres
What is the single person bubble?
A person who lives alone or with no other adults is able to nominate a "nominated visitor" who will be able to visit the single person at their residence.
- It will be a reasonable excuse for the nominated visitor to leave their residence to visit the single person or to travel with the person for exercise/outdoor recreation
- The single person and a nominated visitor can travel together in a vehicle and they don't have to wear a mask when doing so.
- The nominated visitor cannot be nominated as any other person's visitor
- If the single person lives in Newcastle and Hunter region, the nominated visitor must live in Newcastle and Hunter region (but not someone from Greater Sydney)
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Sage Swinton
Sage Swinton is a news reporter who was born and bred in the Hunter. She has been with the Newcastle Herald since June 2020, and covers Newcastle council as well as other general news.
Sage Swinton is a news reporter who was born and bred in the Hunter. She has been with the Newcastle Herald since June 2020, and covers Newcastle council as well as other general news.
