Overview
As NSW's COVID-19 numbers have started to drop — with a total of seven new cases in the past 48 hours — and testing and contact tracing ramps up, the government is beginning to slowly (slowly) ease some social distancing and public gathering restrictions. Some beaches have reopened, schools are set to return from May 11 and from this Friday, May 1, you can go and see your friends and family — but there is some fine print.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said this morning, Tuesday, April 28, that from this Friday two adults will be able to go and visit another household. So, for example, you can take your sister to go and visit your parents in their house for dinner, or you and your partner could go to a friend's house for a puzzle night, but a maximum of two adult visitors, with additional small children if they have them, can go and visit a second household at any time.
How far you can travel to see friends and family is a little vague at the moment, though, with the NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys saying there's no "exact limit" in terms of kilometres, but police will determine what is reasonable.
While these eased restrictions mean friends and family can gather again in homes, the Premier has said if you have even the mildest sniffle or are feeling fatigued to not risk it and that it's important to practise "really good" social distancing if you're visiting someone over 70 years of age or with comorbidity (existing health conditions).
The Premier also said the government is confident Sydneysiders will do the right thing with the new restrictions, as there is "too much at stake". "We don't want to see the numbers suddenly spike up because people are being irresponsible," the Premier said. She also noted that Friday's relaxation on private gatherings in homes is "not a licence to go wild and have massive parties".
In fact, having a party — with more than two adult visitors from another household — could still see you cop a $1000 on-the-spot fine, as will disobeying any of the other social distancing and public gathering restrictions.
From Friday, May 1, a maximum of two adults in NSW can go and visit another household, but all other social distancing and public gathering restrictions are in place for now.