Premier Gladys Berejiklian Says NSW Won't Ease COVID-19 Restrictions Until After Tuesday's Public Holiday
The Premier remains confident that restrictions can be eased to "pre-Avalon" levels late next week.
In early December 2020, NSW began to return to a state of relative normality with dance floors returning to venues and gatherings of 50 people allowed in households with outdoor areas. That was until the northern beaches COVID-19 cluster saw the state return to lockdowns and strict restrictions.
As the state begins to leave the fallout from that cluster and daily case numbers remain low, many Sydneysiders may be wondering when restrictions will begin to be eased. On Tuesday, January 19, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian gave the city hope, stating if case number remained low the state would be able to return "as close to pre-Avalon conditions as possible next week".
The Premier has now added a caveat to this promise, adding that restrictions will not be eased before Tuesday, January 26's public holiday. Talking to Jim Wilson on 2GB, Berejiklian expressed concerns that Tuesday's public holiday could act as a "super-seeding" event if restrictions were eased beforehand. Despite these concerns, Premier Berejiklian remained confident that the rolling back on restrictions could be announced "late next week".
NSW recorded no locally transmitted cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, January 21, marking the states fourth day in a row without a local acquired case. While case numbers are currently low, NSW Health continues to urge Sydney residents to be tested if they show even the mildest of symptoms.
Currently, Greater Sydney has strict limits on gatherings, with just five visitors allowed in homes and public outdoor gatherings capped at 30.
If you are looking for something to do on Tuesday, January 26, consider attending Sydney Festival's The Vigil, a COVID-safe overnight reflection on the impact of colonisation on Australia's First Nations people. The event will feature talks and performances from First Nations artists and community members and will run from dusk on Monday, January 25 through to dawn on Tuesday. The event is free, but registration is essential.
For more information about COVID-19 in NSW and current restrictions, head to NSW Health.
