Life under social isolation or mandatory "stay home orders".

The New South Wales premier, Gladys Berejiklian, has warned residents of greater Sydney to prepare for an increase in restrictions if the outbreak of Covid-19 expands beyond the northern beaches.

Meanwhile travellers coming from NSW to Queensland will require a border pass declaration from 1am on Sunday and Western Australia announced it was reinstating its hard border with NSW.

The Avalon cluster grew to 38 cases up to 8pm on Friday and residents of the northern beaches have entered an enforced lockdown until midnight on Wednesday.

Berejiklian said she expected to announce a similar number, or more, new cases on Sunday to the 23 new confirmed cases reported in Saturday’s figures.

She said health authorities were monitoring the situation and would act on Sunday if there was evidence the virus had spread beyond the northern beaches.

“I should say, to put everybody on notice, we will be considering today after consulting, obviously, the relevant people, whether this time tomorrow we do revert back to some restrictions in greater Sydney,” Berejiklian said.

“I just want to put everybody on notice that that is a possibility and that will depend on the health advice sent to us during the course of the day.”

The lockdown imposed on the northern beaches is similar to the restrictions imposed across the state in March, with residents permitted to leave their homes only for essential purposes such as grocery shopping, exercise, work and medical care.

Gyms and places of worship have closed and hospitality venues are open only for takeaway.

The state government also urged residents of greater Sydney not currently subject to the lockdown to cancel all non-essential gatherings, outings and travel until midnight on Wednesday to give people the best chance possible of “having a good Christmas”.

The premier said authorities did not want the virus to spread outside of the northern beaches or cases to increase to an extent that would lead to tougher measures.

“So can I say to everybody in other parts of Sydney outside the northern beaches, please limit your activity,” Berejiklian said. “We are asking you to do this in good faith.

“If you are planning a night out tonight, we ask you to consider changing those plans and staying at home.

“We want people to stay at home tonight and the next few nights so that we can ensure the virus does not spread.”

Organisers of the Sydney to Hobart are yet to make a call about whether to cancel the yacht race for the first time in its 75-year history. At this stage, the race is still set to go ahead.

But Christmas travel plans for thousands of people have been disrupted.

On Sunday evening the Western Australian premier Mark McGowan said WA’s “low risk” rating for the eastern state had been upgraded to “medium risk”, meaning that it would reinstate the same strict measures seen earlier in the year.

“This has been a difficult decision to make especially given the time of year,” McGowan said. “I understand this will be devastating news for people looking to meet family for Christmas in NSW.”

He criticised NSW health authorities for taking a “whack-a-mole” approach to the outbreak thus far.

“They seem to step on a gym here, or a restaurant there,” he said. “This is causing grief all over Australia so they need to kill the virus in NSW.”

McGowan said WA’s revised border measures had come following an Australian Health Protection Principal Committee meeting, where health chief across the country had received the latest advice.

The only people from NSW able to fly into WA after midnight on Saturday will be those with special exemptions – such as essential health and freight workers.

Meanwhile, the Victorian government warned all of greater Sydney could be declared a “red zone” if the outbreak worsens, meaning they would not be permitted to enter Victoria. That currently applies only to people who have been in the northern beaches area.

People who have been in greater Sydney but not the northern beaches are currently considered to have been in the “orange zone”, meaning they must get tested when they get to Victoria and self-isolate until they receive a negative test.

Victorian contact tracers have identified 70 primary close contacts of northern beaches cases among travellers who have arrived between 11 and 17 December.

“We remain extremely concerned about the outbreak in NSW and the likelihood that it has seeded beyond the northern beaches,” the Victorian health minister, Martin Foley, said.

The state has had 50 consecutive days of no local virus transmission and authorities are desperate to protect the hard-won gains in the wake of its devastating second wave.

The Queensland government said on Saturday it hoped to maintain its open border with NSW but there would be random checks of people crossing the border.

Anyone travelling into the state from NSW from 1am Sunday will require a border pass. People who have been in the northern beaches will require an exemption to travel into Queensland and must quarantine for 14 days after their arrival.

Anyone travelling into the state from elsewhere in Sydney or the central coast will have to take a Covid-19 test on arrival and isolate until they receive a negative result.

Queensland health minister Yvette D’Ath said visitors would be able to apply for the passes online from 8pm on Saturday.

“We won’t have barriers up at the borders but what we will be doing is putting electronic signs up that let everybody know they should have a border pass and the police will be doing random audits and checks as people come across the borders,” she said.

The declaration includes information such as previous travel to hotspots, Covid symptoms and contact with known cases.

D’Ath asked Queenslanders intending to travel to NSW to reconsider their plans as more coronavirus cases are likely to be identified in coming days.

On Saturday afternoon, the Tasmanian government announced the greater Sydney region was now considered “medium risk”. From Sunday, anyone travelling to Tasmania from greater Sydney will be required to quarantine for 14 days, either at home or at a government-run hotel at the traveller’s expense.

Only returning Tasmanian residents will be allowed to enter if they have visited the northern beaches.

Gutwein said the number of yacht crew involved in the Sydney to Hobart living on the northern beaches “would make it very challenging for the race to proceed” but added the decision was ultimately one for race organisers.

Related: Sydney coronavirus crisis: northern beaches locked down for four days as cases rise to 38

South Australia is requiring travellers from the northern beaches area to quarantine.

Paul Kelly, Australia’s acting chief medical officer, said residents and businesses on the northern beaches had responded well since the outbreak, noting the community had begun to self-isolate and businesses and places of worship had closed their doors before the lockdown was announced.

“It’s extraordinary, it’s a wonder to watch,” Kelly told reporters in Canberra on Saturday.

Kelly said the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) – a collective body of health officials from all jurisdictions – was meeting daily again and he was having daily conversations with the NSW chief health officer.

He encouraged Sydneysiders to download the CovidSafe app to help with contract tracing.

Kelly pushed back on the idea of speeding up vaccine delivery to Australia in light of the Sydney outbreak, saying the rollout was still on track for March, pending approval of the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

“The rest of the country is doing very well,” he said. “We don’t need an emergency vaccine right now.”

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Around a quarter of a million people in Sydney's northern beach suburbs were ordered on Saturday into a strict lockdown until midnight on Wednesday in an effort to contain a coronavirus cluster which authorities fear may spread across the city.

Authorities will on Sunday announce whether further restrictions will be imposed on the rest of Sydney, Australia's most populous city.

"I want to make that clear, to say to greater Sydney, please, please, do not go out tonight or the next few days unless you really have to," New South Wales state Premier Gladys Berejiklian said at a news conference on Saturday.

The outbreak on Sydney's northern beaches now totals 39 with two additional cases still under investigation. This up from five only two days ago, but authorities do not know the origin of the virus, which genome testing suggests is a U.S. strain.

Australia has avoided the worst of the coronavirus due to international border closures, lockdowns, widespread testing and social distancing. It has recorded so far a total of around 28,100 infections.

Until this week, Australia had gone more than two weeks without any local transmission and had lifted the majority of restrictions ahead of Christmas. The Sydney outbreak prompted states and territories to reimpose border restrictions, sending holiday travel plans for thousands into chaos.

The Sydney lockdown will mean people in the designated area will only be allowed to leave home for one of four essential reasons: grocery shopping, work, compassionate grounds including emergency medical treatment, or visiting an isolated relative.

Authorities have pinpointed two clubs at Avalon beach as the original transmission sites for the cluster, but have issued more than 30 potential secondary transmission sites, as far away as Bondi and Cronulla beaches in the east and south of the city.

After more than 12,000 tests were conducted on Friday, people queued in Sydney for hours on Saturday to get tested.

"That is the community responding in the way we want them to respond," Australia's Deputy Chief Medical Paul Kelly said.

Major public facilities in the "hotspot" area, such as swimming pools, beaches and playgrounds, have been closed and visitors banned from age care facilities.

Many restaurants, cafes and 14 hotels in the area have voluntarily closed this weekend.

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11 Queenslanders have been identified as close contacts with the growing COVID-19 cluster on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

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3 cricket fans who were at the Adelaide Oval for the Test between Australia and India have been identified as close contacts of people known to have contracted coronavirus in NSW.

SA Health says all three tested negative for COVID-19.

"All have returned a negative test and will continue their 14 day quarantine in a medi-hotel," SA Health said in a statement on Saturday.

The match wrapped up on day three on Saturday, preventing the need for further measures to protect Test fans.

SA Health said wastewater samples taken from the Adelaide Oval on Friday had returned negative test results.

Ticket holders from the NSW hotspots had been asked not to attend and SA Health had conducted risk assessments of attendees who admitted to travelling from NSW since December 11.

South Australia declared Sydney's northern peninsula a high community transmission zone on Friday.

Those who visited Sydney cluster sites the Avalon RSL and Avalon Bowlo are not permitted to enter the state.

Anyone travelling from the wider northern beaches area, Sydney's Penrith or Lavender Bay will be required to self-isolate for 14 days and get tested.

The northern beaches cluster grew by 23 cases to 40 infections on Saturday, prompting other states to strengthen their borders against NSW travellers.

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he NSW border to South Australia remains open as people rush to rejoin families and loved ones for Christmas.

Thousands of people are set to fly between Sydney and Adelaide in the coming days, but so far South Australia has only imposed restrictions on travellers from Sydney's hotspots and from the Northern Beaches.

Those who visited coronavirus hotspot locations are barred from entry, while anybody from the Northern Beaches needs to self-isolate for two weeks.

here were more than a dozen flights between the two cities today.

Those arriving in Adelaide were greeted by police, who conducted checks to make sure they had not visited any hotspots.

But authorities are continuing to review the situation, with a border closure possible if the cluster spreads in Sydney.

Other states, including Western Australia, Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria, have recently announced measures to halt the spread of COVID-19 from Sydney.

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Victoria is on high alert over a growing outbreak north of the border on Sydney's Northern Beaches

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Australian states and territories have different levels of restrictions to contain Covid-19.

Sydney’s northern beaches cluster
As of 5pm on Saturday 19 December, residents of Sydney’s Northern Beaches Council are subject to a lockdown to contain a growing cluster. The lockdown is set to end at midnight on Wednesday 23 December.

While details of the public health order are expected, residents will be required to stay at home, unless permitted to leave for certain reasons, such as essential shopping, exercise and medical care.

People living outside the northern beaches are also not permitted to enter the LGA unless the above reasons apply.

Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania and the Northern Territory have implemented travel restrictions barring entry to residents of the northern beaches, while Western Australia is requiring all residents of NSW to quarantine.

How many people can I have over at my house?
New South Wales: 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.

Victoria: people are allowed to have up to 30 visitors in their homes each day. The government advised people to keep a record of visitors where possible.

Queensland: you are allowed up to 50 guests inside your home.

Tasmania: you can have up to 40 visitors in your home.

Western Australia: there is no limit to the number of guests you are allowed as long as there is no more than one person per 2 sq m.

South Australia: gatherings in private homes are limited to 10 people, regardless of age. All gatherings must observe the density requirements of one person per 4 sq m.

Northern Territory: there is no limit on how many people can gather indoors or outdoors, but you must keep 1.5 m between you and anyone with whom you don’t live. Gatherings of more than 100 will require the completion of a Covid-19 checklist.

ACT: there is no limit on visitors, but physical distancing should be maintained.

How many people can gather outside?
New South Wales: 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. Further easing of restrictions will be carried out on Monday 7 December.

Victoria: up to 100 people from any number of households can gather. 1.5 m should be maintained between yourself and others not from your household.

Queensland: public gatherings are restricted to a maximum of 50; this does not apply to businesses operating with a Covid-safe plan.

Tasmania: up to 1,000 are allowed in an undivided outdoor space as long as there is at least 2 sq m of space a person.

Western Australia: there is no limit on the number allowed at public gatherings as long as there is at least 2 sq m of space a person.

South Australia: gatherings at public places are capped at 50, with density requirements of one person every 4 sq m.

Northern Territory: there are no limits but you should maintain physical distancing. Gatherings of more than 100 will require completion of a Covid-19 checklist.

ACT: up to 500 people can gather together outdoors or in public indoor areas. There must be at least 4 sq m of space per person in indoor spaces and 2 sq m of space per person in outdoor spaces.

Can I visit someone in an aged care facility?
In every state, all visitors must have received this year’s flu vaccination unless they have a documented medical contraindication. Visitors cannot enter an aged care facility if they have recently been overseas, been in recent contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19, or feel unwell.

New South Wales: NSW Health provides guidelines for residential aged care facilities. Residents should have no more than 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 (instead of a communal area).

Victoria: there are no longer any restrictions on visits to care facilities in Victoria. People of any age can visit residents for as long as desired, as long as the rules set by the facility are followed. Face masks must still be worn.

Queensland: residents can have up to two visitors at any one time. There is no limit on the number of visits allowed in a day or the length of the visit.

Tasmania: residents can have up to two visitors at one time. There is no limit on the number of visits in a day or the length of each visit. Residents are allowed to go outside on trips, and hairdressers can be allowed in. Additional visitors are allowed for end of life support, or if needed to reduce distress and confusion given a resident’s medical condition.

Western Australia: each resident can have one care and support visit a day, with up to two visitors at a time. Only immediate social supports, such as family and close friends, professional help or advocacy services can attend.

South Australia: up to two people can visit at the same time for care and support. There is no limit to the length of each visit. Workers must wear a mask where physical distancing isn’t possible, and can work at only one site.

Northern Territory: residents can have up to two visitors at a time. There is no limit on the number of visits in a day or the length of each visit.

ACT: residents can be visited by up to two people at a time. There is no limit on the number of visits in a day or the length of each visit.

Can I eat at a restaurant, cafe or pub?
New South Wales: yes, but group bookings are 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 diners must provide name and contact details, including a phone number or email address, for contact tracing. Food courts have reopened.

Victoria: there are specific directions for differently sized indoor venues. Venues are capped subject to a density rule of one person per 2 sq m, with no other cap. There are no longer any group booking limitations.

Queensland: restaurants, cafes, pubs, registered clubs, RSL clubs and hotels with a Covid-safe checklist can seat any number of patrons as long as the 2 sq m-a-person limit is observed.

Tasmania: up to 250 are allowed in an undivided space as long as there is no more than one person every 2 sq m. Up to 1,000 people are allowed in an undivided outdoor space, density requirements permitting.

Western Australia: cafes and restaurants (including in pubs, bars, hotels, casinos, clubs) can open to up to seated diners, with one person every 2 sq m. There is no requirement for businesses to maintain a patron register, but they must display a COVID Safety Plan Certificate in a prominent location visible to patrons.

South Australia: restaurants, cafes, pubs, food courts, nightclubs and casinos have caps of 100 people, with density requirements of one person per 4 sq m total. Standing consumption, indoors and outdoors, is not allowed. Bookings are capped at 10 people maximum, with seated dining only.

Northern Territory: all businesses can reopen as long as they have a Covid plan. The two-hour limit has been lifted, meaning nightclubs can reopen. You can buy alcohol from a bar. Licensed gaming activities, including Tab, have restarted.

ACT: restaurants, cafes and other hospitality venues offering seated dining can host up to 500 patrons in each space, as long as there is one person per 4 sq m in indoor venues and one person per 4 sq m in outdoor venues. This limit excludes staff.

How far can I travel on holiday within my state?
There are no longer any restrictions except for Western Australia, where there are some restrictions on visiting some remote Aboriginal communities and South Australia.

Can I visit another state?
New South Wales: anyone can enter NSW. The Queensland-NSW border will be open to all travellers from NSW as of Tuesday 1 December 2020. Anyone travelling into NSW who has been to South Australia in the last 14 days must complete a NSW entry declaration form before entering NSW.

Victoria: no permit or approval is required for anyone wanting to enter Victoria, with the exception of South Australians, who require a permit. If you have travelled from a red zone in South Australia in the last 14 days, you are unable to enter Victoria, except for specific exemptions. If you have travelled from an orange or green zone, you will need to apply for a permit before you are able to enter Victoria.

Queensland: the Queensland border is open to all of New South Wales and Victoria. You will only be required to complete a Queensland Border Declaration Pass if you have been in a hotspot in the last 14 days, or overseas and didn’t fly into Queensland when you arrived in Australia. From Monday 16 November, 20 South Australia LGAs were declared a Covid-19 hotspot, meaning anyone travelling from there will be turned away at the border.

Tasmania: all travellers from ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, VIC and WA need to register via the Tas e-Travel system at least three days before entering Tasmania but can otherwise freely enter. Anyone travelling from South Australia must quarantine for 14 days in Tasmania (but may be able to do so at home). The intended quarantine location must be registered through the G2G PASS system.

Western Australia: travellers from ACT, NT, QLD and TAS will not be required to quarantine or present for Day 11 testing. However, they will need to complete the G2G PASS registration and declaration process. Travellers from NSW and VIC will need to self-quarantine for 14 days in a suitable premises as well as complete the G2G registration until 8 December, after which they will not required to quarantine. South Australians will not be permitted into WA unless new special exemption requirements are met.

South Australia: anyone travelling to SA must complete a cross-border travel registration, with travel open to everyone. Western Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, the ACT and the Northern Territory have closed their borders to South Australians, with some exemptions. The NT and Tasmania are imposing a 14-day quarantine on returning travellers from SA. NSW and Victoria have open borders with South Australia, with their respective governments advising travellers to either reconsider their travel or to be wary of the outbreak.

Northern Territory: you can enter provided you fill out a border entry form up to 72 hours before arrival and present it upon entry. You will be required to legally declare you have not been in an area the state considers a Covid-19 hotspot in the past 28 days. Penalties of up to $5,000 and up to three years in prison apply for providing misleading information. Declared hotspots for Greater Melbourne and Adelaide have been lifted. There is no longer any requirement to undertake mandatory quarantine for those travelling into the NT from interstate.

ACT: anyone can enter the ACT, however, under a Public Health Direction, anyone travelling into the ACT who has been in South Australia must complete an online declaration.

How many people can attend a wedding or funeral?
New South Wales: up to 300 can attend a wedding, subject to the 4 sq m rule indoors and 2 sq m rule outdoors. For weddings, up to 20 people in the wedding party are permitted on the dance floor. This applies only to members of the official wedding party and dancers cannot be rotated or substituted throughout the celebration. Funerals can be attended by up to 100 providing there is at least 4 sq m a person. This applies to indoor and outdoor ceremonies. Those attending will have to provide name and contact details.

Victoria: Weddings and funerals are subject to a one person per two square metres density rule, with no other caps. A wedding or funeral held at a private residence is limited to the number of people in the household, plus two visitors.

Queensland: up to 200 can attend weddings and funerals at a professional venue. Private wedding services in public areas or private homes can have a maximum of 30, including the bride, groom, wedding party and marriage celebrant if there is no Covidsafe plan. Private funerals performed in public areas or private homes can have a maximum of 200. A record of names and contact details of each guest must be kept for 56 days.

Tasmania: up to 250 can gather in an undivided indoor space, and up to 1,000 in an undivided outdoor space. In both cases, the number present must also not exceed one person per 2 sq m.

Western Australia: there is no limit as long as there is no more than one person every 2 sq m.

South Australia: weddings are capped at 150, and all attendees must register with SA Health. Funerals are capped at 50. Density limits of one person every 4 sq m at both.

Northern Territory: there is no limit but gatherings of more than 100 will be required to complete a Covid-19 checklist.

ACT: up to 500 guests can attend weddings or funerals, as long as there is no more than one person every 4 sq m. Dancing at weddings is permitted.

Can I go to my place of worship?
New South Wales: the number of people in a public place of worship must not exceed 300, and the 4 sq m physical distancing rule must be observed, even if men and women are in seperate areas. 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.

Victoria: religious gatherings are limited to 150 worshippers indoors and 300 outdoor, not including a faith leader.

Queensland: one person per 4 sq m. However, if the place of worship is less than 200 sq m it can have one person per 2 sq m, up to a total of 50 at either private or public services.

Tasmania: up to 250 can gather in an undivided indoor space, as long as there are 2 sq m a person.

Western Australia: attendance is limited only by the 2 sq m rule.

South Australia: capped at 100. Attendance is limited only by the 4 sq m rule.

Northern Territory: there is no limit on how many can attend at the same time but social distancing should be observed.

ACT: a maximum of 25 people, excluding staff and those conducting the service, across the whole venue.

Are schools back in session?
Yes, schools across all states have reopened to face-to-face learning.

In NSW there are some restrictions on activities, including requiring physical distancing for choirs, musical ensembles and class activities which involve group chanting. Full details can be found on the NSW government website.

In Victoria, students over 12 must wear a face mask if they are learning or doing onsite supervision unless they attend a primary school.

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, and, in South Australia, service providers wear a mask.

In Victoria, businesses that offer services where a face mask cannot be worn by the client for the duration of the service (such as facials and lip waxing) have now resumed. However, the person providing the service must wear a face mask at all times.

What about cinemas, entertainment venues, museums, libraries and open houses?
New South Wales: museums, galleries and libraries, National Trust and Historic Houses Trust properties are open to guests, as long as 4 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.

Victoria: entertainment and cultural venues such as music venues, museums, indoor and outdoor cinemas, and the casino are open, subject to capacity restrictions. Night clubs are also able to reopen. Brothels and strip clubs have reopened, but must have Covid-safe plans in place and follow strict patron limits. Libraries and community venues can hold up to 20 a venue.

Queensland: libraries, museums, art galleries, historic sites, indoor cinemas, concert venues, theatres, arenas, auditoriums, stadiums, nightclubs, outdoor amusement parks, zoos and arcades can reopen with a Covidsafe plan. Face masks should be worn upon entry and exit.

Tasmania: up to 250 can attend each undivided space in indoor recreational facilities, such as libraries, arcades, play centres, cinemas, museums, national institutions, historic sites and galleries, the 2 sq m rule permitting. Up to 1,000 are allowed in each undivided outdoor space.

Western Australia: community facilities, libraries, galleries, museums, theatres, auditoriums, cinemas and concert venues can reopen, as can Perth zoo, wildlife and amusement parks, arcades, skate rinks and indoor play centres. All venues can have as many people as the one-person-per-2-sq-m rules allow. There is a 50% capacity cap on major sport and entertainment venues, such as the Optus Stadium, HBF Park and RAC Arena. All events are allowed, except for large scale, multi-stage music festivals. Unseated performances can go ahead at concert halls, live music venues, bars, pubs and nightclubs, and the casino gaming floor can reopen under temporary restrictions.

South Australia: venues are open, but density requirements must be observed, with a maximum of one person per 4 sq m allowed at cinemas, theatres, concert venues, zoos, galleries, museums and historic sites.

Northern Territory: public libraries, art galleries, museums, zoos, cinemas and theatres, music halls, nightclubs, amusement parks, community centres, stadiums, sporting facility and similar entertainment venues can open.

ACT: movie theatres, indoor amusement centres, arcades, outdoor and indoor play centres, betting agencies, outdoor amusements and attractions, community and youth centres, galleries, museums, national institutions, libraries historic sites and zoos can sell seated (when applicable) tickets at no more than 50% of capacity of each venue. There can only be one person per 4 sq m throughout the venue. Audiences must remain seated at live performances.

Can I go to the gym? What else can I do for exercise?
New South Wales: gyms, fitness centres and studios (such as dance studios) may open for up to 20 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. Community sporting competitions and training can go ahead as long as the number in a facility does not exceed one person every 4 sq m, excluding staff, to a maximum of 500. You can use outdoor gym equipment in public, with caution, and enjoy activities such as fishing, hunting and boating.

Victoria: there are no limits on how long you can spend exercising each day or the number of times you are allowed to leave your home for exercise. Personal training is allowed and exercise in a group of up to 100 in a public place is permitted. For indoor exercise classes, the cap is 50 people. In general, gyms are subject to the one per four square metres density rule. Outdoor sport recreational facilities, such as tennis courts, golf courses or bowling greens, are open with some restrictions. Indoor exercise is allowed, with limits on the number allowed at once. Classes can resume with up to 20. Outdoor and indoor pools have opened, with restrictions on capacity. Outdoor non-contact sport can resume but limited to minimum number of people required for the game. Outdoor community sport for under 18s can resume under similar rules.

Queensland: yes, gyms, health clubs, yoga studios and community sports clubs can open for up to one person per 2 sq m up to a total of 50 if the indoor venue is 200 sq m or less. Indoor venues larger than 200 sq m can have one person every 4 sq m. People can gather outside, play non-contact sport and participate in outdoor group training and boot camps with physical distancing. Parks, playgrounds, skateparks and pools are open with physical distancing rules.

Tasmania: yes, up to 250 are allowed in an undivided indoor venue, as long as there are 2 sq m per person. Outdoor gathering limits have increased to 1,000. Full contact training and full competition sport (contact and non-contact) is allowed, as is sharing equipment, change rooms and other facilities.

Western Australia – Gyms, health clubs, and indoor sports centres can reopen for up to one person per 2 sq m. Gyms can operate unstaffed but must undergo regular cleaning. Contact sport and training can also recommence, and playgrounds, outdoor gym equipment and skate parks can be used.

South Australia: indoor play centres, amusement parks and arcades will all remain closed. Community or club sports fixtures and trainings, whether indoors or outdoors, will not go ahead, as well as swimming, other than for fitness or rehabilitation. However, gyms, recreation centres, trampoline and play cafes have all reopened. Outdoor fitness activities, such as boot camps and personal training sessions, are also allowed, with density restrictions in place.

Northern Territory: gyms, fitness studios and indoor training activities such as Cross Fit are allowed. You can also officiate, participate and support team sports, such as football, basketball, soccer and netball.

ACT: indoor gyms and fitness centres are open to up to 100 people in any enclosed space, as long as there is only one person per 4 sq m. Full contact training for sport, dance and martial arts, as well as circuit training, is allowed. From 9am 2 December, if businesses and venues want to have more than 25 people across their venue, they can apply the one person per 2 sq m of usable space rule in both indoor and outdoor spaces provided they use the Check In CBR app to collect patron contact details. Venues will have until Wednesday 16 December 2020 to register with Check In CBR to meet this requirement. The new maximum number of people for each space will be 500.

Who decides if I am breaking the new laws?
Generally, enforcement is left up to the discretion of police officers.

States have expressed different approaches. For example, the ACT says it will issue a warning while Victoria has adopted a more hardline attitude to those break social distancing rules.

NSW police commissioner Mick Fuller said he would review all physical-distancing fines.

“If I think it’s unreasonable, it will be withdrawn immediately and we’ll make personal contact with the individual,” he said.

What are my options for challenging a fine?
Not all states have specified this but it appears fines can be appealed using the same process as other issued by police.

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As case numbers linked to a cluster in the northern beaches in Sydney continue to rise, new restrictions are now in place across the city. These are the latest restrictions announced by the NSW government.

Location of hotspots as of end 18 Dec.

and

Greater Sydney metro region:
Household gatherings will be limited to 10 visitors (until 11.59pm Wednesday 23 December).
Related: Covid hotspots NSW: list of Sydney and regional coronavirus case locations

The one person per four square metre rule will be reintroduced for all indoor settings including hospitality venues and places of worship.
A cap of 300 people will apply for hospitality venues and places of worship.
Singing and chanting at indoor venues will not be allowed.
Dancefloors will not be permitted, except for weddings, when a maximum of 20 from the bridal party will be permitted.
People in the greater Sydney area and the Central Coast, Illawarra-Shoalhaven, and Nepean Blue Mountains, are also asked not to visit aged care facilities until 11.59pm on Wednesday 23 December, unless it is critical.

Northern beaches
A stay-at-home advisory was issued on 17 December for the northern beaches local government area. A public health order will remain in effect until 11.59pm on Wednesday (subject to health advice).

Related: Australia border restrictions: here are the new state and territory Covid rules for NSW travellers

The order requires local residents or people in short-term accommodation (such as hotels or rental accommodation) to stay at home.
People are also not permitted to enter the northern beaches LGA without a lawful reason.
Hospitality venues and function centres will close for the duration of the order, with the exception of takeaway from hospitality venues. Gyms and places of worship will also close.
A resident of the northern beaches may not participate in a public gathering involving more than two people, unless for permitted reasons such as attending work. Other exemptions to the two-person rule are listed in the order, and include gatherings involving family.
Acceptable reasons for leaving home include: shopping for food and other essential goods and services, travel for work purposes if working from home is not possible, travel to or from a school or educational institution, exercise, medical care, carer’s responsibilities or compassionate needs.
Other acceptable reasons for leaving home include accessing childcare, providing care or emergency assistance and to escape a risk of harm. A full list of requirements under different circumstances can be found in the order.
Source: NSW Health

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Residents of greater Sydney have again found themselves isolated, as every state and territory moves to lock them out after a COVID-19 cluster on the city's northern beaches ballooned to 70 cases.

Meetings of the nation's health ministers on Saturday and Sunday prompted announcements from premiers determined to prevent the virus jumping borders.

19 DEC TAS
Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein announces travel restrictions for Greater Sydney

New rules requiring people entering Tasmania from Greater Sydney will make it "very challenging" for the Sydney to Hobart yacht race to go ahead this year, Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein says.

Mr Gutwein said Greater Sydney will be classed as "medium risk" from midnight on Saturday. Sydney's Northern Beaches council area remains high risk.

"From tomorrow [Sunday], anyone who travels to Tasmania from the remainder of the Greater Sydney area, other than the Northern Beaches area, will have to quarantine for 14 days from arrival in Tasmania," he said.

Affected people will be able to quarantine at home if they have a suitable residence.

"If not, you'll be placed into government facilities at your cost," Mr Gutwein said.

"If you're going to quarantine in a suitable residence, other people in this residence who haven't travelled with you … will not be required to quarantine at this stage, however, you must ensure that appropriate social distancing occurs."

Mr Gutwein said only Tasmanians returning home and approved essential workers could come to the state from the Northern Beaches.

"The remainder of New South Wales will remain as 'low risk' for now," he said.

Mr Gutwein said it was unfortunate that the restrictions were coming into effect just before Christmas.

"But I make no apology for doing the right thing in terms of the health and safety of Tasmanians," he said.

Yacht race in doubt
Mr Gutwein said Sydney to Hobart yacht race organisers had been in discussions with Tasmanian public health officials early on Saturday.

He said officials would speak further with the race organisers.

"It's clear that these conditions would make it very challenging for the race to proceed, however, that is ultimately a decision that will be made by the race organisers."

Testing times
Mr Gutwein said testing rates were increasing in Tasmania, partly in response to concerns about the Northern Beaches cluster.

The Hobart testing clinic at Princes Wharf No 1 was due to close on Sunday afternoon and move.

Mr Gutwein said that clinic would remain open until at least Tuesday. The new clinic, on the corner of Argyle and Melville streets in Hobart will open as planned on Monday.

He said both clinics would be for bookings only on Monday and Tuesday to cater for increased demand.

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WA Premier Mark McGowan led the pack on Saturday, reimposing a "hard" border with all travellers from NSW.

WA
WA reinstates hard border with NSW after increased cases

The state's Premier Mark McGowan has moved NSW from low to medium risk.

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Mark McGowan says NSW should follow WA playbook on COVID-19 restrictions

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has urged New South Wales to follow his state's lead in preventing the spread of COVID-19, after the eastern state recorded 30 new cases overnight.

The new cases have prompted further restrictions in New South Wales, with residents in Greater Sydney — including the Central Coast, Illawarra Shoalhaven and Blue Mountains — not allowed more than 10 people in their homes.

Mr McGowan welcomed the new restrictions, saying it was a big improvement for the state.

"I'm pleased New South Wales has taken it very seriously and the sooner they get it under control, the better it will be for all of us," he said.

"I just urge New South Wales to do everything they can to kill the virus in their state."

However, the Premier criticised New South Wales quarantine arrangements for aircrew, following allegations of breaches and non-compliance.

It comes as New South Wales announced flight crews will now enter mandatory quarantine in two hotels near Sydney Airport, to be monitored by police and health authorities.

'Our measures worked': Premier
Mr McGowan said New South Wales should have followed WA's model in handling flight crews months ago.

"One of the things we did back in the start of August was we put all flight crews into a government-controlled hotel," he said.

"We told them you cannot just go into any hotel you like; you need to go into a government-controlled hotel in a single location."

[CHART WA cases] (CHECK IT HAS BEEN UPDATED)
Despite objections from the airlines and crews, Mr McGowan says the State Government did not budge.

"They didn't want to do it. They didn't like the food; they weren't happy with it, but we just said it's happening and you'll be there within two days," he said.

"And that's what happened. They all went into a single hotel and we haven't had any problems with flight crews as a consequence.

"Our measures to stop the virus coming in worked … I just urge New South Wales to follow our lead."

Mr McGowan also suggested NSW should adopt the same strict lockdown measures South Australia put in place after their recent second wave scares to "crush and kill" the growing numbers from Sydney's Northern Beaches cluster.

"It was pretty extreme what the South Australian Premier did, but it worked, so I would go as far as South Australia if I was New South Wales," he said.

"Just kill it, don't let it drift on.

"Clearly I'm not in New South Wales, but if this thing gets out of control in Sydney, it will be terrible, and I'd hate to see what happened in Victoria months ago happen in Sydney."

'A very sad thing for many families'
WA's hard border with New South Wales was reinstated from midnight last night, in response to the outbreak in Sydney.

The new restrictions prevent anyone from New South Wales — or anyone who has been in the state since December 11 — from entering WA.

Some exemptions will be granted on compassionate grounds — or for essential workers — but those travellers will need to complete 14 days' quarantine.

Mr McGowan said while he regretted having to make the decision less than a week before Christmas, it was a necessary call.

"I can only imagine, after months and months and months of being separated, [people] wanted to catch up for Christmas and now they can't and that will be a very sad thing for many families, but it was necessary," he said.

"Imagine if we had cases come in and we had to shut down parts of our state or parts of our economy or entire suburbs or businesses, it would be appalling to do that over Christmas and I desperately don't want that to happen."

Travellers find exemption process difficult
Travelling from Sydney, Kim Virgo and her mother landed on Perth soil on Sunday morning after going to NSW for a funeral.

She said while the exemption process to re-enter WA was a difficult one, she feels grateful to be back home.

"I had the exemption just before we got on the plane, but whilst we were in the air, it was denied, so they had to fix it when we got off the plane," she said.

"Extremely lucky and extremely grateful, and very happy to quarantine and do everything I'm supposed to do to make sure I'm home."

Mohamed Kondeh and his two children also landed in Perth on Sunday and found the approvals process strenuous.

He said their exemptions were approved several days ago but was rejected just hours before he got on the flight in Sydney.

"I didn't know I was knocked back until I was already at the airport," he said.

"I couldn't communicate [with WA Police], I was frustrated, I was angry.

"The kids, they were going crazy, but then trying to call the police in Perth because I was confused and frustrated.

"When I got here, I explained myself … and I got another exemption."

AFL player refused bail for alleged self-quarantine breach
Meanwhile, an AFL player has been arrested in Perth for allegedly breaching WA's COVID-19 laws.

Richmond player Sydney Stack was allegedly found by police in Northbridge in the early hours of Saturday morning, about 100km from his nominated self-quarantine address in Northam.

Stack had been granted approval to enter WA on compassionate grounds on December 10 to attend his grandfather's funeral.

The 20-year-old appeared in court today charged with failing to comply with a COVID-19 self-quarantine direction.

Stack was refused bail and will next appear in court on Monday.

WA recorded no new COVID-19 cases overnight.

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Only those with exemptions - such as essential health and freight workers - are allowed into the state.

On Sunday, Victoria declared greater Sydney and the Central Coast a red zone, shutting them out too.
VIC
All of Sydney and Central Coast barred from Victoria

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has announced the state is closed to anyone from Greater Sydney and the NSW Central Coast.

"From 11.59 tonight the Greater Sydney area and the Central Coast will join the Northern Beaches as a designated 'red zone'.

"Beyond that, the northern beaches will become a 'hot zone'."
Mr Andrews said any Victorians in the Greater Sydney and NSW Central Coast areas have until 11.59pm Monday night to get home before they will have to quarantine.

"If you, as a Victorian who has been in Greater Sydney, come back to Melbourne before - not midnight tonight, but midnight Monday night - you will have to be tested within 24 hours but you will be able to do your 14 days of quarantine at your home.

https://twitter.com/DanielAndrewsMP/status/1340513554877743106?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Key points from Daniel Andrews' press conference
From 11:59pm tonight all of greater Sydney and the Central Coast a 'red zone'- The Northern Beaches is a 'hot zone';
If you are a returning Victorian, you need to be home by Monday night midnight, after that time Victorians will have to enter hotel quarantine;
The road border with NSW becomes a hard border with police checkpoints;
The permit system is being reinstated;
Rest of NSW still a 'green zone'.
"If that is not safe, we will try and put you up in a hotel," the premier said.

Those not from Victoria who arrive in the state after midnight tonight will go into mandatory hotel quarantine.

Any Victorian returning home to the state from Greater Sydney or the NSW Central Coast will need to apply for an exemption permit to do so.

"They will be available from late tonight on the services Victoria website. It is critical you have that permit ready and completed at the point of entry," DHHS Deputy Secretary Jeroen Weimar said.

"If you do not have it, you will be turned back or face mandatory hotel quarantine."

Mr Weimar warned anyone trying to get back into the state to brace for long queues.

"Please allow extra time and make sure you have water with you and your paperwork in place so we can expedite the process and safeguard the whole Victorian community," he said.

Acting Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said it was encouraging that almost all of the new COVID-19 cases today could be linked to the Avalon cluster.

However, it was likely to be after Christmas before it was clear whether the Northern Beaches lockdown and tightening of restrictions for Greater Sydney would have the desired effect of staving off a second wave of the pandemic in Australia's biggest city, Professor Kelly said.

"It is quite localised but we won't know for another week whether that has been successful what has been done," he said.

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South Australia, Queensland, the Northern Territory and the ACT then followed.

SA
South Australia enforces quarantine and mandatory tests

South Australia has introduced new border restrictions in response to the escalating coronavirus cluster in NSW.

As of midnight tonight anyone who has been to the Greater Sydney area will be required to complete 14 days of suitable quarantine on arrival in South Australia, they will need testing on arrival, and on day 5 and day 12.

Hard border arrangements will be in place for anyone who has been on the Northern Beaches.

Regional NSW will be required to do the testing but won't have to isolate.

The new restrictions were announced today by South Australian Premier Steven Marshall.

Another three cases of COVID-19 were also confirmed in South Australia, which were all from overseas travel and in hotel quarantine.

https://twitter.com/HarveyBiggs/status/1340472405093875713
Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier said she was confident in how the government has handled the risks so far, but said the public had to play their part.

"You don't go out to a Christmas party if you are feeling unwell," she said.

Prof. Spurrier said a hard border with all of Greater Sydney was not yet required.

"We have a good way of doing the testing in South Australia ... we have a way of enforcing," she said.

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QLD
Queensland residents must return home from Greater Sydney before Tuesday, Premier says

Queensland residents who are in the Greater Sydney area have until 1:00am on Tuesday to return to the state and will have to get tested and quarantine at home on arrival, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says.

She said residents of Greater Sydney would not be allowed to travel to Queensland from 1:00am tomorrow.

There are still concerns about positive COVID-19 samples in sewage testing in Townsville, North Cairns, Cleveland and the Gold Coast.

Ms Palaszczuk is urging residents in those areas to get tested.

"Any symptoms whatsoever, even if they are mild, please go and get tested. It is absolutely important that Queenslanders do that," she said.

Contact tracing concerns
Ms Palaszczuk said there were also issues surrounding contact tracing registers at pubs, clubs and restaurants around Queensland.

"We are very concerned that when we went to contact-trace people at the Glen Hotel there was illegible handwriting and we were unable to trace people," she said.

Queensland venues must now have QR codes or electronic devices to record patrons' attendance.

Manual registers would no longer be allowed.

"You have 72 hours to get your house in order," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"Otherwise, you'll be going back to the one person per four square metres and people won't be able to stand up and have their drinks.

"We are in a serious situation, so that means we must be able to contact trace at any time."

Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young has urged anyone who visited The Glen Hotel in Eight Mile Plains, on Brisbane's southside, on December 16, to come forward and let health authorities know.

"The lists were incomplete or some people had written out their names and we couldn't decipher what they'd written," Dr Young said.

"It's now the 20th and we still haven't got hold of all the people who were at The Glen Hotel on the 16th and that is a real risk, because if one of those people is positive, then they are out in the community potentially spreading the virus."

Ms Palaszczuk said she was concerned about the situation in New South Wales and said the border measures were "necessary".

"When the New South Wales Premier says she is on high alert, we are on high alert," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"Anyone who has come from Greater Sydney over the past week, please go and get a COVID test.

"If you are from Greater Sydney, now is not the time to come to Queensland.

"We love you — we want you to have a peaceful Christmas at home — and hopefully in the months to come we'll be able to welcome you back to our wonderful Sunshine State, but now is not the time."

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said there were now 15 people in Queensland who were close contacts of positive cases in NSW.

"We will contact them and ask that they be tested and they will also have to go into quarantine," Ms D'Ath said.

Greater Sydney declared a hotspot
Dr Young said the Greater Sydney region would be officially declared a hotspot from 1:00am Monday.

"All of Sydney — it goes south down to Wollongong, … the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury and the Central Coast," Dr Young said.

"Any Queensland in those areas can return home until 1:00am Tuesday, where they will need to get tested and quarantine in their own home."

Non-residents from those areas wanting to enter Queensland will need to apply for an exemption and then enter hotel quarantine once granted.

"This is extremely important because we've seen an escalation of cases in Sydney," Dr Young said.

#dayssinceEMBEDfull

Dr Young also said the four locations that had located fragments of the virus in their sewage plants was of great concern to her.

"There are not explainable reasons why there are positives there, so I am concerned that we potentially do have people across Queensland who are active COVID-19 cases," she said.

Anyone in Townsville, North Cairns, Cleveland and the Gold Coast who experience symptoms should get tested immediately.

'Blitz of businesses'
Ms D'Ath also announced a "blitz of businesses" in Queensland, which would monitor if venues were making their customers check in.

"It is their responsibility to make sure that before people take their seats at venues or before they take their orders at counters, people have checked in," Ms D'Ath said.

She said businesses should have markers on the floor for social distancing and have hand sanitiser readily available.

"Supermarkets should reinstate measures such as staff greeting customers at entrances to encourage good practices like wiping down shopping trolleys and using sanitiser," she said.

Ms D'Ath said compliance teams would be "out in force" monitoring businesses and people who should be quarantining at home.

"You need to make sure you are not allowing visitors in your home while you are under a formal mandatory direction," Ms D'Ath said.

"There will be texting, there will be phoning and there will be random checks, to make sure people are at home and complying."

New border measures
Ms Palaszczuk said there were plans to reimplement a hard border closure if the cluster in NSW grew over the next few days, but there were only checkpoints in place for now.

"The checkpoints at the moment [are] police randomly intercepting," Ms Palaszczuk said.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the objective of the new border measures was to avoid harsh restrictions on Queenslanders.

"Our social distancing and other measures are so important, so that if somebody who's been exposed to the virus does get to Queensland, we can isolate them if possible, or have active contact details to identify anyone who has been exposed," he said.

State Disaster Coordinator Steve Gollschewski said 87 flights from Sydney, carrying 10,760 people, were checked in over the 44 hours since 4:00pm on Friday.

From those flights, 108 people were put into quarantine.

Mr Gollschewski reiterated that all travellers coming in from NSW must have a border declaration pass regardless of where they had been in the state.

Those coming out of the hotspot area will have a "Q Pass", which is a quarantine pass, and officers at the border will decide if they can quarantine at home or will have to enter mandatory self-paid hotel quarantine for 14 days.

"What you will see in the next 24 to 48 hours is the increase of checkpoints on our border," he said.

"Anyone who is in Sydney now, who thinks they can just slip through, they will probably find a checkpoint by the time they get here."

He said two people who were placed in home quarantine breached their orders after police conducted compliance checks.

One person was from the Northern Beaches and the other was from an airline crew.

"We are checking, so please abide by that."

Mr Miles said the border measures and social distancing would help ensure Queensland avoids another outbreak.

"These decisions aren't taken lightly — we know that just before Christmas they'll greatly impact on many people's plans," Mr Miles said.

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NT
NT Government declares Greater Sydney a coronavirus hotspot, effective immediately

The Northern Territory Government has declared Greater Sydney — including the Blue Mountains, Illawarra and the Central Coast — a coronavirus hotspot, effective immediately.

The declaration means anyone arriving from those locations will have to undertake a fortnight of supervised quarantine at a cost of $2,500.

Anyone who has arrived in the Northern Territory from those regions since the 11th of December needs to immediately self-isolate and get a coronavirus test.

"Please call the 1800 number — 1800 008 002 — and book an appointment to get tested," Acting Chief Minister Nicole Manison said.

Additional resources have been allocated to the hotline and its opening hours have been extended.

The Northern Territory follows Queensland, Victoria and South Australia in strengthening their border controls after New South Wales today recorded a further 30 more coronavirus cases linked to Sydney's Northern Beaches cluster.

The declaration previously only applied to the Northern Beaches area, which was declared a hotspot late on Thursday night.

"This is a tough approach and we are going one step further than other jurisdictions today by declaring this widened hotspot immediately," Ms Manison said.

"But we have to make the swift decisions, we have to make the hard decisions, and ultimately this is about keeping Territorians safe."

One hundred and thirty passengers on a flight from Sydney due to land in Darwin at about 3:30pm have been given the option of returning to Sydney or entering quarantine for free.

Declaration could apply for weeks
Hugh Heggie, the Northern Territory's Chief Health Officer, said the border controls could be in place for up to two weeks.

"These controls may be adjusted in coming days, depending on what we see, but it is possible the arrangements will be in place for 14 days," he said.

"The reason for that is we've got to look at the amplification — that is, the number of people that have been infected by those with the infection — as they've gone through the community."

An emergency management committee will meet regularly to review the declaration.

It comes just days after Northern Territory Police began to disassemble checkpoints at some of the Territory's smaller road entry points.

But Assistant Commissioner Michael Murphy said police resources were flexible and could respond to changing border controls.

"At the moment, what we're seeing is there's minimal traffic from areas identified under the Chief Health Officer's direction," he added.

Acting Chief Minister Nicole Manison acknowledged the ruling would be "really hard for people to hear today".

"We are just a few days out from Christmas and there have been many who have been separated from their loved ones for a very long time, and they were hoping to be reunited this week," she said.

"I am truly sorry for this, but we have to do what we can to keep people safe."

Dr Heggie again warned Territorians against complacency and urged them to adhere to physical distancing guidelines.

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People travelling from the hotspots will not be able to enter the jurisdictions from Monday.

If they do enter, they will have to undergo 14 days of hotel quarantine in most states, or quarantine at home in South Australia and the ACT.

Only those from greater Sydney will have to quarantine for two weeks on arrival in Tasmania.

Greater Sydney stretches from the Hawkesbury, Hornsby and northern beaches regions in the north, to the Blue Mountains in the west, and the Wollondilly, Campbelltown and Sutherland regions in the south.

Those who have been in the Wollongong local government area also cannot enter SA, while the NT, ACT, and Queensland have barred the entire Illawarra/Shoalhaven region.

ACT
Free travel between Canberra and Sydney suspended due to Northern Beaches coronavirus outbreak

The ACT will require all people entering Canberra from Greater Sydney and its surrounds to self-declare and quarantine from midnight tonight.

Residents of the affected areas have been told not to travel to the capital and Canberrans returning from them will be required to quarantine at home for 14 days from their time of entry.

The move to close the ACT to people from Greater Sydney and surrounding local government areas follows similar decisions by states and territories across the country.

Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said the restrictions would apply to people from Greater Sydney, Central Coast, Illawarra-Shoalhaven and Nepean Blue Mountains.

"If you are an ACT resident returning, you will be required to undertake 14 days' quarantine if you return after 11:59pm tonight," she said.

"If you are not an ACT resident, please do not come to the ACT.

"This will be managed by a declaration process rather than a permit process."

ACT Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman said transmission of COVID-19 in Sydney outside of the Northern Beaches was of concern to authorities in Canberra.

"What we are trying to achieve here is to prevent seeding of the virus any further," she said.

"For this reason, the ACT will be effectively closed to people from Greater Sydney and these surrounding regions.

"While we will not have these restrictions any longer than we need to, we need the community to be prepared that this is likely to continue over Christmas and potentially into the new year."

The ACT has also recorded one case of COVID-19 in hotel quarantine — its first in nearly a month.

Government requires travellers to self-declare
Anybody travelling to Canberra from one of the affected areas will have to fill out a form declaring they are entering the ACT.

They will then be required to privately quarantine, not leaving their home for any reason for 14 days.

"To implement this, all travellers from Greater Sydney, Central Coast, Illawarra-Shoalhaven and Nepean Blue Mountains will be required to notify us in advance by completing an online declaration form," Dr Coleman said.

"We are hoping to have this form up later this evening and it will be available and running by midnight tonight."

Dr Coleman said while the restrictions would come into force from midnight, some common-sense leniency would be shown.

She urged people to be patient and safe if they decided to come home tonight in light of the restrictions.

"Clearly if you are on the road and make it some time overnight that's OK," she said.

"If you are on the road right now, be safe driving here. Please do not put the foot down."

The border regime will require people to self-declare their entry into the ACT, but Ms Stephen-Smith warned there would be penalties for anybody who did not comply.

"There will be penalties and fines that are applicable," she said.

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Victorians can quarantine for 14 days at home if they return before midnight Monday.

Returning Queenslanders are offered the same deal until 1am Tuesday.

Acting Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly on Sunday defended the way states and territories responded, while offering his sympathy to Sydneysiders facing the prospect of Christmas alone.

"Talking to my colleagues in other states, they are taking a very proportionate approach to this using that hotspot definition," he told reporters.

"It's unfortunate that this is happening but we need to put safety and health concerns at the forefront.

"Those on the northern beaches of Sydney, my heart goes out to you. This is a tricky time in the lead-up to Christmas but please stay the course."

The NSW outbreak grew by 30 cases to 70 on Sunday, with Premier Gladys Berejiklian saying "the one positive is we still have not seen evidence of massive seeding outside the northern beaches community and our aim, of course, is to keep that in place".

The state government also beefed up its own restrictions for greater Sydney, which will remain in place until 11.59pm on Wednesday.

No more than 10 people are allowed at household gatherings and patrons will need to maintain a four-square metre distancing at venues.

Up to 300 people will be permitted at places of worship and hospitality venue attendance, while singing and chanting at indoor venues is banned and dance floors will only be allowed at weddings.

Northern beaches residents are currently under strict stay-at-home orders until Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, scheduled to begin on Boxing Day, has been cancelled because of the Tasmanian restrictions on visitors from NSW.

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The New South Wales Government says returned travellers carrying a mutated form of the COVID-19 virus have been detected in Australia; however, the new strain has not featured in the northern beaches outbreak.

The coronavirus mutation has spread rapidly in south-east England, leading several European nations to ban travellers from the United Kingdom.

Asked about the new strain today at a press conference, NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said two returned travellers from the UK who tested positive to COVID-19 were found to be carrying the mutated variant of the virus.

"We've had a couple of UK returned travellers with the particular mutations you're referring to," Dr Chant said.

"Can I be very clear that the Avalon cluster strain does not have those mutations."

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the strain detected in the northern beaches was "similar" to that found in a returned traveller who had arrived from the United States.

A World Health Organization (WHO) official told the BBC overnight that one case of the mutated virus had been detected in Australia.

WHO epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove said it had also been detected in the Netherlands and Denmark.

"We understand that this variant has been identified also in Denmark, in the Netherlands and in Australia — there was one case in Australia and it didn't spread further there," she said.

The highly-contagious strain has sparked stricter lockdowns in London and the south-east England over Christmas, impacting 16 million people.

UK officials have said the new variant of the virus could be up to 70 per cent more transmissible than the original.

Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said there was "no definite evidence" of a "significant change" in the virus, however.

"The way I look at this, as with every infectious disease, there are three things going on. An environment, host, humans, and the infectious agent," he said.

"The infectious agent has changed a little, [there are] a lot of people moving around in south-east England and [they] have been until the recent lockdown.

"It is also winter so those three are important elements to consider. In terms of what that means for people coming from the UK, everyone coming from the UK is going [in] to 14 days of hotel quarantine."

Dr Van Kerkhove said there was no evidence vaccines were less effective against the variant strain.

"What we understand is that we have increased transmissibility, in terms of its ability to spread," she said.

"There are further studies underway to really understand how much faster this spreads, and if its related to the variant itself or a combination of factors with behaviour."

"We understand that the virus does not cause more severe disease, from the preliminary information that they shared with us."

But she said there were a number of questions about the mutation that needed answers.

"More sequencing that can be done will be helpful to help us determine if this variant is circulating elsewhere," she said.

"The longer this virus spreads, the more opportunities it has to change. So we really need to do everything that we can right now to prevent spread."

The UK has more than 2 million cases and 67,500 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins University data map.

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TODAYS HUGELY LONG List of case locations in NSW
People who have attended the following venues are considered close contacts and should get tested immediately and isolate for 14 days after they were last there, even if they receive a negative result:

Avalon: Anytime Fitness on Avalon Parade, anyone who attended the gym on any day on or after Tuesday 8 December is considered a close contact and should get tested immediately and self-isolate for 14 days after they were last at the gym. Additionally, anyone who attended the gym between Monday 23 November and Monday 7 December is advised to get tested and self-isolate until they receive a negative result
Avalon Beach: Surf Club, Tuesday, 15 December, 8.30am to 9am
Avalon Beach: Avalon Beach RSL club, Friday 11 December at any time; Monday 14 December, 6pm-8pm
Avalon Beach: Avalon Bowlo (bowling club), Sunday 13 December, 5pm to 7pm and Tuesday 15 December, 3pm to 5pm
Avalon Beach: Bangkok Sidewalk Restaurant, Monday 14 December,7pm to 8pm
Avalon Beach: Barramee Thai Massage and Spa, Monday 14 December,2pm to 3.30pm
Avalon Beach Oceana Traders – Seafood Merchants, anyone who dined in any time from Monday 14 December until Thursday 17 December
Avalon Beach: Sneaky Grind Café, Monday 14 December, 9.30am to 11am
Avalon Beach: Sunset Diner, Friday 11 December, 6.30pm to 8pm
Cronulla: Pilgrims Vegetarian Café, Wednesday 16 December 11.30am to 2.30pm. Anyone who was at the café during this time for one hour or more must be tested immediately and isolate until 30 December. Other patrons should monitor for symptoms, and get tested immediately if they appear.
Cronulla: Cronulla RSL Club, Wednesday 16 December, 5pm to closing time. Anyone who was at the RSL at this time must get tested and isolate until further notice. Close contacts will need to isolate until 30 December.
Crows Nest: BoThai, 16 Willoughby Road, Sunday 13 December, 4:30pm – 5:30pm
Double Bay: Twenty-One Espresso, 21 Knox Street, Any staff working on Tuesday 15 December, and patrons seated in the indoor section on that day for more than 1 hour between 7.10pm and 8.15pm and 8.25pm and 9.10pm
Erskineville: Rose of Australia, Tuesday 15 December, 7pm – 8.45pm
Forster: Café Toscano (outdoor verandah area), Wednesday 16 December, 6pm-7:45pm
Freshwater: G Fitness, Tuesday 15 December, 11am-12.45pm
Kirribilli: Kirribilli Club, Monday 14 December, 12pm to 3pm
Lane Cove: Hair by Erika, Village Shopping Centre, Friday 11 December, 2.30 – 4:30pm
Manly: Manly Skiff Club, Corner of East Esplanade and Stuart Street, Saturday 12 December, 12pm – 2.30pm
Manly: Donny’s Bar, 7 Market Place, Saturday 12 December, 3:15pm – 9pm
Manly: Old Manly Boat Shed, 40 The Corso, Saturday 12 December, 9pm – 12:30am
Manly: Garfish Seafood Restaurant, 39 East Esplanade, Thursday 17 December, 6.45pm-10pm
Mona Vale: Anytime Fitness,Thursday 17 December, 9.50am-12.45pm
Mona Vale: Pearly Nails, 2/6 Waratah Street, Monday 14 December, 4:30pm – 5:30pm
Mona Vale: Mona Vale Golf Club (bar and function room), 3 Golf Avenue, Wednesday 16 December, 5pm – 10pm
Mona Vale: Pittwater RSL, Wednesday 16 December, 8pm – 10pm
Narrabeen: The Sands, Tuesday 15 December, 6pm-8pm
Narrabeen: The Boatshed Café & Bar, Lower Level, Monday 14 December, 2pm – 3pm
Neutral Bay: Café Junior, Woolworths Neutral Bay Village, 1-7 Rangers Road, Sunday 13 December, 12:45pm – 2.30pm
Newport: 4 Pines, Wednesday 16 December, 4.30pm-9pm
Newport: Rusti Fig Café, Saturday 12 December, 9am – 10:30am
Newport: Sankaku Izakaya, Thursday 17 December, 2:30pm – 3:30pm
Paddington: Salon X, 86 William Street, Wednesday 16 December, 9am – 6pm and Thursday 17 December, 9am – 8pm
Palm Beach: Palm Beach female change rooms, Sunday 13 December,9am – 9.15am
Palm Beach: Coast Palm Beach Café, Sunday 13 December, 10am – 11am
Penrith: Penrith RSL Club, Sunday 13 December, 1pm – 6pm
St Peters: Sydney Trapeze School, Tuesday 15 December, 10am – 12pm (only staff and patrons who attended the class for beginners)
Surry Hills: Nomad restaurant, Wednesday 16 December, 12:45pm – 2pm
Surry Hills: Strawberry Hills Hotel, Wednesday 16 December, 3:30pm-6pm
Turramurra: Salon of Hair Turramurra, Anytime from Tuesday 15 December to Friday 18 December, 9:30am – 3:30 pm
Woolloomoolo: Sienna Marina, Friday 11 December, 12pm to 2pm. Anyone who spent one hour or longer at the restaurant at this time must get tested and isolate until December 25. Other patrons should monitor for symptoms, and isolate and get tested immediately if symptoms appear
Anyone who was at the following venues on the dates and times below should get tested immediately and self-isolate until NSW Health provides further information:

Berowra: Anytime Fitness Berowra, Wednesday, 16 December, 5.30am-6.30am; Thursday, 17 December, 30am-6.30am
Mount Colah: Asquith Golf Course, Tuesday, 15 December, 6.30am-10.30m
Hornsby: Aura Threading and Beauty Hornsby, Thursday, 17 December 10am-1.20pm
Avalon Beach: Nourished Cafe and Lounge, Sunday, 13 December 10am-11am
Avalon Beach: Avalon Beach RSL, Sunday, 13 December 8.30pm-9.15pm
Avalon Beach: Avalon Bowling Club, Tuesday, 15 December 6pm-8.30pm
Avalon: Avalon Recreation Centre, Thursday, 17 December 11.50am-5.20pm
Avalon: Barramee Thai Massage and Spa, Wednesday, 16 December 2pm-3.3pm
Mona Vale: Bayview Golf Club, Monday, 7 December 11.45am-12.45pm; Tuesday, 8 December 11.45am-12.45pm; Friday, 11 December 11.45am-12.45pm
Belrose: Bunnings Belrose, Thursday, 17 December 4pm-5pm
Newport: ChaRice Noodle Bar, Wednesday, 16 December 1pm-2.30pm
Mona Vale: Coffee Brothers Mona Vale, Saturday, 12 December 12pm-1pm
Newport: Coles, Friday, 18 December 9am-10am
Newport: Lovat Restaurant, Friday, 11 December 6.30pm-8.30pm
Mona Vale: Dan Murphy Mona Vale, Thursday, 17 December 5pm-6pm
Warriewood: KFC Mona Vale, Friday, 18 December 12pm-1pm
Milsons Point: Kirribilli Hotel, Thursday, 17 December 12.45pm-3pm
Macquarie Park: Macquarie Shopping Centre (various), Sunday, 13 December 11am-1pm
North Sydney: Wednesday, Mr Green & Co, 16 December 1pm-2pm
People who have visited the following venues are considered casual contacts and should get tested immediately and self-isolate until they receive a negative result:

Artarmon: Roof Racks World, 15 December, 2pm – 2.30pm
Alexandria: Cortex Gym – Strength and Conditioning Class, Tuesday, 15 December
Avalon: Anytime Fitness on Avalon Parade, anyone who attended the gym between Monday 23 November and Monday 7 December
Avalon: Nourished Wholefood Café, 12 December, 7.30-7.40am
Avalon: Careel Bay Dog Park and Hitchcock Park, 16 December 7am-7.30am
Avalon: Hungry Ghost Café, 13 and 15 December, 9.30am – 11am
Avalon Beach: Chillbar, Monday, 14 December, 10.30am-11.30am; Wednesday, 16 December 10.30am-11.30am
Avalon Beach: Surf Life Saving Club, 13, 14 and 15 December, 9-9.30am
Avalon Beach: Commonwealth Bank, 47 Avalon Parade, 15 December, 12 – 12.15pm
Avalon Beach Oceana Traders – Seafood Merchants, anyone who purchased takeaway from Monday 14 December until Thursday 17 December
Avalon Beach: Woolworths, Sunday 13 December, 12pm – 5pm; 14 December 5pm – 5.30pm and Tuesday 15 December, 12pm – 12.30pm
Avalon Beach: North Avalon Cellars, 15 December, 6pm – 6.05pm
Avalon Beach: Oliver’s Pies, Careel Shopping Village, Monday 14 December,9am to 9.15am
Avalon Beach: Avalon Beach Post Shop, 16 December 3.30pm to 3.50pm
Avalon Beach, Mitre 10, 15 December, 12pm to 12.20pm
Avalon Beach: Chemist Warehouse, 14 December 5.20pm to 5.25pm
Avalon Beach: Sabiang Thai Restaurant, 13 December, 6-8pm
Avalon Beach: Café Relish, 8/1 N Avalon Rd, Avalon Beach: Thursday 17 December, 10.30am – 11.30am
Avalon Beach: Nourished Wholefood Café, 17 Avalon Parade, Saturday 12 December, 7.15am-7.30am
Belrose: Nick Scali at SuperCentre, 4/6 Niangala Cl, Belrose, 16 December, 10am-5.30pm
Bondi Junction: Westfield Bondi Junction, 15 December, 1pm-2.30pm
Brookvale: Warringah Mall: Wednesday 16 December, 11.40am – 1.30pm
Brookvale: High Tek Aquarium, 732 Pittwater Rd, Wednesday 16 December, 1.55pm – 2.55pm
Cronulla: Cronulla Mall, 6 Cronulla Street, Tuesday 15 December, 8pm – 9pm and Wednesday 16 December, 3pm – 6pm
Cronulla: Paris Seafood Café, 15 December, 8.30-9pm
Cronulla: Cronulla Mall, 15 December, 8-9pm and 16 December, 11am-12pm
Darling Point: RAN Sailing Association, Navy Bear Café and Christmas party, 13 December, 10:30am‑4:45pm
Dee Why: Dee Why Fruit Market, 15 December, 4.45pm – 4.55pm
Dee Why: HongFa BBQ Restaurant, 15 December 4.30pm – 4.45pm
Double Bay: Twenty-One Espresso, Any patrons who were in the restaurant for less than 1 hour, or those who sat in the outdoor area on Tuesday 15 December between 7.10pm – 8.15pm and 8.25pm – 9.10pm
Eveleigh: Seven West Media Building, 14 December, 8-11.30am
Erskineville: Rose of Australia, Tuesday 15 December, 7pm until closing
Forster: Beach Bums Café, Wednesday 16 December, 8am – 9am and Thursday 17 December, 8am–9am
Homebush: Harris Farm Warehouse, Flemington Markets, Tuesday 15 December, 2am- 11am, Wednesday 16 December, 2am – 11am, Thursday 17 December, 2am- 1pm
Manly: Manly Wharf Bar, East Esplanade, Saturday 12 December, 2:45pm – 3:15pm
Manly: The Steyne Hotel, 75 The Corso, Thursday 17 December, 3pm – 7pm
Mona Vale: Bing Lee, Monday 14 December, 4.30pm to 4.45pm
Mona Vale: Aldi, 13 Bungan St, 13 December, 12.45pm to 1.30pm
Mona Vale: Harris Farm, Mona Vale Plaza, 14 December, 11-11.10am
Mona Vale: Mitre 10, Tuesday 15 December, 8:30am – 5:30pm and Wednesday 16 December, 8:30am – 5:30pm
Mona Vale: Woolworths, 25/29 Park St, Sunday 13 December, 12pm to 12.30pm
Mona Vale: Fitness First Mona Vale, Pittwater Place Shopping Centre, 10 Park Street Mona Vale: Sunday 13 December, 2pm – 4pm; Monday 14 December, all day; Wednesday 16 December, all day
Mona Vale: Mona Vale Golf Club, 3 Golf Avenue, Wednesday 16 December, 11am – 5pm
Newport: Coles Newport, 11 December, 5-7pm, and 12 December, 3.15-3.30pm
Newport: Restaurant Lovat, 12 December, 2.15-2.25pm and 4.10-4.15pm
Newport: 4 Pines, Newport, 313 Barrenjoey Rd, Newport: Tuesday 15 December, 6pm-10pm and Wednesday 16 December 4:30pm-9pm
Newport: Restaurant Lovat, G04/316-324 Barrenjoey Rd, Saturday 12 December 2:15pm–2:25pm and 4pm–4:15pm
Newport: Bowan Island Bakery, Friday 18 December, 9am-9.30am.
North Narrabeen: Brot and Wurst, 16 December, 2pm-2.05pm
Palm Beach: Palm Beach rockpool, 14 December, 9:30-10:30am; 16 December, 8am-9am
Palm Beach: 2108 Espresso, Monday 14 December, 8am–9am
Peakhurst: Gannons Park, Forest Rangers FC, Little Rangers session, Friday 11 December, 4.30pm to 5.30pm. Any adults who were present should get tested immediately and self-isolate until they receive a negative result.
Raymond Terrace: McDonald’s Raymond Terrace, Tuesday 15 December, 11.45am-12.15pm
Riverstone: Blend @ Grantham Café, 16 December, 11-11.45am
Riverwood: Woolworths, Riverwood Plaza, 247 Belmore Road, Wednesday 9 December, 3pm–3:35pm
Roseberry: Mentmore & Morley Café and public toilets, 14 December 10am-3pm
St Peters: Sydney Trapeze School, Tuesday 15 December, any class after 10am
Surry Hills: Cuckoo Callay on Crown, Tuesday 15 December, 11am – 12pm
Terrey Hills: Hills Florist, 12 December, 8-8.45am – close contacts have been contacted directly by NSW Health
Terrey Hills: Forest Way Fruit Market, 16 December, 4-4.10pm
Warriewood: Northern Beaches Indoor Sports Centre, Tuesday 15 December, 6.30pm-9.30pm
Warriewood: Flower Power, Friday 18 December, 8.45am-9.30am
Confirmed cases travelled on the following transport services. Other passengers are considered to be casual contacts, and should get tested and isolate until a negative result is received.

Train from Roseville to Redfern, 14 December, 6.50am to 7.40am
Train from Redfern to Milsons Point, 14 December, 11.20am to 11.45am
Train from Milsons Point to Roseville, 14 December, 3.15pm to 3.40pm
Ferry from Palm Beach to Wagstaffe, 16 December, 6.15pm-6.35pm
Train from Artarmon to Wynyard, 14 December, 8:27am to 8:49am
Train from Wynyard to Artarmon, 14 December, 6:42pm to 7:01pm
Train from Artarmon to Wynyard, 15 December, 9:17am to 9:38am
Train from St James to Erskineville, 15 December, 6:34pm to 6:48pm
Train from Erskineville to Central Station, 16 December, 7:03am to 7:12am
Forest Coach Lines buses between Forestville and the CBD

Route 273, 15 December, departing Jamieson Square, Forestville, 7.10am and arriving QVB, 8am
Route 271, 15 December, departing QVB 5.25pm and arriving Austlink Business Park Belrose 6.28pm
Route 273, 16 December, departing Jamieson Square, Forestville 7.10am and arriving QVB, CBD, 8am
Route 271, 16 December, departing QVB 5.25pm and arriving Austlink Business Park Belrose, 6.28pm
Pittwater buses between Warriewood and Wynard Station

Route B1-1, 14 December, departing Warriewood BLine, Pittwater Rd 6.55am, arriving Wynyard Station, York Street Stand M, 7.50am
Route B1-2, 14 December, departing Wynyard Station Stand B 5.45pm, arriving Warriewood BLine, Pittwater Rd, 6.40pm
Route B1-1, 15 December, departing Warriewood BLine, Pittwater Rd 6.35am, arriving Wynyard Station stand M, 7.35am
Route B1-2, 15 December, departing Wynyard Station Stand B 5.25pm, arriving Warriewood BLine, Pittwater Rd, 6.20pm
Route B1-1, 16 December 2020, departing Warriewood BLine, Pittwater Rd, arriving Wynyard Station Stand M, 7.35am
Route B1-2, 16 December 2020, departing Wynyard Station Stand B 4.45pm, arriving Warriewood BLine, Pittwater Rd, 5.30pm
The following bus routes between Newport and Avalon Beach:

Bus Route 199, Saturday 12 December, departing Newport Hotel, Kalinya Street, 7am arriving Avalon Beach, 7.15am
Bus Route 199, Saturday 12 December, departing Avalon Beach 12.20am, arriving Newport Hotel, Kalinya Street, 12.45am
The following bus route from Palm Beach to Manly Beach:

Bus route 199, Saturday 12 December, 10.10am- 11.30am.
The following bus route from Rosebery to Martin Place:

Bus Route 304, Wednesday 16 December, departing Bourke Street (opposite Lachlan Street) Rosebery, 7.46am and arriving Martin Place Station Stand C, 8.11am
Bus Route 199, Thursday 17 December, departing Bourke Street (opposite Lachlan Street) Rosebery, 8.05am and arriving Martin Place Station Stand C, 8.30am
Everyone living in the northern beaches area should monitor for even the mildest of symptoms and come forward for testing immediately if they appear, then isolate until a negative result is received.

NSW Health has increased Covid testing options for the northern beaches community through three new pop-up testing clinics. They are available at:

• Avalon pop-up, Avalon Recreation Centre, 59 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon. Open seven days, 8am to 10pm

• Avalon pop-up: Avalon Laverty drive-through pathology, Avalon Bowling Club Car Park, Avalon Parade,Avalon Beach NSW 2107. Open seven days, 8am to 4pm.

• Newport pop-up, Newport Community Centre, 11-13 The Boulevard, Newport. Open seven days, 8am to 10pm.

• Warringah Aquatic Centre drive-through, 1 Aquatic Dr, Frenchs Forest. Open seven days a week, 8am to 10pm

Other northern beaches testing centres:

• Mona Vale hospital, Gate 3 Coronation Street, Mona Vale. Open seven days 7.30am to 5.30pm.

• Brookvale community health centre, 612-624 Pittwater Road, Brookvale. Open seven days, 8am to 6pm.

• Northern Beaches hospital, 105 Frenchs Forest Road (West), Frenchs Forest, (rear of emergency department). Open seven days, 8am to 5pm.

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Canberrans who rushed back to the national capital on Sunday from the New South Wales South Coast to avoid travel restrictions have expressed anger that the changes ultimately did not affect them.

ACT health authorities have now clarified their advice to travellers after new quarantine rules caused confusion.

As governments across the country reacted to the growing coronavirus outbreak in Sydney's northern beaches, ACT Health issued a public health order last night that came into effect on Monday.

The order forces anyone who has been in Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast or the Wollongong area to isolate themselves for 14 days if they enter the ACT.

Travellers must also notify ACT Health that they are arriving in Canberra by completing an online declaration.

However, ACT Health's initial advice said the restrictions also covered people who had visited the Shoalhaven region — a popular summer holiday location for Canberrans that includes Nowra, Jervis Bay, Ulladulla and Bawley Point.

It later clarified that the region was unaffected by the announcement.

ACT Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman told ABC Radio Canberra that she and Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith were "extremely sorry" for the confusion.

"We are working in good faith … to try to represent the situation as accurately as possible and as timely as possible," Dr Coleman said.

"We were working off the information we had from NSW, consistent with the NSW Government website.

"And we're doing everything we can to update the information as much as possible."

The ACT Government has also advised Canberrans against travelling to the listed areas.

Canberrans voice anger at 'ruined' Christmas
Pauline Dalziel was preparing to celebrate her good friend's 60th birthday at Dolphin Point on the NSW South Coast when she heard "Illawarra-Shoalhaven" was included in the ACT's latest travel restrictions.

Ms Dalziel had not seen her friends since before COVID-19 sent Australia into lockdown in March, but she did not want to risk being in quarantine over Christmas.

So, before the party began, she made the decision to rush home to Canberra.

"We were still wet from the beach so we were just about to have our showers and party up," she said.

"But we put everything in the car and we handed the key back. Of course we had to forfeit the couple of nights in our cabin."

Ms Dalziel said it meant she was "very disappointed" when she woke on Monday morning to discover that the Shoalhaven region was not even impacted by the ACT's travel restrictions.

"We had enormous plans that evening and today was another day at the beach and spending time with friends that we don't see very often," she said.

Ms Dalziel was not alone. The clarification also came too late for dozens of people who told ABC Canberra the advice had upended their holidays.

Unbelievable that the Shoalhaven region was an oversight/error in the ACT Health COVID-10 alert! My brother rushed out of my home last night from Lake Tabourie to return to Canberra before the border restrictions came into place at midnight! No issue with closing the borders, but jeez talk about a big mistake causing unnecessary chaos and stress! Thanks for clarifying. Denise

What a stuff-up. Rushed back three nights early last night from Jervis Bay. Small thing compared to what others are going through but was avoidable if someone had spent a little more time getting the list right before the announcement yesterday. David

Maybe next time the ACT Government should publish everything on the website with the correct information before telling people they have less than six hours to get home in the middle of the night. Thanks for ruining our Christmas at the coast. Sophie

Dr Coleman said ACT Health was "happy to take feedback" but staff were doing their best in a rapidly evolving situation.

"This moved extremely quickly … and we're also consulting and working with all the other jurisdictions."

[ACT - coronavirus cases special]
There were no new identified infections of COVID-19 within the ACT on Monday, but the ACT Government warned demand was high at testing centres, and Canberrans should be prepared to wait.

A decision made on Friday to return Weston Creek walk-in centre to normal operations — after it was used exclusively as a COVID-19 testing centre — has also been reversed, due to high testing demand.

ACT opts for 'self-declaration' over border permits
Unlike some states, the ACT has decided against setting up a border permit scheme — authorities instead expect all travellers to declare their entry voluntarily.

But Dr Coleman and Chief Police Officer Neil Gaughan said there would be a police presence on the Federal Highway from Tuesday.

"ACT Policing will be conducting random interceptions to speak with drivers about the new public health directions and any requirements to quarantine in the ACT," Dr Coleman and Deputy Commissioner Gaughan said in a joint statement.

"People are asked to be on the lookout for signs as they drive into Canberra to be aware of traffic arrangements and continue to drive to the conditions.

"It is important to emphasise that at this time there is no border closure between the ACT and NSW and no permit process in place to enter the ACT. However, under the Public Health Directions in place, anyone entering the ACT from the identified NSW COVID-affected areas, there is a requirement to complete a simple online declaration form that is available on the and to quarantine for 14 days."

All people from the nominated areas must self-isolate for 14 days from the time they left the area, and must get tested for coronavirus.

ACT Health says it will only consider an exemption for people from the quarantine rules if they are:

non-Canberrans who want to leave the ACT to go home
unaccompanied children
people who need urgent medical treatment
facing "highly exceptional compassionate circumstances", such as visiting a dying relative
Authorities say they will not grant exemptions for people simply because they want to spend time with family over the Christmas and New Year period, or because they return a negative COVID-19 test.

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Four travellers from New South Wales have breached self-isolation orders in Queensland.

The Sunshine State shut its borders to Greater Sydney at 1am on Monday, with Queensland residents allowed until 1am Tuesday to return.

Those that met the deadlines were allowed to quarantine at home, but those arriving afterward were being put in hotel quarantine.

However Queensland's Assistance Commissioner Shane Chelepy told the Today Show on Monday that people had already violated the self-quarantine orders.

'We have now had four people breach those quarantine orders. Queensland residents are being given the opportunity to get home to Queensland and to home quarantine before Christmas and we really need those people to do the right thing,' he said.

'If they aren't, and we find they are blatantly disregarding those order, they will be fined, they will be put into hotel quarantine.'

He said police would be visiting the homes of people in self-quarantine to ensure they were not going outside.

Huge numbers of people have rushed to the Queensland border in order to get in before mandatory hotel quarantine begins.

Assistant Commissioner Chelepy said 130,000 people had so far applied for border permits.

Seven-thousand people were greeted from 44 flights at airports in Queensland on Sunday, while checkpoints on highly used roads such as the M1 and Gold Coast Highway being reinstated.

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Huge traffic queues have formed at the Queensland border on the Gold Coast as interstate travellers leave Sydney to avoid a stint in mandatory hotel quarantine over Christmas.

Drivers were warned of massive delays on the M1 northbound, with lines stretching back eight kilometres to Tweed Heads South in NSW.

Traffic is stretching back 8km to Tweed Heads South.

Queensland Police have reinstated checkpoints on the road and are checking drivers have valid border passes displayed.

Assistant Commissioner Shane Chelepy said police are also manning checkpoints at airports, as thousands try to make their way back into the state.

"We have had over 130,000 people already apply for our Queensland border pass to come back into Queensland," he said.

"So we have already established some check points, our main checkpoints are on our high volume roads such as the M1 and the Gold Coast motorway.

"We have police in every domestic airport. Yesterday alone we met 44 flights with over 7000 people coming through those airports, so we are ready to go."

Queenslanders returning to their home state have until 1am tomorrow to get back before a mandatory hotel quarantine stay becomes their only option.

If they make it back before 1am, Queenslanders are able to spend their 14-day isolation period – and Christmas Day - at home.

The mad rush home comes as Victoria and South Australia also imposed new restrictions yesterday on anyone trying to enter the states from the Greater Sydney region.

If Victorians who have been in Sydney manage to reach the state before midnight tonight they will need to get a COVID-19 test within the first 24 hours and then isolate at home until they have the test results.

If they don't meet that window, they will have to go into 14 days of mandatory hotel quarantine and spend Christmas Day in a hotel room.

However, the situation was being made more difficult due to a large number of flights – at least 30 from Sydney to Melbourne - being cancelled this morning.

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Sydney's Northern Beaches are hopeful of a Christmas Day release from tough coronavirus restrictions after a staggering testing blitz revealed only eight new cases on Tuesday.

Seven of the new cases are directly linked to the Avalon cluster and the eighth is a healthcare worker from western Sydney who is involved in the transfer of patients from the international airport.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian is set to reveal on Wednesday whether the Northern Beaches have been successful enough in containing the outbreak, which will then allow them to have restrictions eased for Christmas.

Residents have been praised for their response, with majority abiding lockdown conditions and setting records for testing, hitting 100,000 COVID-19 swabs on Tuesday.

Testing is underway to figure out where exactly the healthcare worker who tested positive contracted the virus.

"This case has transported several patients but we have identified that they also have transferred positive COVID cases," Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said.

"We are obviously doing urgent genome sequencing to confirm that that is the source of their infection and those results will be available later today."

A close contact of the worker also tested positive to the virus last night, Dr Chant said.

"A close workplace contact of this healthcare worker has come back positive since the 8pm figures and that will be included in the count for tomorrow."


https://twitter.com/NSWHealth/status/1341173224889937920
State health authorities have issued alerts for more than 50 new venues where a positive case may have attended while potentially infectious and Dr Chant asked the community to keep up to date with warnings.

"We're taking a very low threshold for listing those venues so please keep alert and share that information with your friends as well," she said.

Venues outside the Northern Beaches on alert
NSW Health is focusing their attention on a number of venues outside the Northern Beaches area where community transmission may have occurred.

One of the venues of concern is the Rose of Australia hotel in Erskineville where one patron dined from 7pm to 9pm on December 15 while infectious.

Another diner tested positive on Sunday.

"We believe there has been transmission from the first person to the new case at the venue as they were both diners there at the same time," Dr Chant said.

The second case was part of a work dinner and all attendees at that dinner are being tested.

"We're also investigating how the contact between the first and second person occurred because that's casual contact between those," Dr Chant said.

"But I would urge anyone who has been there (to) be self-isolating."

The Paddington Alimentari deli and café in Hopetoun Street in Paddington is also on alert following the diagnosis of COVID-19 in a staff member.

All patrons who dined at the venue from December 17 to 19 are considered close contacts of a case and should get tested for COVID-19 immediately and isolate for 14 days from their visit regardless of a negative test result.

A positive case has also been identified after they visited a Bodyfit Gym on 27 Sackville Street in Blacktown on December 16 from 7am to 8am, December 17 from 7am to 8am and December 18 from 7am to 8am.

Traces of coronavirus have also been detected at a treatment plant at Hornsby Heights on December 19 from the sewerage system that drains parts of Berowra, Cowan, Berowra Heights, Hornsby Heights, Mount Colah, Mount Ku-ring-gai, Asquith and a small part of Hornsby.

Health authorities are aware of two positive COVID-19 cases in the area who are linked to the Avalon cluster but people in the area have been advised to monitor closely for symptoms.

READ MORE: NSW venues on COVID-19 alert

Record testing numbers
There was a record of more than 44,000 tests in the past 24 hours.

"That is a record we did not expect and I feel so proud and deeply grateful that people have responded not just in the Northern Beaches community, but throughout Sydney and throughout all of New South Wales and that's exactly what we want and what we need to see continue," NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.

Testing clinics in hotspot areas, particularly on the Northern Beaches, have been inundated with people coming forward for testing, with many enduring a three or four-hour wait time.

https://twitter.com/NSWHealth/status/1341199264777555968
'Do not rely on a test result'
Dr Chant urged anyone who has been told to isolate for 14 days to do so regardless of whether they return a negative test.

"Can I just say clearly, please do not rely on a test result," she said.

"If you are a close contact, a test result today does not mean what you are this afternoon or what you are the next day.

"If you have been told to isolate for the 14 days, please do so."

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NSW Health has added more locations to its list of exposure sites impacted by the coronavirus outbreak on Sydney's northern beaches.

New South Wales has now recorded 90 COVID-19 cases connected to the cluster.

Here is the full list of locations connected to the outbreak as at December 22, and where you can get tested for COVID-19.

Visitors to the following venues should self-isolate for 14 days even if they receive a negative result:
Alexandria: Cortex Gym – Strength and Conditioning Class, 1 Bowden St, Tuesday, December 15
Avalon: Anytime Fitness, Avalon Pde, on or after Tuesday, December 8; The House Nail Salon, 24 Avalon Pde, Monday, December 14, 10:30-11:30am
Avalon Beach: Avalon Beach RSL, 1 Bowling Green Ln, Friday, December 11, Monday, December 14 and Tuesday, December 15, all day until close; Wednesday, December 16, 1:00pm-12:00am; and Sunday, December 13, 8:30-9:15pm
Avalon Beach: Avalon Beach Surf Life Saving Club, 558A Barrenjoey Rd, Tuesday, December 15, 8:30-9:00am
Avalon Beach: Avalon Bowlo, 4 Bowling Green Ln, Sunday, December 13, 5:00-7:00pm, Tuesday, December 15, 3:00-5:00pm, 6:00-8:30pm
Avalon Beach: Avalon Recreation Centre, 59 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Thursday, December 17, 11:50am-5:20pm
Avalon Beach: Bangkok Sidewalk Restaurant, 1/21-23 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Monday, December 14, 7:00-8:00pm
Avalon Beach: Barramee Thai Massage and Spa, 4/42-44 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Monday, December 14, 2:00-3:30pm, Wednesday, December 16, 2:00-3:30pm
Avalon Beach: Nourished Cafe and Lounge, 17 Avalon Pde, Sunday, December 13, 10:00-11:00am
Avalon Beach: Oceana Traders – Seafood Merchants, 31 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Monday, December 14 until Thursday, December 17, any time
Avalon Beach: Sneaky Grind Cafe, Monday, December 14, 9:30-11:00am
Avalon Beach: Sunset Diner, 41 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Friday, December 11, 6:30-8:00pm
Avalon Beach: United Cinemas, 39 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Tuesday, December 15, 12:00-2:15pm
Avalon Beach: Avalon Beach Woolworths, 74 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Tuesday, December 15, 7:00-7:30pm
Bayview: Rowland Reserve Dog Park, Pittwater Rd, Wednesday, December 16, 4:00-5:00pm, Thursday, December 17, 4:00-5:00pm
Belrose: Bunnings Belrose, Austlink Park Niangala Cl, Thursday, December 17, 4:00-5:00pm
Berowra: Anytime Fitness, 25-29 Turner Rd, Wednesday, December 16, 5:30-6:30am, Thursday, December 17, 5:30-6:30am
Blacktown: BodyFit Gym, 27 Sackville St, Wednesday, December 16, 7:00-8:00am, Thursday, December 17, 7:00-8:00am, Friday, December 18, 7:00-8:00am
Cronulla: Cronulla RSL, 38 Gerrale St, Wednesday, December 16, 5:00pm to close, people identified as close contacts by NSW Health need to isolate until Wednesday, December 30
Cronulla: Pilgrims Vegetarian Cafe, 97 Gerrale St, Wednesday, December 16, 11:30am-2:30pm. Anyone who was at the cafe during this time for one hour or more must get tested immediately and self-isolate until Wednesday, December 30. Other people should monitor for symptoms, and get tested immediately if they appear
Crows Nest: Bo Thai, Pacific Highway, Sunday, December 13, 4:30-5:30pm
Double Bay: Twenty-One Espresso, 21 Knox St, Tuesday, December 15, 7:10-8:15pm, 8:25-9:10pm, any staff working and patrons seated in the indoor section for more than one hour during the times listed are close contacts and must immediately get tested and self-isolate for 14 days
Erskineville: Rose of Australia, 1 Swanson St, Tuesday, December 15, 7:00pm to close
Freshwater: G Fitness Freshwater, 72/80 Evans St, Tuesday, December 15, 11:00am-12.45pm
Forster: Cafe Toscano (outdoor verandah area), 1 Wallis St, Wednesday, December 16, 6:00pm-7:45pm. Anyone who attended this venue during this time for one hour or more must get tested immediately and self-isolate until December 30
Gordon: USA Nails, 788A Pacific Highway, Thursday, December 17, 12:30-1:30pm
Hornsby: Aura Threading and Beauty Hornsby, Westfield Hornsby, Shop 2067, L2/236 Pacific Hwy, Thursday, December 17, 10:00am-1:20pm
Kirribilli: Kirribilli Club, Monday, December 14, 12:00-3:00pm
Lane Cove: Hair by Erika, Village Shopping Centre, Friday, December 11, 2:30-4:30pm
Macquarie Park: Premier Academy League Under 8s, Macquarie University Soccer Fields, Macquarie Park, Sunday, December 13, 9:00-11:00am
Manly: Donnys Bar, 7 Market Pl, Saturday, December 12, 3:15-9:00pm
Manly: Garfish Manly, Level 1, 39 East Esp, Thursday, December 17, 6:45-10:00pm
Manly: Manly Skiff Club, Corner of East Esp and Stuart St, Saturday, December 12, 12:00-2:30pm
Manly: Old Manly Boat Shed, 40 The Corso, Saturday, December 12, 9:00pm-12:30am
Manly: Hotel Steyne, 75 The Corso, Saturday, December 12, 3:00-3:30pm
Milsons Point: Kirribilli Hotel Milsons Point, 35-37 Broughton St, Thursday, December 17, 12:45-3:00pm
Mona Vale: Anytime Fitness, 7 Taronga Pl, Thursday, December 17, 9:50am-12:45pm
Mona Vale: Bayview Golf Club, 1825 Pittwater Rd, Monday, December 7, 11:45am-12:45pm, Tuesday, December 8, 11:45am-12:45pm, Friday, December 11, 11:45am-12:45pm
Mona Vale: Coffee Brothers Mona Vale, 1/54-56 Darley St, Saturday, December 12, 12:00-1:00pm
Mona Vale: Dan Murphys Mona Vale, 25-29 Park St, Thursday, December 17, 5:00-6:00pm
Mona Vale: Fitness First Mona Vale, Pittwater Place Shopping Centre, 10 Park St, Sunday, December 13, 2:00-4:00pm, Monday, December 14 and Wednesday, December 16, all day
Mona Vale: Park House Hotel, 2 Park St, Wednesday, December 16, 8:00-10:00pm
Mona Vale: Pearly Nails, Shop 2/6 Waratah St, Monday, December 14, 4:30-5:30pm
Mona Vale: Pilates KX, Shop 5/1 Mona Vale Rd, Monday, December 14, 7:00-9:00pm
Mona Vale: Pittwater RSL, 82 Mona Vale Rd, Wednesday, December 16, 8:00-10:00pm
Mona Vale: Mona Vale Golf Club, Bar or Function Room, 3 Golf Ave, Wednesday, December 16, 5:00-10:00pm
Narrabeen: The Boatshed Cafe & Bar, Lower Level 11 Narrabeen St, Monday, December 14, 2:00-3:00pm
The Sands, 1260 Pittwater Rd, Tuesday, December 15, 6:00-8:00pm
Neutral Bay: Cafe Junior, Woolworths Neutral Bay Village, 1-7 Rangers Rd, Sunday, December 13, 12:45-2:30pm
Newport: ChaRice Noodle Bar, 2/331-335 Barrenjoey Rd, Wednesday, December 16, 1:00-2:30pm
Newport: Newport Coles, 381 Barrenjoey Rd, Friday, December 18, 9:00-10:00am
Newport: 4 Pines Newport, 313 Barrenjoey Rd, Tuesday, December 15, 6:00-10:00pm, Wednesday, December 16, 4:30-9:00pm
Newport: Restaurant Lovat, G04 The Palms, 316-324 Barrenjoey Rd, Friday, December 11, 6:30-8:30pm, Tuesday, December 15, 6:30-8:30pm. Patrons sitting inside or staff working on the floor at the bar are close contacts and must get tested and self-isolate for 14 days even if they receive a negative result. All other patrons are casual contacts who must get tested immediately and isolate pending a result
Newport: Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, 16 Mitala St, Wednesday, December 16, 5:00-6:00pm
Newport: Rusti Fig, 3/363 Barrenjoey Rd, Saturday, December 12, 9:00-10:30am
Newport: Sankaku Izakaya, 376 Barrenjoey Rd, Thursday, December 17, 2:30-3:30pm
Newport: Shot Lab, 1/326-330 Barrenjoey Rd, Tuesday, December 15, 11:00am-12:00pm
North Sydney: Mr Green & Co North Sydney, 1/66 Berry S, Wednesday, December 16, 1:00-2:00pm
Paddington: Paddington Alimentari, 2 Hopetoun St, Thursday, December 17 to Saturday, December 18 from 5:30am-6:00pm. All patrons who were seated at this venue, inside or outside, at the above times should get tested immediately and isolate for 14 days regardless of the result. Patrons who bought takeaway should monitor for symptoms, and isolate and get tested immediately should they appear
Paddington: Salon X, 86 William St, Wednesday, December 16, 9:00am-6:00pm, Thursday, December 17, 9:00am-8:00pm
Palm Beach: Palm Beach female change rooms (in toilet block with small change area at the swimming pool at the southern end), Sunday, December 13, 9:00-9:15am
Palm Beach: Coast Palm Beach Cafe, Barrenjoey Rd, Sunday, December 13, 10:00-11:00am
Palm Beach: Pronto Creative Foods, 1095 Barrenjoey Rd, Wednesday, December 16, 7:30-8:30am, Thursday, December 17, 7:30-8:30am
Penrith: Penrith RSL Club, Sunday, December 13, 1:00-6:00pm
St Peters: Sydney Trapeze School, 1/7 Unwins Bridge Rd, Tuesday, December 15, 10:00am-12:00pm. Anyone in the class for beginners (staff and patrons) on this date and time should get tested immediately and self-isolate for 14 days
Sydney: Paragon Hotel, Sports Bar, 1 Loftus St, Wednesday, December 16, 12:45-3:30pm. Anyone who attended the Sports Bar during this time for more than one hour is considered a close contact and should get tested and self-isolate for 14 days even if they receive a negative result. Anyone who attended the Sports Bar during this time for less than one hour get tested immediately and self-isolate until they receive a negative result. Continue to watch for COVID-19 symptoms and if any symptoms occur, get tested again. Other people who attended other areas of the Paragon Hotel during this time should monitor for symptoms and isolate and get tested immediately if symptoms appear.
Surry Hills: Nomad Restaurant 16 Foster St, Wednesday, December 16, 12:45-2:00pm. Anyone who attended this venue during this time for one hour or more must get tested immediately and self-isolate until December 30
Surry Hills: Strawberry Hills Hotel, 453 Elizabeth St, Wednesday, December 16, 3:30-6:00pm. Anyone who attended this venue during this time for one hour or more must get tested immediately and self-isolate until December 30
Turramurra: Salon for Hair, 3/1335 Pacific Highway. Anyone who attended this venue anytime between Tuesday, December 15 and Friday, December 18 inclusive should get tested and isolate for 14 days regardless of the result
Warriewood: KFC Mona Vale, 1B Ponderosa Pde, Friday, December 18, 12:00-1:00pm
Warriewood: United Cinemas, 4 Vuko Pl, Tuesday, December 15, 12:00-2:30pm
Warriewood: Warriewood Headland Private Tennis Court (inside clubhouse and outside on courts), Monday, December 14, 9:30am-12:00pm
Warriewood: Warriewood Square Kmart, Rebel Sport, Woolworths, Aldi, and Surf Dive N Ski, 12 Jackson Rd, Tuesday, December 8, 12:30-2:15pm, Tuesday, December 15, 3:30-4:30pm, Wednesday, December 16, 11:00am-12:15pm, Thursday, December 17, 11:00am-3:00pm
Woolloomooloo: Sienna Marina, 7-41 Cowper Wharf Rd, Friday, December 11, 12:00-2:00pm. Anyone who spent one hour or longer at the restaurant at this time must get tested and self-isolate until December 25
Visitors to the following venues should get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result:
Artarmon: Roof Racks World, 13/87 Reserve Rd, Tuesday, December 15, 2:00-2:30pm
Avalon Beach: Careel Bay Dog Park and Hitchcock Park, Barrenjoey Rd, Wednesday, December 16, 7:00-7:30am
Avalon Beach: Hungry Ghost Cafe, 20 Avalon Pde, Sunday, December 13, 9:30-11:00am, Tuesday, December 15, 9:30-11:00am
Avalon Beach: Nourished Wholefood Cafe, 17 Avalon Pde, Saturday, December 12, 7:15-7:40am
Avalon Beach: Anytime Fitness, Avalon Pde. Anyone who attended this venue at any time between Monday, November 23 and Monday, December 7 should get tested immediately and self-isolate until they receive a negative result
Avalon Beach: Avalon Beach RSL, 1 Bowling Green Ln, Wednesday, December 16, opening time to 1:00pm
Avalon Beach: Oceana Traders – Seafood Merchants, 31 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Monday, December 14 until Thursday, December 17. Anyone who purchased take-away from the venue on these days should get tested immediately and self-isolate until they receive a negative result
Avalon Beach: Avalon Beach Post Shop, 45 Avalon Pde, Wednesday, December 16, 3:30-3:50pm
Avalon Beach: Cafe Relish, 8/1 North Avalon Rd, Thursday, December 17, 10:30-11:30am
Avalon Beach: Chemist Warehouse, 4/74 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Monday, December 14, 5:20-5:25pm
Avalon Beach: Chillbar, 74 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Monday, December 14, 10:30-11:30am, Wednesday, December 16, 10:30-11:30am
Avalon Beach: Avalon Beach Commonwealth Bank, 47 Avalon Pde, Tuesday, December 15, 12:00-12:15pm
Avalon Beach: Mitre 10, 49 Avalon Pde, Tuesday, December 15, 12:00-12:20pm
Avalon Beach: North Avalon Cellars, 4/3 North Avalon Rd, Tuesday, December 15, 6:00-6:05pm
Avalon Beach: Oliver's Pies, Careel Shopping Village, 1 Careel Head Rd, Monday, December 14, 9:00-9:15am
Avalon Beach: Sabiang Thai Restaurant, 4/49 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Sunday, December 13, 6:00-8:00pm
Avalon Beach: Avalon Beach Surf Life Saving Club, Sunday, December 13, Monday, December 14 and Tuesday, December 15, 9:00-9:30am
Avalon Beach: Avalon Beach Woolworths, 74 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Sunday, December 13, 12:00-5:00pm, Monday, December 14, 5:00-5:30pm, Tuesday, December 15, 12:00-12:30pm. If you attended Saturday, December 12, 12-12.15pm you should monitor for symptoms and immediately get tested if they appear
Belrose: Nick Scali at SuperCentre, 4/6 Niangala Cl, Wednesday, December 16, 10:00am-5:30pm
Bondi Junction: Westfield Bondi Junction, Tuesday, December 15, 1:00-2:30pm. Anyone who visited the shopping mall at this time should monitor for symptoms and if symptoms occur get tested and self-isolate
Brooklyn: The Anglers Rest, 216 Brooklyn Rd, Thursday, December 17, 5:30-7:15pm
Brookvale: Hi-Tek Aquariums, 732 Pittwater Rd, Wednesday, December 16, 1:55-2:55pm
Brookvale: Warringah Mall, Corner of Old Pittwater Rd and Condamine St, Wednesday, December 16, 11:40am-1:30pm. Anyone who was at the mall at this time should monitor for symptoms and if symptoms occur get tested and self-isolate
Cronulla: Cronulla Mall (open-air pedestrian plaza covering the northern half of Cronulla St including shops on either side), Tuesday, December 15, 8:00-9:00pm, Wednesday, December 16, 3:00-6:00pm. People who visited this shopping mall are considered casual contacts. They should monitor for symptoms and if symptoms occur get tested and self-isolate
Cronulla: Paris Seafood Cafe, 136 Cronulla St, Tuesday, December 15, 8:30-9:00pm
Double Bay: Twenty-One Espresso, 21 Knox St, Tuesday, December 15, 7:10-8:15pm, 8:25-9:10pm. Any patrons who were in the restaurant for less than one hour, or those who sat in the outdoor area at the times listed, are casual contacts and must get tested immediately and self-isolate until they receive a negative result
Darling Point: RAN Sailing Association, Navy Bear Cafe and Christmas party, Sunday, December 13, 10:30am-4:45pm
Dee Why: Dee Why Fruit Market, 33 Oaks Ave, Tuesday, December 15, 4:45-4:55pm
Dee Why: HongFa BBQ Restaurant, Tuesday, December 15, 4:30-4:45pm
Eveleigh: Seven West Media Building, 8 Central Ave, Monday, December 14, 8:00am-11:30am
Forster: Cafe Toscano (outdoor verandah area), 1 Wallis St, Wednesday, December 16, 6:00pm-7:45pm. Anyone who attended this venue during this time for less than one hour should monitor for symptoms and get tested immediately if they appear
Forster: Beach Bums Cafe, Cnr Beach St and North St, Wednesday, December 16, 8:00-9:00am, Thursday, December 17, 8:00-9:00am
Gundagai: Oliver's Real Food, 31 Annie Pyers Dr, Friday, December 18, 5:30-6:05pm
Homebush: Harris Farm Warehouse, Flemington Markets, Potts St, Tuesday, December 15, 2:00-11:00am, Wednesday, December 16, 2:00-11:00am, Thursday, December 17, 2:00am-1:00pm
Macquarie Park: Macquarie Shopping Centre (various), Cnr Herring and Waterloo roads, Sunday, December 13, 11:00am-1:00pm
Manly: Manly Wharf Bar, E Esplanade, Saturday, December 12, 2:45-3:15pm
Manly: Hotel Steyne, 75 The Corso, Saturday, December 12, 3:00-3:30pm, Thursday, December 17, 3:00-7:00pm. Anyone at the venue at this time should get tested immediately and self-isolate until they receive a negative result. They should continue to monitor for symptoms and if any symptoms occur, get tested again
Mona Vale: Aldi Mona Vale, 13 Bungan St, Sunday, December 13, 12:45-1:30pm
Mona Vale: Bing Lee, Gateway, 1 Mona Vale Rd, Monday, December 14, 4:30-4:45pm
Mona Vale: Woolworths Mona Vale, 25/29 Park St, Sunday, December 13, 12:00-12:30pm. If you attended this venue at this time you should monitor for symptoms and immediately get tested and isolate if they appear.
Mona Vale: Harris Farm, Mona Vale Plaza, Monday, December 14, 11:00-11:10am
Mona Vale: Mona Vale Golf Club. Anyone who attended this venue (but not the bar or function room) between 11:00am-5:00pm should get tested immediately and self-isolate until they receive a negative result
Mona Vale: Mitre 10, 73 Bassett St, Tuesday, December 15, 8:30am-5:30pm, Wednesday, December 16, 8:30am-5:30pm
Newport: Bowan Island Bakery, 383 Barrenjoey Rd, Friday, December 18, 9:00-9:30am
Newport: Restaurant Lovat, G04, The Palms, 316-324 Barrenjoey Rd, Saturday, December 12, 2:15-2:25pm, 4:00-4:15pm
Newport: Newport Coles, 381 Barrenjoey Rd, Friday, December 11, 5:00-7:00pm, Saturday, December 12, 3:15-3:30pm
Newtown: Woolworths Metro Erskineville, 21-23 Erskineville Rd, Tuesday, December 15, 6:45-6:55pm
North Narrabeen: Brot and Wurst, 1442 Pittwater Rd, Wednesday, December 16, 2:00-2:05pm
Orange: Orange Central Square Shopping Centre, 227-239 Summer St, Saturday, December 19, 4:05-4:15pm
Paddington: London Hotel, 85 Underwood St, Thursday, December 17, 8:15-9:30pm
Palm Beach: Palm Beach Pool, Lot 1 Rock Bath Rd, Wednesday, December 16, 8:00-9:00am
Palm Beach: Palm Beach Rockpool, Lot 1 Rock Bath Rd, Monday, December 14, 9:30-10:30am
Palm Beach: 2108 Espresso, 3/24 Ocean Rd, Monday, December 14, 8:00-9:00am
Peakhurst: Gannons Park, Forest Rangers FC, Little Rangers session, Friday, December 11, 4:30-5:30pm. Any adults who were present should get tested immediately and self-isolate until they receive a negative result. They should continue to monitor for symptoms and if any symptoms occur, get tested again. Children who were present should be monitored for symptoms and get tested if any symptoms occur
Raymond Terrace: McDonalds Raymond Terrace, William Bailey St, Tuesday, December 15, 11:45am-12:15pm
Riverstone: Blend @ Grantham Cafe, 43 Grantham S, Wednesday, December 16, 11:00-11:45am
Riverwood: Woolworths, Riverwood Plaza, 247 Belmore Rd. Wednesday, December 9, 3:00-3:35pm
Rosebery: Mentmore and Morley Cafe and public toilets, 55 Mentmore Ave, Monday, December 14, 10:00am-3:00pm
Surry Hills: Nomad Restaurant 16 Foster St, Wednesday, December 16, 12:45-2:00pm. Anyone who attended this venue during this time for less than one hour should monitor for symptoms and get tested immediately if they appear
Surry Hills: Cuckoo Callay on Crown, 413 – 415 Crown St, Tuesday, December 15, 11:00am-12:00pm
Surry Hills: Strawberry Hills Hotel, 453 Elizabeth St, Wednesday, December 16, 3:30-6:00pm. Anyone who attended this venue during this time for less than one hour should monitor for symptoms and get tested immediately if they appear
St Peters: Sydney Trapeze School, 1/7 Unwins Bridge Rd, Tuesday, December 15, 10:00am-12:00pm. Anyone in any class other than the class for beginners on this day after 10:00am should get tested immediately and self-isolate until they receive a negative result
Sydney: Paragon Hotel, Sports Bar, 1 Loftus St, Wednesday, December 16, 12:45-3:30pm. Anyone who attended the Sports Bar during this time for less than one hour should get tested immediately and self-isolate until they receive a negative result, then continue to watch for COVID-19 symptoms and if, any symptoms occur, get tested again. Other people who attended other areas of the Paragon Hotel during this time should monitor for symptoms and isolate and get tested immediately if they appear
Sydney: Shopping mall, 1 Bligh St, Thursday, December 17, 10:30-10:50am. Anyone who visited this shopping mall at this date and time should monitor for symptoms and get tested and self-isolate if symptoms develop
Sydney: Arthouse Hotel, 275 Pitt St, Thursday, December 17, 11:15am-12:15pm
Terrey Hills: Forest Way Fruit Market, 2 Myoora St, Wednesday, December 16, 4:00-4:10pm
Terrey Hills: Hills Florist, Saturday, December 12, 8:00-8:45am. Close contacts have been contacted directly by NSW Health
Warriewood: Flower Power, 22 Macpherson St, Friday, December 18, 8:45-9:30am
Warriewood: Warriewood McDonalds Restaurant, Warriewood Rd, Thursday, December 17, 1:30-2:00pm
Warriewood: Northern Beaches Indoor Sports Centre, Jacksons Rd, Tuesday, December 15, 6:30-9:30pm
Woolloomooloo: Sienna Marina, 7-41 Cowper Wharf Rd, Friday, December 11, 12:00-2:00pm. Anyone there at this time should monitor for symptoms and isolate and get tested immediately if they appear
Passengers on the following public transport routes should self-isolate for 14 days even if they receive a negative result:
Bus routes

Route B1-1, Monday, December 14, departing Warriewood BLine, Pittwater Rd, 6:55am, arriving Wynyard Station, York St, Stand M, 7:50am
Route B1-2, Monday, December 14, departing Wynyard Station Stand B 5:45pm, arriving Warriewood BLine, Pittwater Rd, 6:40pm
Route B1-1, Tuesday, December 15, departing Warriewood BLine, Pittwater Rd 6:35am, arriving Wynyard Station Stand M, 7:35am
Route B1-2, Tuesday, December 15, departing Wynyard Station Stand B 5:25pm, arriving Warriewood BLine, Pittwater Rd, 6:20pm
Route B1-1, Wednesday, December 16, departing Warriewood BLine, Pittwater Rd 6:50am, arriving Wynyard Station Stand M, 7:35am
Route B1-2, Wednesday, December 16, departing Wynyard Station Stand B 4:45pm, arriving Warriewood BLine, Pittwater Rd, 5:30pm
Passengers on the following public transport routes should get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result:
Bus routes

Route 199, Saturday, December 12, departing Newport Hotel, Kalinya St, 7:00am, arriving Avalon Beach, 7:15am; departing Palm Beach at 10.10am, arriving Manly Beach at 11:30am; departing Avalon Beach 12:20am, arriving Newport Hotel, Kalinya St, 12:45am
Route M52, Tuesday, December 15, departing Ryde, St Charles Primary School at 8:09am and arriving at Elizabeth St, Sydney, Martin Place Stn Stand C at 8:46am, departing Elizabeth St, Sydney, Martin Place Stn Stand C at 5:52pm and arriving at Ryde, St Charles Primary School at 6:34pm; Wednesday, December 16, departing Ryde, St Charles Primary School at 8:24am and arriving at Elizabeth St, Sydney, Martin Place Stn Stand C at 9:06am, departing Elizabeth St, Sydney, Martin Place Stn Stand C at 6:12pm and arriving at Ryde, St Charles Primary School at 6:55pm; Thursday, December 17, departing Ryde, St Charles Primary School at 8:25am and arriving at Elizabeth St, Sydney, Martin Place Stn Stand C at 8:59am
Route 271, Tuesday, December 15, Departing Queen Victoria Building at 5:25pm and arriving Austlink Business Park, Belrose at 6:28pm; Wednesday, December 16, departing Queen Victoria Building at 5:25pm and arriving Austlink Business Park Belrose at 6:28pm
Route 273, Tuesday, December 15, departing Jamieson Square, Forestville at 7:10am and arriving Queen Victoria Building at 8:00am; Wednesday, December 16, departing Jamieson Square, Forestville at 7:10am and arriving Queen Victoria Building at 8:00am
Route 304, Wednesday, December 16, Departing Bourke St (opposite Lachlan St), Rosebery at 7:46am and arriving Martin Place Station Stand C at 8:11am; Thursday, December 17, departing Bourke St (opposite Lachlan St), Rosebery at 8:05am and arriving Martin Place Stn Stand C at 8:30am
Train routes

Artarmon to Wynyard, Monday, December 14, 8:27-8:49am. People who travelled on this train route are considered casual contacts and should monitor for symptoms and self-isolate and get tested if symptoms develop
Roseville to Redfern, Monday, December 14, 6:50-7:40am
Redfern to Milsons Point, Monday, December 14, 11:20-11:45am
Milsons Point to Roseville, Monday, December 14, 3:15-3:40pm
Wynyard to Artarmon, Monday, December 14, 6:42-7:01pm. People who travelled on this train route are considered casual contacts and should monitor for symptoms and self-isolate and get tested if symptoms develop
Artarmon to Wynyard, Tuesday, December 15, 9:17-9:38am. People who travelled on this train route are considered casual contacts and should monitor for symptoms and self-isolate and get tested if symptoms develop
St James to Erskineville, Tuesday, December 15, 6:34-6:48pm
Erskineville to Central, Wednesday, December 16, 7:03-7:12am. People who travelled on this train route are considered casual contacts and should monitor for symptoms and self-isolate and get tested if symptoms develop
Ferry routes

Palm Beach to Wagstaffe, Wednesday, December 16, 6:15-6:35pm
The full list of exposure sites, with locations, dates and guidance for contacts can be found on the NSW Health website.

There are more than 300 testing locations across NSW. A number of testing locations on the northern beaches were shut after extreme weather caused flooding. These locations have now reopened. The full list of locations can be found on the NSW website.

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A man from Sydney's locked down Northern Beaches has been fined after travelling to the NSW South Coast and breaching the public health order.

A 70-year-old man signed in to the Ulladulla Leisure Centre about 3.30pm yesterday using his Avalon address, NSW Police said.

The man was asked to leave and staff alerted local police.

https://www.facebook.com/ulladullaleisurecentre/posts/2890661177870609
Inquiries revealed the man had travelled from his Northern Beaches residence to a home at Narrawallee on December 17.


He had also failed to self-isolate in line with the public health order, which came into effect at midnight on Sunday.

The man was handed a $1000 fine for failing to comply with noticed direction in relation to COVID-19.

Police are reminding the public that any residents of the Northern Beaches who left the area on or since December 10 must comply with the same restrictions that apply to the Northern Beaches, regardless of their current location.

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A teenage girl has tested positive to COVID-19 in Victoria after returning from Sydney's Northern Beaches - where there is a cluster of 91 cases.

Victorian Health Minister Martin Folley said a 15-year-old girl from the Moonee Valley local government area in Melbourne's north-west tested positive to the disease on Monday.

'The young person had family connections to the Northern Beaches area and had been exposed to multiple high-risk exposure sites,' Mr Folley said on Tuesday.

'The Avalon RSL, the Avalon Bowling Club, the fish and chip shop that was listed. Quite a range.

'The young person travelled home from Sydney with their parent.

'They have isolated when they returned to Victoria and as a result of the awareness of the situation in Sydney, the young person has sought testing.'

The girl's mother, who she travelled to Sydney with, has returned a negative result.

They returned to Melbourne last Thursday before being tested on Sunday, with health authorities working to determine her movement on Friday and Saturday.

Mr Folley said the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is currently contact tracing the girl's movement during this time.

'So far, we have no reason to not believe the family, and they are solid citizens, they're doing the right thing,' he said.

All those who have visited the Northern Beaches 'hot zone' since December 11 have been banned from entering Victoria since Saturday.

On Monday, Victoria declared all of Sydney and the NSW Central Coast a COVID-19 'red zone', which means all those who visited since December 11 face 14 days mandatory hotel quarantine upon entry.

Mr Folley said 17 people 'entered Victoria from the hot zones when they shouldn't have without the appropriate exemptions or supports' and have now been forced into hotel quarantine.

'As of last night, 17 people, including a family of five, have been transferred to Victoria's hotel quarantining program from New South Wales,' Mr Folley said.

'That is 17 people who will be spending their Christmas and their New Year, not as they planned, but in hotel quarantining circumstances.

'So, my message to anyone trying to enter Victoria from New South Wales is - don't. You won't get in, and if you do, you'll be spending your time at Christmas and New Year in hotel quarantine.'

The state also recorded two new cases from overseas arrivals on Tuesday, meaning there are 11 active cases in the state, who are all in quarantine.

Victoria has not recorded any cases of local transmission for 53 consecutive days.

People dashed across the border to Victoria on Monday so they could isolate at home for Christmas and New Years rather than in hotel quarantine.

Meanwhile, NSW recorded just eight more Covid-19 cases on Tuesday - down from 15 on Monday and 28 on Sunday - of which seven were linked to the existing cluster, and the other being a health worker.

The number of positive cases was on the decline despite a continued rise in testing, with 44,000 people getting tested on Monday, compared to 38,000 on Sunday.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said he was 'presently surprised' about the falling numbers but stressed it was down to NSW Health 'doing everything we can'.

While the numbers of positive tests was falling, raising hopes of the outbreak being contained within the Northern Beaches, the number of venues which infected people had visited continued to rise as more tracing was done.

That had extended to venues in the centre of the city, out to the western suburbs and as far south as the Shoalhaven region..

Dr Chant also revealed that the UK's mutant strain of Covid-19 which is 75 per cent more contagious has been detected in two travellers in hotel quarantine - but has not been detected in the community.

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More than 100 people are set to spend a lonely Christmas and New Year's Eve in hotel quarantine in Queensland.

It follows the state imposing new border restrictions for travellers who have visited New South Wales coronavirus hotspots.

Sydneysiders from the 35 local government areas that make up Greater Sydney were officially shut out of Queensland from 1:00am this morning.

And from today, Queenslanders who have spent time in a hotspot area and are returning home via air or road will need to spend 14 days in hotel quarantine at their own expense, meaning travellers will be forced to celebrate the festive season within the confines of a hotel room.

The new border measures were implemented in response to Sydney's northern beaches outbreak, which has so far recorded 83 cases.

'Hard border' reinstated at road checkpoints
Queensland police placed 112 people into hotel quarantine on Monday, with more expected to be redirected there from the state's airports and road checkpoints today.

The state's "hard border" measures was also reinstated at 6:00am, with road barricades returning to border checkpoints between Queensland and NSW.

Assistant Commissioner Shane Chelepy told ABC Radio Brisbane that Queensland police were stopping a significant number of travellers at the NSW border.

"We've had to turn around 115 cars yesterday and at the airports in the last 24 hours, we've denied another 38 people we've had to turn away on alternate flights," he said.

"There are a number of people travelling through we still need to turn around."

Assistant Commissioner Chelepy said police were supervising more than 70 entry points across the state, including 17 on the Gold Coast.

He said that traffic was getting heavier at some inland border crossings.

The ramped-up measures mean motorists are once more being stopped by police at checkpoints and asked to present a border declaration pass before entering Queensland or risk being redirected into hotel quarantine.

Authorities have urged motorists to prepare for lengthy delays as police check every vehicle.

Superintendent Mark Kelly said there was a rush of people at regional border crossings yesterday.

"I think over four hours at Goondiwindi we had 658 vehicles come through in the afternoon," Superintendent Kelly said.

"About 40 people were sent to home quarantine."

"We have had about 2,500 cars in the last few days, it has slowed today — some people came back early yesterday."

'People not doing the right thing'
Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski officers said conducting random intercepts had turned around 81 travellers in breach of border rules since 1:00am on Monday morning.

"I have no doubt that a number of those people were deliberately trying to get into the state — they did not have passes … or they had the incorrect pass," he said.

"We've tried to do a system where it relies on the integrity and honesty of the community coming in, and some people are not doing the right thing.

"We can't give the community confidence that we are picking everyone up as they come across the border, hence the need to move to a hard-border closure."

Deputy Commissioner Gollschewski said four people had also been caught breaching their home quarantine orders.

They were each fined $1,330 and moved to serve the rest of their quarantine in government hotel facilities.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the border breaches left authorities with no choice but to ramp up border security on the Gold Coast Highway.

"People are doing the wrong thing and we can't risk it," she said.

Federal Tourism minister Simon Birmingham told ABC News Breakfast he was hopeful the Queensland tourism industry would bounce back from the latest border closure.

"If you're a tourism business that's just seen huge cancellations come through for what you hoped would be the real revival period of this summer break, then your concerns are real, they're understandable," Mr Birmingham said.

Mad dash ahead of border changes
Hundreds of Queenslanders rushed to return to the Sunshine State before the border changes were introduced.

Queenslander Sandra Boland and her family crossed the border last night, avoiding a costly stint in hotel quarantine.

"As soon as they announced the new rules, we packed up the car and left Sydney," Ms Boland said.

"We were supposed to be there until the fourth of January for Christmas, New Year's and a wedding — but that was all cut short.

"We didn't want to pay for quarantine, let alone be in a confined hotel room on Christmas day, so we're glad we'll be able to isolate in our own home."

Queenslanders returning home who have visited a hotspot will not need an exemption to enter the state but will be placed in hotel quarantine for 14 days at their own cost.

Greater Sydney residents are barred from entering the state from today and will be turned around at the border unless they have been granted an exemption by Queensland Health.

Deputy Commissioner Gollschewski said anyone who provided a false declaration would be fined $4,003 and directed to quarantine in a hotel or denied entry to Queensland.

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said the state's border would not reopen to Greater Sydney before January 8 when the Government reviewed its border restrictions.

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he NSW Government has announced "modest changes" to coronavirus restrictions across Greater Sydney, but most lockdown orders will remain for the northern beaches over Christmas.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian held a "crisis Cabinet" meeting this morning to determine how people across NSW would spend their Christmas Day.

After announcing eight new positive COVID-19 cases, the Premier revealed there would now be two sets of restrictions for the northern and southern areas of the northern beaches.

The northern section includes anyone living north of Narrabeen Bridge and east of the Baha'i temple in Mona Vale, and the southern section the rest of the local government area.

"If you're a resident of the northern part of the northern beaches … you cannot leave your area. You are still in lockdown," she said.

"You can't accept anybody [from] outside your community and I apologise for that but we have to maintain a lockdown in that area — with one exception.

"On the 24th, 25th and 26th, you're allowed to have five people into your home, but they must be people from within that region.

"If, you know, you have a neighbour and all their relatives live outside that area, please consider being a good neighbour and perhaps spending that time with them."

People in the southern area will be allowed to have 10 people over to their homes plus an uncapped number of children aged under 12 between December 24-26, but will not be allowed to leave the area themselves.

"We don't want people from the [southern part of the] northern beaches mingling in other parts of Sydney at this stage, but you can welcome people in," Ms Berejiklian said.

"We will be letting people know on Boxing Day what December 27 looks like for the southern part of the northern beaches."

The Premier said the measures were decided on with a "number of factors" in mind.

"A number of people on the northern beaches have been in lockdown now for a considerable amount of days and not been in contact with anybody," Ms Berejiklian said.

"Please note that what we're putting forward is very modest and it's based [and] is assessed against what the best data is telling us."

She said the restrictions for the northern part of the area were "stricter" because they stopped anyone from the north visiting other parts of the northern beaches.

Residents in Greater Sydney will be allowed to host unlimited numbers of children aged under 12 in their homes, in addition to the maximum of 10 adults per household, for the next three days.

Transport case linked to Avalon cluster
The restrictions changes came as NSW Health authorities recorded an additional eight cases — seven linked to the Avalon cluster, which has now grown to 97 cases.

The eighth case is a close contact of a health worker involved in quarantine transport.

NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said the eighth case was still under investigation.

"This is the contact of the transport healthcare worker that transports patients," she said.

"What I can confirm is that genome sequencing has indicated that this person did not acquire their infection through transporting the patients that had the COVID-19 infection on 14 December.

"In fact, this sequencing shows that it's linked to the Avalon cluster."

Dr Chant said she had also been given information just before the update that a Qantas staff member who returned from overseas and flew into Sydney from Darwin on December 18 had tested positive.

"That person has flown on a domestic flight," she said.

"There were a number of precautions in place, but there will [have been] be a limited number of people on the flight."

About 250,000 northern beaches residents have been confined to their homes since Saturday evening, only leaving for approved reasons such as shopping, exercise and medical care.

In Greater Sydney, Central Coast and Illawara-Shoalhaven, the one-person-per-4-square-metre rule was reintroduced, dancing was again mostly banned and household visitors were capped at 10 people.

NSW coronavirus restrictions in Greater Sydney and northern beaches for Christmas explained

Although the number of COVID-19 cases in NSW has fallen since Sunday — and there has been a record turnout at testing clinics — Premier Gladys Berejiklian has deemed it too risky to drop those restrictions entirely.

Instead, the NSW Government has considered "big-picture" aspects, such as mental health and wellbeing, and introduced a temporary easing.

Whether you will benefit from those relaxed restrictions, however, will very much depend on where you reside.

Here's what you need to know.

How do I know which rules I fall under?

Sydney Northern Beaches ( Epicentre for Cluster )

Metro Sydney
Note Greater Sydney includes Blue Mts, Central Coast & Illawarra.
The State Government has effectively carved NSW into four different zones, each with its own set of restrictions and exemptions. Where you're currently staying will determine what you can and can't do over the next three days.

The northern peninsula of the northern beaches
The southern zone of the northern beaches
Greater Sydney, Central Coast, Wollongong and Nepean Blue Mountains which the NSW Government has bundled as simply Greater Sydney during press conferences, as a shorthand
Regional NSW, which is everywhere but any of the areas above
Starting from the hotspot, the Northern Beaches Local Government Area (LGA) has been divided into two parts.

The northernmost section, encompassing the northern parts of Narrabeen Bridge — there are two, but both cross the Narrabeen Lagoon — and everything east of the Baha'i temple of Mona Vale, will still be under tight lockdown (detailed rules explained below).

If you're south of the Narrabeen Bridge, on the same side as the Woolworths, then you'll be considered in the southern zone and may have visitors but cannot leave unless there is an approved reason.

Out of the northern beaches there will be rules for Greater Sydney region, Central Coast, Wollongong and Nepean Blue Mountains whose current restrictions won't expire at midnight.

Instead, there will be a temporarily easing of rules and household limits until December 27 when it will revert to existing restrictions.

If you're living in regional NSW, your restrictions remain unchanged.

What are the rules?
In the northern beaches, about 250,000 people have been confined to their homes since Saturday evening and can only leave for one of four approved reasons — shopping, exercise, medical or compassionate grounds, or essential work.

In the northern peninsula zone, where both seeding events at Avalon RSL and Avalon Bowlo occurred, a fifth reason will be introduced from Thursday which is "to visit the home of others who live within this zone".

Dr Chant urged people in the northern end of the northern beaches to not visit aged care facilities at all this Christmas, saying the risk is too high.

But she said there were exceptions in all cases, like if someone was at the end of their life.

NSW Health said up to five visitors, including children, would be allowed in homes as long as they resided in what they referred to as this peninsula zone.

The estimated 70,000 people living in this zone may not enter or leave it, unless it is for one of the four approved reasons and could face a $1,000 fine for breaching public health orders.

For the remainder of the northern beaches (the southern zone), the fifth exception has been added and residents there will be allowed to have visitors from outside the LGA.

However, they still cannot leave the northern beaches and cannot have any visitors over from the northern zone.

They will be allowed to have up to 10 visitors into the home, plus children who are 12 years old or younger.

Current residents of the household aren't included in this cap. If you have five people living in one home, you can legally have another 10 adults and an unlimited number of children over for Christmas dinner.

This is, however, 10 visitors in total — you cannot host 10 people in the morning and then have another 10 people over in the evening.

If you are visiting multiple households, you will be counted separately for each cap.

In the northern beaches, you cannot gather outdoors with more than one other person, unless they are all from your household, though there are some exceptions like a funeral or moving day.

If you are not in the northern beaches, the outdoor limit for gatherings remains unchanged at 100 people.

These restrictions will be reassessed on Boxing Day.

For non-regional areas — Greater Sydney, Central Coast, Wollongong and Nepean Blue Mountains — they are already observing the 10 visitors household rule but will be able to host an uncapped number of primary aged children.

On December 27, however, the exceptions for young children will expire.

What else is changing?
The NSW Government will revisit these rules over the next three days and will make further announcements on Boxing Day, which will include decisions on New Year's Eve and upcoming sports events.

Many traditional New Year's Eve events in Sydney have already been cancelled or heavily restricted.

The other change flagged on Wednesday was that from January 1, 2021, all hospitality venues and hairdressers would be required to use the NSW Government QR code system.

Currently, the checkout records in NSW are predominantly managed by private companies.

Although not the reason indicated by the NSW Health Minister for the change, there have been concerns raised by cybersecurity and privacy experts about how those marketing companies might be managing our data.

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https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-23/nsw-christmas-coronavirus-rules-for-sydney-northern-beaches/13009964
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/nsw-coronavirus-restrictions-in-greater-sydney-and-northern-beaches-for-christmas-explained/ar-BB1c9IBC?ocid=msedgdhp

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List of case locations in NSW

People who have attended the following venues are considered close contacts and should get tested immediately and isolate for 14 days after they were last there, even if they receive a negative result:

Alexandria: Cortex Gym – Strength and Conditioning Class, Tuesday, 15 December
Auburn: Rosnay Golf Club Bistro, Sunday 20 December, 11.15am to 12.15pm
Avalon:
> Anytime Fitness on Avalon Parade, anyone who attended the gym on any day on or after Tuesday 8 December is considered a close contact and should get tested immediately and self-isolate for 14 days after they were last at the gym. Additionally, anyone who attended the gym between Monday 23 November and Monday 7 December is advised to get tested and self-isolate until they receive a negative result
> The House Nail Salon, Monday 14 December, 10.30am to 11.30am
Avalon Beach: Nourished Cafe and Lounge, Saturday 12 December 7:15am-7:40am, Sunday, 13 December 10am-11am
> Surf Club, Tuesday, 15 December, 8.30am to 9am
> Avalon Beach RSL club, Friday 11 December all day, Sunday, 13 December 8.30pm-9.15pm, Monday 14 December all day, Tuesday 15 December all day, Wednesday 16 December, opening time to 1pm and 1pm to 12am (midnight)
> Avalon Bowlo (bowling club), Sunday 13 December, 5pm to 7pm and Tuesday 15 December, 3pm to 5pm and 6pm-8.30pm
> Bangkok Sidewalk Restaurant, Monday 14 December,7pm to 8pm
Avalon Beach: Barramee Thai Massage and Spa, Monday 14 December,2pm to 3.30pm, Wednesday, 16 December 2pm-3.3pm
> Oceana Traders – Seafood Merchants, anyone who dined in any time from Monday 14 December until Thursday 17 December
> Sneaky Grind Café, Monday 14 December, 9.30am to 11am
> Sunset Diner, Friday 11 December, 6.30pm to 8pm
> Woolworths, Tuesday 15 December 7pm to 7.30pm
> Avalon Recreation Centre, Thursday, 17 December 11.50am-5.20pm

Berowra: Anytime Fitness Berowra, Wednesday, 16 December, 5.30am-6.30am; Thursday, 17 December, 5.30am-6.30am
Blacktown: BodyFit Gym, Wednesday 16 December 7am to 8am, Thursday 17 December 7am to 8am, Friday 18 December 7am to 8am.
Cronulla:
> Pilgrims Vegetarian Café, Wednesday 16 December 11.30am to 2.30pm. Anyone who was at the café during this time for one hour or more must be tested immediately and isolate until 30 December. Other patrons should monitor for symptoms, and get tested immediately if they appear.
> Cronulla RSL Club, Wednesday 16 December, 5pm to closing time
Crows Nest: BoThai, 16 Willoughby Road, Sunday 13 December, 4:30pm – 5:30pm
Double Bay: Twenty-One Espresso, 21 Knox Street, Any staff working on Tuesday 15 December, and patrons seated in the indoor section on that day for more than 1 hour between 7.10pm and 8.15pm and 8.25pm and 9.10pm
Erskineville: Rose of Australia, Tuesday 15 December, 7pm – 8.45pm
Forster: Café Toscano (outdoor verandah area), Wednesday 16 December, 6pm-7:45pm
Freshwater: G Fitness, Tuesday 15 December, 11am-12.45pm
Gordon: USA nails, Thursday 17 December, 12.30pm to 1.30pm. Anyone who was in venue for at least an hour during this time is considered a close contact
Kings Park: Anytime Fitness Kings Park, Friday 18 December 9.30am-11.45am
Kirribilli: Kirribilli Club, Monday 14 December, 12pm to 3pm
Lane Cove: Hair by Erika, Village Shopping Centre, Friday 11 December, 2.30 – 4:30pm
Manly: Manly Skiff Club, Corner of East Esplanade and Stuart Street, Saturday 12 December, 12pm – 2.30pm
Manly:
> Donny’s Bar, 7 Market Place, Saturday 12 December, 3:15pm – 9pm
> Old Manly Boat Shed, 40 The Corso, Saturday 12 December, 9pm – 12:30am
> Garfish Seafood Restaurant, 39 East Esplanade, Thursday 17 December, 7:10pm-8:15pm
Macquarie Park: Premier Academy League Under 8s, Macquarie University Soccer Fields, Sunday 13 December 9am to 11am
Milsons Point: Kirribilli Hotel, Thursday, 17 December 12.45pm-3pm
Mona Vale:
> Anytime Fitness,Thursday 17 December, 9.50am-12.45pm
> Fitness First, Pittwater Place Shopping Centre, Thursday, 17 December, 11.30am-1pm
Mona Vale: Pearly Nails, 2/6 Waratah Street, Monday 14 December, 4:30pm – 5:30pm
> Mona Vale Golf Club (bar and function room), 3 Golf Avenue, Wednesday 16 December, 5pm – 10pm
> Park House Hotel, Wednesday 16 December 8pm to 10pm
> Pilates KX, Monday 14 December 7pm to 9pm
> Pittwater RSL, Wednesday 16 December, 8pm – 10pm
>: Coffee Brothers Mona Vale, Saturday, 12 December 12pm-1pm
Narrabeen:
>The Boatshed Cafe & Bar, Monday 14 December 7pm to 9pm
>The Sands, Tuesday 15 December, 6pm-8pm
>The Boatshed Café & Bar, Lower Level, Monday 14 December, 2pm – 3pm
Neutral Bay: Café Junior, Woolworths Neutral Bay Village, 1-7 Rangers Road, Sunday 13 December, 12:45pm – 2.30pm
Newport:
> 4 Pines, Wednesday 16 December, 4.30pm-9pm
> Lovat Restaurant, Tuesday 15 December, 6.30pm to 8.30 pm. Patrons sitting inside or staff working on the floor at the bar are close contacts and must get tested and isolate for 14 days even if a negative result is received. All other patrons are casual contacts who must get tested immediately and isolate pending a result
> Rusti Fig Café, Saturday 12 December, 9am – 10:30am
>Sankaku Izakaya, Thursday 17 December, 2:30pm – 3:30pm
> ChaRice Noodle Bar, Wednesday, 16 December 1pm-2.30pm
> Coles, Friday, 18 December 9am-10am
> Lovat Restaurant, Tuesday 15 December 6.30pm-8.30pm. Patrons sitting inside or staff working on the floor at the bar are close contacts.
> Shot Lab, Tuesday 15 December, 11am to 12pm
North Narrabeen: Motorserve Narrabeen Car Servicing, Friday 18 December 10.30am to 12pm. Anyone who was in the waiting room for at least an hour during this time is considered a close contact.
Paddington:
> London Hotel, Thursday 17 December, 8.15pm to 9.30pm
> Paddington Alimentari, anyone who was seated here – outdoors and indoors – between Thursday 17 December and Saturday 19 December are considered close contacts and should get tested immediately and isolate for 14 days regardless of the result. Patrons who bought takeaway should monitor for symptoms and isolate and get tested immediately should they appear.
> Salon X, 86 William Street, Wednesday 16 December, 9am – 6pm and Thursday 17 December, 9am – 8pm
Palm Beach:
> Palm Beach female change rooms, Sunday 13 December,9am – 9.15am
> Coast Palm Beach Café, Sunday 13 December 10am – 11am
Penrith: Penrith RSL Club, Sunday 13 December 1pm – 6pm
St Leonards: Charlie & Franks, IBM Plaza, Wednesday, 16 December 9am-10am
St Peters: Sydney Trapeze School, Tuesday 15 December, 10am – 12pm (only staff and patrons who attended the class for beginners)
Surry Hills:
> Nomad restaurant, Wednesday 16 December, 12:45pm – 2pm
> Strawberry Hills Hotel, Wednesday 16 December, 3:30pm-6pm
[Sydney CBD: Paragon Hotel, Sports Bar, Wednesday, 16 December, 12.45 pm to 3.30pm Anyone who attended during this time for more than one hour is a close contact and should get tested and isolate for 14 days even if they receive a negative result. Anyone who attended during this time for less than one hour get tested immediately and isolate pending a negative result. People who attended other areas of the Paragon Hotel during this time, should monitor for symptoms, and isolate and get tested immediately if they develop
Turramurra: Salon of Hair Turramurra, Anytime from Tuesday 15 December to Friday 18 December, 9:30am – 3:30 pm
Warriewood:
> Warriewood Headland Private Tennis Court (clubhouse and courts), Monday 14 December, 9.30am to 12pm
> United Cinemas Warriewood, Tuesday 15, December, 12pm to 2.30pm
> Brooke Withers Swim School, Wednesday, 16 December 2pm-3.30pm
> Warriewood Valley Playground Rocket Park, Thursday, 17 December, 10.15am-12.30pm
Woolloomoolo: Sienna Marina, Friday 11 December, 12pm to 2pm. Anyone who spent one hour or longer at the restaurant at this time must get tested and isolate until December 25. Other patrons should monitor for symptoms, and isolate and get tested immediately if symptoms appear

People who have visited the following venues are considered casual contacts and should get tested immediately and self-isolate until they receive a negative result:

Artarmon: Roof Racks World, 15 December, 2pm – 2.30pm
Avalon:
> Anytime Fitness on Avalon Parade, anyone who attended the gym between Monday 23 November and Monday 7 December
> Nourished Wholefood Café, 12 December, 7.30-7.40am
> Careel Bay Dog Park and Hitchcock Park, 16 December 7am-7.30am
> Hungry Ghost Café, 13 and 15 December, 9.30am – 11am
Avalon Beach:
> Chillbar, Monday, 14 December, 10.30am-11.30am; Wednesday, 16 December 10.30am-11.30am
> Surf Life Saving Club, 13, 14 and 15 December, 9-9.30am
>: Commonwealth Bank, 47 Avalon Parade, 15 December, 12 – 12.15pm
> Avalon Beach Oceana Traders – Seafood Merchants, anyone who purchased takeaway from Monday 14 December until Thursday 17 December
> United Cinemas, Tuesday 15 December 12pm – 2.15pm
> Woolworths, Saturday, 12 December 12-12.15pm, Sunday 13 December, 12pm – 5pm; 14 December 5pm – 5.30pm and Tuesday 15 December, 12pm – 12.30pm
>: North Avalon Cellars, 15 December, 6pm – 6.05pm
> Oliver’s Pies, Careel Shopping Village, Monday 14 December,9am to 9.15am
> Avalon Beach Post Shop, 16 December 3.30pm to 3.50pm
> Mitre 10, 15 December, 12pm to 12.20pm
> Chemist Warehouse, 14 December 5.20pm to 5.25pm
> Sabiang Thai Restaurant, 13 December, 6-8pm
> Café Relish, 8/1 N Avalon Rd, Avalon Beach: Thursday 17 December, 10.30am – 11.30am
> Nourished Wholefood Café, 17 Avalon Parade, Saturday 12 December, 7.15am-7.30am
Belrose:
>Nick Scali at SuperCentre, 4/6 Niangala Cl, Belrose, 16 December, 10am-5.30pm
>Fresh Delights Café, Belrose Super Centre, Thursday, 17 December 9am-10am
Berowra: The Anglers Rest, Thursday 16 December 5.30am to 6pm
Bondi Junction: Westfield Bondi Junction, 15 December 1pm-2.30pm, Saturday 19 December 10am-1pm
Brookvale:
> Warringah Mall: Wednesday 16 December 11.40am – 1.30pm, Saturday, 19 December 1.30pm-2.30pm
>: High Tek Aquarium, 732 Pittwater Rd, Wednesday 16 December, 1.55pm – 2.55pm
Cronulla:
> Cronulla Mall, 6 Cronulla Street, Tuesday 15 December, 8pm – 9pm and Wednesday 16 December, 3pm – 6pm
> Woolworths Metro, Sunday, 13 December 11am-12pm
> Paris Seafood Café, 15 December, 8.30-9pm
> Cronulla Mall, 15 December, 8-9pm and 16 December, 11am-12pm
Darling Point: RAN Sailing Association, Navy Bear Café and Christmas party, 13 December, 10:30am‑4:45pm
Davidson: Davidson Pizzeria, Friday, 18 December 6.15-6.45pm
Dee Why:
> Dee Why Fruit Market, 15 December, 4.45pm – 4.55pm
> HongFa BBQ Restaurant, 15 December 4.30pm – 4.45pm
Double Bay: Twenty-One Espresso, Any patrons who were in the restaurant for less than 1 hour, or those who sat in the outdoor area on Tuesday 15 December between 7.10pm – 8.15pm and 8.25pm – 9.10pm
Eveleigh: Seven West Media Building, 14 December, 8-11.30am
Erskineville: Rose of Australia, Tuesday 15 December, 7pm until closing
Forster: Beach Bums Café, Wednesday 16 December, 8am – 9am and Thursday 17 December, 8am–9am
Gundagai: Oliver’s Real Food, 31 Annie Pyers Drive, Friday 18 December, 5.30pm-6.05pm
Homebush: Harris Farm Warehouse, Flemington Markets, Tuesday 15 December, 2am- 11am, Wednesday 16 December, 2am – 11am, Thursday 17 December, 2am- 1pm
Manly:
> Manly Wharf Bar, East Esplanade, Saturday 12 December, 2:45pm – 3:15pm
> The Steyne Hotel, 75 The Corso, Thursday 17 December, 3pm – 7pm
Mona Vale:
> Bing Lee, Monday 14 December, 4.30pm to 4.45pm
>: Aldi, 13 Bungan St, 13 December, 12.45pm to 1.30pm
> Coles, Sunday, 13 December 1-3pm, Saturday, 19 December 12pm-12.45pm
>: Harris Farm, Mona Vale Plaza, 14 December, 11-11.10am
>: Mitre 10, Tuesday 15 December, 8:30am – 5:30pm and Wednesday 16 December, 8:30am – 5:30pm
> Woolworths, 25/29 Park St, Sunday 13 December, 12pm to 12.30pm
> Fitness First Mona Vale, Pittwater Place Shopping Centre, Sunday 13 December 2pm – 4pm; Monday 14 December all day; Wednesday 16 December all day
Mona Vale:
> Mona Vale Golf Club, 3 Golf Avenue, Wednesday 16 December 11am – 5pm
>: Pittwater Place, Saturday, 19 December 12pm-1pm
> Scoop Wholefoods, Wednesday 16 December, Thursday 17 December, Friday 18 December, all day
> Dan Murphy Mona Vale, Thursday, 17 December 5pm-5.10pm
> Scoop Wholefoods, Wednesday 16 December all day, Thursday 17 December all day
Newport:
> Coles Newport, 11 December, 5-7pm, and 12 December, 3.15-3.30pm
> Restaurant Lovat, 12 December, 2.15-2.25pm and 4.10-4.15pm
> 4 Pines, Newport, 313 Barrenjoey Rd, Newport: Tuesday 15 December, 6pm-10pm and Wednesday 16 December 4:30pm-9pm
> Restaurant Lovat, G04/316-324 Barrenjoey Rd, Saturday 12 December 2:15pm–2:25pm and 4pm–4:15pm
>Bowan Island Bakery, Friday 18 December, 9am-9.30am.
> Coles, Wednesday, 9 December 4pm-4.20pm, Friday, 11 December 5pm-7pm, Saturday, 12 December 3.15pm-3.30pm, Tuesday, 15 December 2pm-2.15pm and 8pm-8.25pm
> Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, Wednesday 16 December, 4.30pm to 6pm
North Narrabeen: Brot and Wurst, 16 December, 2pm-2.05pm
Orange: Orange Central Square Shopping Centre, 227 – 239 Summer St, Saturday 19 December, 4.05pm-4.15pm. The person did not enter any stores or come into close contact with any individual during this time period.
Palm Beach:
> Palm Beach rockpool, 14 December, 9:30-10:30am; 16 December, 8am-9am
>: 2108 Espresso, Monday 14 December, 8am–9am
Peakhurst: Gannons Park, Forest Rangers FC, Little Rangers session, Friday 11 December, 4.30pm to 5.30pm. Any adults who were present should get tested immediately and self-isolate until they receive a negative result.
Raymond Terrace: McDonald’s Raymond Terrace, Tuesday 15 December, 11.45am-12.15pm
Riverstone: Blend @ Grantham Café, 16 December, 11-11.45am
Riverwood: Woolworths, Riverwood Plaza, 247 Belmore Road, Wednesday 9 December, 3pm–3:35pm
Roseberry: Mentmore & Morley Café and public toilets, 14 December 10am-3pm
St Peters: Sydney Trapeze School, Tuesday 15 December, any class after 10am
Surry Hills: Cuckoo Callay on Crown, Tuesday 15 December, 11am to 12pm
Sydney CBD: Arthouse Hotel, Thursday 17 December, 11.15am to 12.15pm
Terrey Hills: Hills Florist, 12 December, 8-8.45am – close contacts have been contacted directly by NSW Health
Terrey Hills: Forest Way Fruit Market, 16 December, 4-4.10pm
Turramurra: Coles, Thursday, 17 December 10am-10.30am, Friday, 18 December 10.30am-11am
Warriewood:
> McDonalds Restaurant, Thursday 17 December, 1.30pm to 2pm
> Northern Beaches Indoor Sports Centre, Tuesday 15 December, 6.30pm-9.30pm
> Flower Power, Friday 18 December, 8.45am-9.30am

People who have visited the following venues are considered casual contacts and should monitor for symptoms and get tested immediately and isolate if they appear.

Avoca Beach: Avoca Beach Hotel, Saltwater Bistro, Sunday 20 December 7:30pm-8:30pm
Bayview: Rowland Reserve Dog Park, Wednesday 16 December 4pm-5pm; Thursday 17 December 4pm-5pm
Belrose: Bunnings Belrose, Thursday 17 December 4pm-5pm
Hornsby:
> Aura Threading and Beauty Hornsby, Thursday 17 December 10am-1.20pm
> Cotton On, Thursday 17 December 10am-10.20am
> Kmart, Thursday 17 December 6.30pm-7pm
> Aura Threading and Beauty, Thursday, 17 December 10.25am-11am
Mona Vale:
> Bayview Golf Club, Monday 7 December 11.30am-3pm Tuesday 8 December 2.25pm-5.30pm Friday 11 December 11.45am-12.45pm
> Woolworths, Saturday 12 December 1pm-1:30pm
> Harris Farm, Sunday 13 December 1pm-3pm
North Sydney: Mr Green & Co North Sydney, Wednesday 16 December 1pm-2pm
Macquarie Park: Macquarie Shopping Centre, Sunday 13 December 11am to 1pm
Palm Beach: Pronto Creative Foods, Wednesday 16 December 7.30am-8.30am Thursday 17 December 7.30am-8.30am
Stanhope Gardens: Coles, Saturday 19 December 7am-3.30pm Sunday 20 December 7am-2pm
Sydney CBD:
> 1 Bligh St, Thursday, 17 December, 10.30am to 10.50am
> Results Laser Clinic Sydney, Wednesday 16 December 12.30pm-1pm
Waitara: Jim’s Cellars, Thursday 17 December 7.15pm-7.30pm
Warriewood:
> Warriewood Square, Tuesday 8 December 12:30-2:15pm Tuesday 15 December 3.30pm-4.30pm Wednesday 16 December 11am-12.15pm Thursday 17 December 11am-3pm
> KFC Mona Vale, Friday, 18 December 12pm-1pm

Confirmed cases travelled on the following transport services. Other passengers are considered to be casual contacts, and should get tested immediately and isolate until a negative result is received. Passengers should continue to monitor for Covid-19 symptoms and if any symptoms occur, get tested again:

Train from Roseville to Redfern, 14 December, 6.50am to 7.40am
Train from Redfern to Milsons Point, 14 December, 11.20am to 11.45am
Train from Milsons Point to Roseville, 14 December, 3.15pm to 3.40pm
Ferry from Palm Beach to Wagstaffe, 16 December, 6.15pm-6.35pm
Train from Artarmon to Wynyard, 14 December, 8:27am to 8:49am
Train from Wynyard to Artarmon, 14 December, 6:42pm to 7:01pm
Train from Artarmon to Wynyard, 15 December, 9:17am to 9:38am
Train from St James to Erskineville, 15 December, 6:34pm to 6:48pm
Train from Erskineville to Central Station, 16 December, 7:03am to 7:12am
Train from Central to Artarmon: 16 December, 7.12am to 7.35am
Forest Coach Lines buses between Forestville and the CBD

Route 273, 15 December, departing Jamieson Square, Forestville, 7.10am and arriving QVB, 8am
Route 271, 15 December, departing QVB 5.25pm and arriving Austlink Business Park Belrose 6.28pm
Route 273, 16 December, departing Jamieson Square, Forestville 7.10am and arriving QVB, CBD, 8am
Route 271, 16 December, departing QVB 5.25pm and arriving Austlink Business Park Belrose, 6.28pm
Pittwater buses between Warriewood and Wynard Station

Route B1-1, 14 December, departing Warriewood BLine, Pittwater Rd 6.55am, arriving Wynyard Station, York Street Stand M, 7.50am
Route B1-2, 14 December, departing Wynyard Station Stand B 5.47pm, arriving Warriewood BLine, Pittwater Rd, 6.40pm
Route B1-1, 15 December, departing Warriewood BLine, Pittwater Rd 6.35am, arriving Wynyard Station stand M, 7.35am
Route B1-2, 15 December, departing Wynyard Station Stand B 5.25pm, arriving Warriewood BLine, Pittwater Rd, 6.20pm
Route B1-2, 15 December, departing Warriewood BLine, Pittwater Rd, 6.39am, arriving Wynyard Station Stand M, 7.29am
Route B1-2, 15 December, departing Wynyard Station Stand B 6.28pm, arriving Warriewood BLine, Pittwater Rd, 6.21pm
Route B1-2, 16 December, departing Warriewood BLine Pittwater Rd 6.53am, arriving Wynyard Station Stand M, 7.41am
Route B1-2, 16 December, departing Wynyard Station Stand B 4.31pm, arriving Warriewood BLine, Pittwater Rd, 5.25pm
Route B1-1, 16 December, departing Warriewood BLine, Pittwater Rd, arriving Wynyard Station Stand M, 7.35am
Route B1-2, 16 December, departing Wynyard Station Stand B 4.45pm, arriving Warriewood BLine, Pittwater Rd, 5.30pm
The following bus routes between Newport and Avalon Beach:

Bus Route 199, Saturday 12 December, departing Newport Hotel, Kalinya Street, 7am arriving Avalon Beach, 7.15am
Bus Route 199, Saturday 12 December, departing Avalon Beach 12.20am, arriving Newport Hotel, Kalinya Street, 12.45am
The following bus route from Palm Beach to Manly Beach:

Bus route 199, Saturday 12 December, 10.10am- 11.30am.
The following bus route from Rosebery to Martin Place:

Bus Route 304, Wednesday 16 December, departing Bourke Street (opposite Lachlan Street) Rosebery, 7.46am and arriving Martin Place Station Stand C, 8.11am
Bus Route 199, Thursday 17 December, departing Bourke Street (opposite Lachlan Street) Rosebery, 8.05am and arriving Martin Place Station Stand C, 8.30am
The following bus route from Ryde to Martin Place:

M52, Tuesday 15 December, departing Ryde, St Charles PS at 8:09am and arriving Martin Place Station Stand C, 8:46am.
M52, Tuesday 15 December, departing Elizabeth Street, Museum, at 5:52am and arriving Ryde, St Charles PS at 6:34pm.
M52, Wednesday 16 December, departing Ryde, St Charles PS at 8:24am and arriving Martin Place Station Stand C, 9:06am.
M52, Wednesday 16 December, departing Elizabeth Street, Martin Place Station Stand C, at 6:12pm and arriving Ryde, St Charles PS at 6:55pm.
M52, Thursday 17 December, departing Ryde, St Charles PS at 8:25am and arriving Martin Place Station Stand C, 8:59am.
Everyone living in the northern beaches area should monitor for even the mildest of symptoms and come forward for testing immediately if they appear, then isolate until a negative result is received.

NSW Health has increased Covid testing options for the northern beaches community through three new pop-up testing clinics. They are available at:

• Avalon pop-up, Avalon Recreation Centre, 59 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon. Open seven days, 8am to 10pm


• Avalon pop-up: Avalon Laverty drive-through pathology, Avalon Bowling Club Car Park, Avalon Parade,Avalon Beach NSW 2107. Open seven days, 8am to 4pm.

• Newport pop-up, Newport Community Centre, 11-13 The Boulevard, Newport. Open seven days, 8am to 10pm.

• Warringah Aquatic Centre drive-through, 1 Aquatic Dr, Frenchs Forest. Open seven days a week, 8am to 10pm

Other northern beaches testing centres:

• Mona Vale hospital, Gate 3 Coronation Street, Mona Vale. Open seven days 7.30am to 5.30pm.

• Brookvale community health centre, 612-624 Pittwater Road, Brookvale. Open seven days, 8am to 6pm.

• Northern Beaches hospital, 105 Frenchs Forest Road (West), Frenchs Forest, (rear of emergency department). Open seven days, 8am to 5pm.

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Supermarkets have reimposed purchase limits on toilet paper after a surge in sales was recorded in NSW following the tightening of restrictions to contain the Northern Beaches COVID-19 outbreak.
The purchase limit of two packs of toilet paper or paper towel will be enforced in Woolworths and Coles stores across Greater Sydney.

NSW General Manager for Woolworths Michael Mackenzie reassured shoppers the move was a preventative step and there is still plenty of stock available.

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Authorities are urgently investigating how a Qantas crew member contracted Covid-19 after arriving in Darwin from Paris ( repatriation flight ) and then flying to Sydney without being tested or quarantined.

New South Wales, Northern Territory and federal health authorities are working with Qantas to understand how the man, who landed in Darwin on 17 December after working on a repatriation flight from Paris, became infected.

The case has again drawn attention to the relaxed rules for aircrews arriving in Australia, as officials acknowledged he was not required to undergo testing for coronavirus at any stage of his journey.

Under the special health provisions extended to Australian flight crew workers, the man was allowed to leave the overseas flight, use a private car to go to a regular, non-quarantine hotel in Darwin, where he spent one night before flying on the QF841 Darwin to Sydney service on 18 December.

Related: More Australians stranded as Singapore and Hong Kong ban travellers from UK

While he was self-isolating at his Sydney home, he began experiencing mild symptoms on 20 December and took a Covid-19 test. He has since been moved to government-managed quarantine accommodation.

The NSW chief health officer, Kerry Chant, announced the Qantas worker had tested positive at a press conference on Wednesday morning.

She sought to dampen concerns about future flight crews bringing in the virus, reiterating new rules NSW introduced from Tuesday requiring all arriving crews “to have a swab”.

Qantas medical director, Dr Ian Hosegood, said the worker entered self-isolation in line with government-approved protocols at the time, but noted his movements would not be possible under the new NSW rules.

“I spoke to him last night and again this morning and thankfully he has only mild symptoms and is generally feeling well,” Hosegood said.

“The crew member did not have symptoms when operating the repatriation flight or when travelling on the domestic sector, and was wearing a mask throughout both flights, so the risk of transmission is low. The domestic flight occurred more than 48 hours prior to symptom onset,” he said.

Qantas has provided a list of passengers and crew who flew on the Darwin-to-Sydney flight to health authorities for contact tracing purposes.

Hosegood said the man was the first Qantas crew member to contract Covid-19 since late March.

Related: Sydney Christmas restrictions: how many guests are allowed under Covid rules?

The NT health minister, Natasha Fyles, said she learned about the new case on Wednesday morning, and that because of a pre-approved “strict management plan” in place for aircrews, the man did not have any interaction with the community in Darwin.

“What we’ve been told is that under the CHO [chief health officer] directions, there was a strict management plan, there wasn’t interaction with the community, and also this individual was not infectious, it’s believed, when they were in the Northern Territory,” Fyles said.

“This is someone that was on those commonwealth repatriation flights and the large majority head on that same plane back to their state where they’re based, but in some situations they do exit under [the approved management plans] ... and may go to another port,” she said.

Asked about approving plans for aircrews not to quarantine when arriving in the NT, Fyles said “we need to be realistic” in making sure rules for aircrews allowed airlines to continue running repatriation flights and services bringing freight to the Territory.

The Qantas crew member’s diagnosis follows a positive case in a worker who drove international aircrews between Sydney airport and their hotels.

Last week, NSW police revealed they had issued $1,000 fines to 13 South American crew members who left their hotels and went to businesses in Mascot, next to Sydney airport, earlier in December.

Under new quarantine rules for airline workers in NSW introduced on Tuesday, international aircrews will be accommodated in two designated hotels in Sydney. Police will ensure the crews remain in the hotels until they leave for their return flight.

However, Qantas aircrews who live in NSW and have arrived after an international flight are not required to quarantine in the hotels, and are still permitted to self-isolate in their homes. Crews are tested for Covid-19 upon arrival in Australia.

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Queensland Police has launched an investigation into a group of people who arrived in Cairns on a superyacht with a COVID-19 case on board.
<< where are Border Force and ADF ( Navy ) in this ? no where to be seen obviously , yet another cockup in border control .

Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said the vessel's crew were not being helpful with contact tracing and authorities still needed to confirm where the yacht had been.

"The super yacht in question has not been very cooperative at all in relation to information being provided to the Queensland Police Service," Ms D'Ath said.

"We are concerned about the superyacht case. What this message says is no-one immune from this."

Queensland's Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said six crew remain on board the boat but its guests had been placed into hotel quarantine.

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9News.com.au logoPolice investigating superyacht group who arrived in Cairns with positive COVID-19 case

Queensland Police has launched an investigation into a group of people who arrived in Cairns on a superyacht with a COVID-19 case on board.

A woman in her 20s tested positive for coronavirus and has been taken from the vessel to hospital quarantine.

Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said the vessel's crew were not being helpful with contact tracing and authorities still needed to confirm where the yacht had been.

"The super yacht in question has not been very cooperative at all in relation to information being provided to the Queensland Police Service," Ms D'Ath said.

"We are concerned about the superyacht case. What this message says is no-one immune from this."

a man wearing a pink shirt is looking at the camera: Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath.© Nine Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath.
Queensland's Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said six crew remain on board the boat but its guests had been placed into hotel quarantine.


Queensland confirms three new COVID cases
"The superyacht originated in the Maldives and then came to Cairns, so we are trying to work through with them how it (coronavirus) got onto that yacht," Dr Young said.

"It is a lesson to us all, that superyachts that have come from elsewhere in the world, no matter how long they might have been at sea, are a risk, and are required to quarantine."

The vessel allegedly arrived in Cairns from the Maldives on Monday, December 21 with 14 guests on board and six crew members.

Fourteen people have been directed into 14-days hotel quarantine in Cairns and are undergoing mandatory COVID-19 testing.

Six crew members remain on board the vessel for marine safety and have been directed to self-isolate.

A woman in her 20s tested positive for coronavirus and has been taken from the vessel to hospital quarantine.

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A man who was busted by police breaking Covid restrictions by driving to McDonald's will now have to pay for hotel quarantine.

Police conducting compliance checks caught the unsuspecting 34-year-old in the car park of the fast food restaurant in Cairns in far north Queensland.

It's understood the man was a close contact of someone infected with the virus and had been ordered to isolate at his home.

Police body-cam footage showed an officer introduce herself as part of the 'Covid unit' to the driver who was blurred out in the clip.

You've left your residence, what's happened? Why did you do that today?' the cop asked him.

'Is there any reason or emergency why you've breached that quarantine direction given to you?'

'Your actions today have shown me that you are unable to comply with the quarantine directions, so we are going to put you in government accommodation at your own expense. You'll have to quarantine there.'

The female officer told the man Queensland Police don't 'muck around with Covid'.

'I understand that you weren't aware that you've had close contact with someone… but once you're given a direction and you're told to stay home it is very clear that you are not to leave your address, unless for medical treatment, medical services or any medical emergency situation.

'Coming to McDonald's is definitely not that.'

The man was taken to government accommodation and will be forced to cover the cost himself.

Queensland's Health Minister Yvette D'Ath is concerned about undetected coronavirus cases in the state after two people tested positive for COVID-19.

Ms D'Ath said a man in his 40s who visited Sydney's northern beaches and a female superyacht crew member in her 20s in Cairns have the virus.

Queensland has now 100 days without community spread, and the 23,609 tests conducted in the last 48 hours had found only two COVID-19 cases.

But those two cases and sewage tests at Wynnum, Bargara and Bundaberg show there are more positive cases in the state.

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Sydney Christmas restrictions: how many guests are allowed under Covid rules?
9News.com.au logoReturned traveller from Sydney among two new Queensland cases

Queensland has recorded two new cases of coronavirus, one of whom recently travelled from Sydney's Northern Beaches.

The man in his 40s went to the hotspot on December 12 and returned on December 18.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said he went straight into home isolation despite initially testing negative to the virus.

Despite the new interstate and overseas acquired cases, it's now been 100 days since Queensland last recorded a case of COVID-19 acquired in the community.

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath is still urging anyone with symptoms to get tested and reminded Queenslanders that clinics will be open over Christmas.

"Our message is clear, our clinics will be open over Christmas," she said.

"There may be different clinics at different hours so please go on to the Queensland government coronavirus website if you need to go and get tested."

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Nearly 350 people have been denied entry into Queensland since the hard road checkpoints at the border with NSW were erected two days ago.

So far, 159 vehicles have been turned away, containing 347 people, at three border crossings on the Gold Coast.

More than 379,000 border pass applications have also been made since the border pass system was reintroduced following the outbreak in the Northern Beaches region of Sydney.

Gold Coast Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler said the checkpoints were still causing delays of over an hour for drivers.

"There is congestion, I understand that, there are delays, there are lengthy delays," he said.

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South Australia has recorded two new coronavirus cases, including a man who travelled into the state from New South Wales and a traveller in a medi-hotel.

SA Health said details about the former case still need to be confirmed, but it is believed the man from NSW may be an old, non-infectious case.

The man in his 20s travelled on a flight from Darwin to Sydney on Friday, December 18 — the same flight as another infectious person, but health authorities said he was not seated near the other case.

He then travelled from Sydney to Wodonga, and to the town of Maitland on South Australia's Yorke Peninsula, crossing the border early on Monday, December 21.

He got a COVID-19 test the following day which resulted in what authorities described as a "weak positive".

SA Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier said today that further blood tests show it is likely to be an old infection.

But she said the man and five of his close contacts are currently in quarantine as a precaution.

"He arrived in South Australia by road and he travelled from New South Wales and came into [SA] in the early hours of Monday," Professor Spurrier said.

"My understanding is he spent a little bit of time travelling through rural Victoria.

"It looks like this is, indeed, an old case … but I will need to have that verification."

Professor Spurrier said the man had been in Victoria during the height of that state's COVID-19 outbreak in October and November, but that he had never experienced symptoms.

The second case is a man in his 70s who flew into South Australia from Doha on December 18, and has been in hotel quarantine since arriving.

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The Northern Territory has removed its hotspot declaration for the majority of Greater Sydney, after NSW recorded just nine new coronavirus cases today.

Northern Territory Acting Chief Minister Nicole Manison said the decision to revoke the hotspot labelling was effective immediately.

Ms Manison said the removal did not include the area of Sydney's Northern Beaches.

"What I can say is that the Greater Sydney area, including the Blue Mountains along with the Central Coast, will be removed effective immediately," she told reporters today.

"The list of hotspot suburbs in the Northern Beaches area, which will be defined by suburb and postcode, will be listed on our coronavirus website shortly.

"What this means is that for those who are at the Howard Springs facility from those revoked hotspot areas, they will be able to leave soon."

New South Wales recorded nine new COVID-19 cases overnight, with seven linked to the Northern Beaches cluster.

NSW Chief Medical Officer Kerry Chant said the Avalon cluster on the Northern Beaches had reached 104 cases.

From the other new cases, one man is a Northern Beaches resident, she said.

There was also a man in his 40s who worked in the Sydney CBD.

Dr Chant also said the other new cases included one from the sports bar of the Paragon Hotel on Loftus Street near Sydney's Circular Quay.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said 60,000 people had presented for testing yesterday.

Ms Berejiklian says test results are generally coming back within a few hours to 12 hours.

She stressed her message over the Christmas period is: "Please limit your mobility."

"The strongest advice that our health experts will give you about the next few days is please limit your mobility," she said.

"Please do not move around unless you have to.

"We appreciate that there are restrictions in place which allow people to have people into their households but please make sure all of us reduce our mobility apart from those close family gatherings, which we have allowed over the Christmas break, we don't want people moving around unless you absolutely have to."

She urged anyone feeling sick over the Christmas period to get tested.

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Key points:
More than 500 repatriated Australians will be in the Howard Springs quarantine centre on Christmas
Health and catering teams have been busily preparing presents and meals for them
Domestic hotspot arrivals in the same NT facility won't have access to the same fare

Hundreds of Australians will spend this Christmas hunkered away from their families in quarantine, either stuck inside hotel rooms or isolated between the walls of their own homes.

But for more than 500 people recently repatriated to the Northern Territory from Europe and India, efforts are underway to give them the best Christmas possible under the conditions — from wrapped presents to plum pudding and fresh NT tiger prawns.

Teams from the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre have been busy packing gift bags for those currently serving time in the Howard Springs quarantine centre on Darwin's outskirts.

"I couldn't imagine being in quarantine and away from family to celebrate Christmas, and not having those usual festive celebrations around," said team leader Bronwyn Dalton.

"We just wanted to provide those residents with something to put a smile on their face, and something to smile about."
Most of these repats have been greatly traumatised by what they've seen in places like USA ,UK , India , Africa etc .

More than 100 children are among the batch of international arrivals, who Ms Dalton said would each receive a specially purchased present.

"We got the approval to buy each child a Christmas present, we had a budget for that, and we hit the shops," Ms Dalton said.

"We just wanted them to feel included."

One of those spending a quarantine Christmas in the tropical facility is mother-of-two Bronwen Seal, who is returning home to Geelong after 14 years to give some certainty to her kids' schooling.

"It's been a really challenging year in lots of different ways, and we're just so relieved to be back in Australia," Ms Seal said.

After a tumultuous 2020 spent trying to navigate her family a path home from the Middle East, via Frankfurt in Germany, she said a Christmas in Howard Springs would be one for the books.

"Honestly, I think it's going to be one of the most memorable Christmases we've ever had," Ms Seal said.

"The storms, the rain, the heat, we've come from cold Amman and we're just grateful to be here in Darwin.

"The only real problem that we have is we have to have our final COVID-19 test on Christmas Day, unfortunately, but that's par for the course."

Tiger prawns, ham and pudding on the menu

The menu for the international arrivals waking up to Christmas in Howard Springs does not read too differently from a fancy smorgasbord; from tiger prawn entrees to baked ham or turkey for lunch, and a Kakadu plum pudding for dessert complete with a cherry on top.

Staff from NT firm Karen Sheldon Catering have been working overtime to get the feast ready in time for the occasion.

"We appreciate the wonderful Australians that are returning home, and we are so happy to be part of that movement to get them home," Ms Sheldon said.

"We know they're going to be isolated and feeling lonely on this special Christmas Day, so we're going to do our very, very best to provide them with a real Aussie Christmas."

Domestic arrivals won't get same fare
The international arrivals at Howard Springs have the benefit of Commonwealth cash to help fund their Christmas spoils.

However, more than 100 of their counterparts in a different section of the facility who have arrived in Darwin from Sydney COVID-19 hotspots will not have access to the same fare.

The NT Government said those domestic arrivals, many of whom were in the air when the hotspot was declared, would still get some level of special service.

"A Christmas themed lunch will be served to all people in quarantine," said NT Government spokeswoman Anna Grosvenor.

"Staff will do their best to bring festive spirit to the day however special activities or events are restricted due to the need to maintain infection control measures required for quarantine."

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nternational airline crew members arriving in Victoria are now required to enter mandatory hotel quarantine, ending an exemption experts had described as a risky "loophole".

Previously, incoming staff aboard international flights were allowed to quarantine at home or a hotel chosen by their airline until their next departure, but since midday yesterday, Victoria requires international airline staff to enter official hotel quarantine facilities.

"Airline crews and technicians employed by international carriers who transit through Melbourne are now required by law to enter mandatory quarantine," a Victorian Government spokesperson said.

"We've taken this approach as an additional precaution to help reduce the risk of airline staff inadvertently bringing the virus back to Australia from overseas.

"These measures are consistent with practices already in place in other jurisdictions, including in New South Wales and Queensland."

Staff from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will accompany international crew members to and from the airport and their hotel.

Crew members will get tested for COVID-19 when they arrive at their hotel, and will be free to leave on their next flight after getting a negative result.

If they return a positive test, they will be looked after at a health hotel until they are no longer infectious.

The change comes after experts raised concerns about the previous arrangements, arguing that airline crew members should be treated as no less risky than other international arrivals.

Burnet Institute epidemiologist Mike Toole said last week the management of international air crew from hotel quarantine was a "potential loophole in the system" which needed to be addressed.

National guidelines for the airline industry, developed by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC), still say flight crews can be exempt from the mandatory hotel quarantine program.

"All air crew who have been on international flights must quarantine in their crew accommodation or home for 14 days after arrival, or until their next international flight. Whichever is shorter," the guidelines say.

The Federal Government said it was in constant communication with the airline industry to ensure "operations are as safe as possible".

"The Department of Health has not placed public health orders on international flight crews, however some state/territory governments have implemented legal requirements for air crew," the department said in a statement.

"The Department of Health supports the quarantining of international aircrew arriving into Australia in dedicated hotels between international flights or for 14 days, whichever is the least."

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Shoppers in the heart of the Northern Beaches lockdown have been captured ignoring stay-at-home orders.

The Covid cluster which first appeared a week ago has now surpassed 100 cases and Sydney's northern peninsula remains under strict lockdown orders as health authorities try to contain the outbreak.

Although Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced some restrictions would be eased to allow families to meet up for Christmas celebrations, there are still only four acceptable reasons to leave home - essential shopping, daily excessive, work and medical appointments.

Gathering in public is banned, along with dinning at eateries.

But locals at Westfield Warringah Mall Shopping Centre were seen on Thursday sitting in the food court of the complex enjoying takeaway lunches as they made their last-minute Christmas Eve purchases.

New South Wales Police told the Sydney Morning Herald the tables and chairs were mistakenly put out by cleaning staff in breach of the lockdown rules.

Police said no Penalty Infringement Notices have been issued within the Northern Beaches Police Area Command at this stage.

'The seating was put out by Centre Management security in error and have since been packed away,' police said.

A Westfield Warringah Mall spokeswoman said they will address the issue and put up clearer signage to highlight the shopping centre's Covid-Safe protocols.

'Take away food service is permitted by our food court operators and seating is only provided for customer convenience and not for the consumption of food,' she said.

'Our customer experience team have been asking customers to move on.'

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A woman who breached lockdown restrictions and trekked three hours from the Northern Beaches to a pizza shop has been slapped with a $1,000 fine.

The 37-year-old travelled three hours down the coastline to Sanctuary Point, a town in NSW, after being told her suburb of Bilgola would be in lockdown to manage the Covid-19 outbreak.

Police were alerted of the breach when the 37-year-old woman fainted at a pizza shop on Wednesday.

The woman was taken to Shoalhaven Hospital and appeared to be suffering from Covid-19 symptoms but refused testing and left the hospital, police said.

Following an investigation, officers attended a home in Edmund Street, Sanctuary Point, and found the woman was staying with three others who were told to self-isolate.

Further inquiries confirmed the woman was from Bilgola Plateau, on the Northern Beaches, and had breached lockdown orders.

She was handed a $1,000 fine for failure to comply with the requirement of a public health order.

NSW recorded nine new coronavirus cases on Thursday of which seven are directly related to the Northern Beaches outbreak and two are under investigation.

A record 60,000 coronavirus tests were carried out across NSW overnight, with Premier Gladys Berejiklian saying she 'nearly fell off her chair' when she heard of the scale of the testing blitz.

However, the NSW premier on Thursday urged residents to limit how much they move around over Christmas, keep their gatherings small and dine outdoors if possible.

'Apart from those close family gatherings, which we have allowed over the Christmas break, we don't want people moving around unless you absolutely have to,' she said.

'We are asking the community to reassess any non-essential travel on Christmas Day. Really select the people you need to be there with, and space it out into the New Year.

'We are far from out of the woods and in fact we have to be extra vigilant over the next few days.'

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Sydney's northern end of the Northern Beaches come out of lockdown after 21 days

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More than 70,000 residents on Sydney's Northern Beaches have celebrated their first taste of freedom in three weeks as the region's HARD Covid lockdown was finally lifted at midnight.

Suburbs north of Narrabeen Bridge, known as the northern zone, have been under stay@home orders since December 19.

They have not been allowed to leave the zone and were only given permission to leave their homes for essential shopping, healthcare reasons or exercise.

Mona Vale Beach was packed with families and groups of young people on Sunday, with locals making the most of the sunny 28C beach weather.

Further north at Avalon Beach, hundreds of beachgoers were seen sprawled out on the sand and in the water.

Residents south of the Narrabeen Bridge, known as the southern zone, left their hard lockdown on January 2.

Concern though remain about the threat of an outbreak in the region after a man in his 40s from the northern end of the region tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday.

Authorities have also issued an urgent health alert after a positive COVID-19 case visited a Costume clothes shop at Avalon Beach on New Year's Eve.

Customers have been advised to monitor for symptoms, as have those who went to Westfield Burwood and several shops inside the complex on January 6 and 7.

NSW recorded three locally-acquired COVID-19 cases on Sunday. Two are connected to the Berala cluster which started at a BWS liquor store in the lead up to New Year's Eve, and the third is linked to the Northern Beaches outbreak.

Meanwhile in Brisbane
On Friday, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced Greater Brisbane would enter into a rapid three-day lockdown after a cleaner at a quarantine hotel was diagnosed with the highly-contagious UK strain of COVID-19.

The NSW government put in place a new Public Health Order requiring anyone in NSW who had been in Greater Brisbane since 12:01am on January 2 to follow the same lockdown rules.

Travellers from the area will only be able to leave their house or accommodation for five reasons until 6pm on Monday - to obtain food or essential shopping, exercise, work if they cannot do so from home, undertake caring duties or seek medical care.

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Hotspots and case locations
If you have visited any of the locations listed below during the date and time indicated you must get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days from the exposure.

Sunday 3 January: Woolworths Calamvale North, Calamvale, 11am to 12pm
Tuesday 5 January: Coles Sunnybank Hills, Sunnybank Hills, 7.30am to 8am
Tuesday 5 January: Nextra Sunnybank Hills Newsagent, Sunnybank Hills, 8.00am – 8.15am
Tuesday 5 January: Bunnings Warehouse, Acacia Ridge, 2.00pm – – 2.40pm
Wednesday 6 January: Sunnybank Cellars (formerly Lucky Star Bottler) , Hellawell Road, Sunnybank Hills, 2.05pm – 2.15pm
If you have visited any of the locations listed below during the date and time indicated you must get tested immediately and quarantine until you receive a negative result.

Saturday 2 January: train from Altandi station to Roma street, Sunnybank, 7am
Saturday 2 January: train from Central Station to Altandi station, Brisbane City, 4pm
If you have visited any of the locations listed below you should monitor for symptoms - If symptoms develop, immediately get tested and isolate until you receive a negative result.

Tuesday 5 January: Jetstar Flight JQ570, Melbourne to Brisbane, arrived 11pm AEST
Wednesday 6 January: Cappriccios Italian Pizza Restaurant (kerbside pick-up), Maleny, 6:30pm to 7:00pm
Thursday 7 January: Purple Palate Cellars, Maleny, 4:30pm to 4:55pm
Thursday 7 January: Woolworths, Maleny, 4:40pm to 4:50pm

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The Guardian logoVictoria Covid hotspots: list of Melbourne and regional Vic coronavirus case locations

Victorian authorities have released a list of public exposure sites visited by a confirmed case of Covid-19.

Photograph: James Ross/EPA© Provided by The Guardian Photograph: James Ross/EPA
Here’s an overview and what to do if you’ve visited them. More detailed information is available at Victoria’s Department of Health and Human Services website.

MCG – Possible acquisition site @ AU vs India cricket test.
If you attended the MCG on December 27, seated in The Great Southern Stand, Zone 5, between 12.30pm - 3.30pm, you must get tested & self-quarantine until you get a negative result. Details for the seating in Zone 5 are available at the MCG website.

Uganda bans social media ahead of presidential election
Yet another Tim Minchin interview turns viewers off ABC
The Guardian logoVictoria Covid hotspots: list of Melbourne and regional Vic coronavirus case locations

Victorian authorities have released a list of public exposure sites visited by a confirmed case of Covid-19.


MCG – Possible acquisition site
If you attended the MCG on December 27, seated in The Great Southern Stand, Zone 5, between 12.30pm - 3.30pm, you must get tested & self-quarantine until you get a negative result. Details for the seating in Zone 5 are available at the MCG website.

Check our full list of regional Victorian and Melbourne Covid hotspots and coronavirus case locations
Chadstone – Possible acquisition site
If you attended these specific stores in Chadstone Shopping Centre on Dec 26, between 6:00am and 1:30pm, you must get tested & self-quarantine until you get a negative result.

Jay Jays (Ground level): 6:40am – 7:25am
H&M (Ground level and Level 1): 7:00am – 7:55am
Uniqlo (Ground level): 7:00am – 7:55am
Male toilet facilities above Zara (mezzanine level): 7:00am – 7:55am
Typo (Ground level) 8:35am - 9:05am
Zara Men (Ground level): 8:40am – 9:30am
Myer (Lower Ground and Ground level): 9:15am-10:00am and 12:15pm-1:00pm
Dumplings plus/food court area (Lower Ground) including the male toilet facilities within the food court: 7:55am-9:00am and 10:45am-11:25am
Footlocker (Lower Ground): 9:35am-11:05am and 11:55am-12:45pm
Huffer (Lower Ground): 9:35am-11:05am and 11:55am-12:45pm
JD Sport (Lower Ground): 9:35am-11:05am and 11:55am-12:45pm
Superdry (Lower Ground): 9:35am-11:05am and 11:55am-12:45pm
Culture Kings (Lower Ground): 11:30am - 12:20pm
Note: the close proximity of the stores means that there may be overlaps in the time when the case attended individual stores.

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Mt Druitt Hospital closure
Mount Druitt Hospital in Western Sydney is undergoing infection control cleaning after a positive COVID-19 case attended the emergency department (ED).

The patient presented on Saturday and received a positive result last night and were transferred to Westmead Hospital.

The Mount Druitt ED is now closed for cleaning and ambulances are being diverted to nearby hospitals, including Blacktown Hospital.

The clean is expected to be completed by 9:00am today but there are doctors and nurses available in an ambulatory care space outside the ED for any patients who present directly.

COVID-19 alerts for Bankstown, Marrickville
Several Sydney venues have been added to the COVID-19 alert list after they were visited by confirmed cases.

Anyone who visited Bankstown Central Shopping Centre on January 6 between 11:30am and 2:00pm and January 8 between 1:00pm and 2:30pm, in particular Target, Myer, Smiggle, Big W, Best and Less and Oporto, must immediately get tested and self-isolate until a negative result is received.

The same advice applies to anyone who visited the Service NSW centre in Bankstown on January 8 between 11:45am and 2:00pm.

In Sydney's inner west, anyone who visited the Thai Hung Supermarket in Marrickville between 3:45pm and 4:45pm on December 31 must also follow the same health advice.

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An urgent alert has been issued for four train lines, a Coles supermarket and an Australia Post office which were visited by a confirmed coronavirus cases.

New South Wales Health on Monday urged anybody who had been at several locations across Sydney's southwest and inner west to monitor for Covid symptoms.

An infected passenger boarded trains between Hurlstone Park and Bankstown twice on January 6 and again on January 8.

Anybody who attended Campsie Super Fresh supermarket in Sydney's southwest between 12.30pm and 1pm on January 2 must seek a Covid test and self isolate until they receive a negative result.
Similarly, customers at an Australia Post in Hurlstone Park between 3.30pm and 4pm on January 5 must get tested.

NSW Health urged anybody who receives a negative test to still be on the lockout for symptoms, and to get tested again if any develop.

An infected customer also visited Coles in Ashfield on January 6th between 4pm and 5pm, sparking fresh concerns in Sydney's inner west.

Authorities have urged any other customers who were in the store at the same time to remain on high alert and seek testing if they develop symptoms.

NSW recorded three new locally acquired COVID-19 cases on Monday, all linked to the Berala BWS cluster in Western Sydney.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian, who has returned from a week of leave, said contact tracers are in the process of 'mopping up' the western Sydney outbreak, which emerged on 29 December and has infected 26 people.
In a press briefing on Monday, the premier also revealed she wants major sporting events in NSW to go ahead this year with Covid restrictions in place.

'The government is looking very closely based on health advice, how we manage these major events in a Covid-safe way,' she said when asked if the Sydney derby A-League soccer game will go ahead on Saturday.

'I do want to stress our intention in New South Wales is to always continue with life as normal as possible including hosting major events, but the question is how can you make them Covid-safe?

'And that always depends on what's happening at the time and the pandemic, what phase we're up to, what the level of risk is.'

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Victorian Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville says the 1200-odd tennis players and staff travelling to Melbourne for the Australian Open will be subject to the "strictest rules for tennis anywhere in the world" in their hotel quarantine.

hree major hotels - the Grand Hyatt, Pullman Albert Park and the View on St Kilda Road - have been refitted to make them appropriate to house the players and staff so the event can address the risk of players carrying the virus from hotspots throughout the world.

Players and staff must quarantine for a two-week period if they want to compete in the international tennis tournament. Tennis Australia will be bearing the cost of the quarantine set-up. Players will be arriving on sparsely populated charter flights from all over the world on Thursday.

If a player or staff member tests positive they will be moved to a room at the Holiday Inn and be isolated away from other players.

"This is a tough, a strict program. It's the toughest in the country, in the world," Ms Neville said.

"We are assuming that every single tennis player and their official has the potential to be positive."

Each player and their one support person will be subject to daily tests.

Ms Neville said Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton has signed off on the arrangements.

She said Victoria Police and event staff would be managing the hotel quarantine program for competitors in the Australian Open, not private security companies.

"During the quarantine program, the quarantine area is managed by the event services officers and by Victoria Police," Ms Neville said.

News of the influx of players and officials arriving in Melbourne comes hours after Australians were booted off repatriation flights as a result of national cabinet's decision to temporarily lower the cap on international arrivals.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade emailed people over the weekend telling them they can no longer be accommodated on flights back to Australia this week.

Ms Neville said the state government would look at increasing the cap on the number of people able to travel to Victoria from overseas after the Open had been conducted.

"I understand people want to get home. At the moment we're not meeting the cap each day," Ms Neville said. "We're looking at … how we'll slowly increase that, after the Australian Open."

"We've been in planning for this for many months.

"We've made a decision, some months ago, that the Australian Open could be done safely.

Ms Neville said the two-week program would "ensure the future" of the event for Victorians.

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