Area of concern restrictions extended to 3 new LGAs
Due to increasing concerns of community transmission, Burwood, Strathfield and Bayside Local Government Areas (LGA) will now have additional restrictions from 5pm today, in line with previously identified LGAs of concern and 12 suburbs in Penrith LGA.
In line with the restrictions currently in place for the 12 suburbs of Penrith and Blacktown, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool and Parramatta LGAs, people in these areas cannot leave their local government area for work unless they are on the Government’s list of authorised workers. Taxi, rideshare and hire car drivers are not authorised workers.
This means that taxi, rideshare, hire car and other point to point transport drivers, as well as staff that work at service providers who live or stay in one of the LGAs of concern, cannot leave their LGA to provide passenger services.
What do these additional restrictions mean for taxi, rideshare and hire vehicle drivers?
Can drivers provide passenger services within their local government area?
Yes, point to point transport drivers who live in one of the LGAs of concern can provide passenger services within their LGA.
Can drivers provide health care and social assistance passenger services outside of their LGA?
Yes, drivers are considered an authorised worker when they are providing the health care and social assistance passenger services listed in the authorised worker list. No additional work can be conducted outside the LGA.
Examples of health care and social assistance passenger services include, for example:
- Booked transport for Wheelchair passengers
- Family violence and sexual assault services`
- Department of Veteran Affairs
- Healthshare NSW
Please see our COVID FAQs for further information.
What do the latest changes mean for taxi, rideshare, hire car and other point to point transport service providers and drivers?
- The new restrictions will have an impact on the point to point transport industry, passenger services must only be provided for the above essential reasons
- Drivers must wear a mask at all times while in the vehicle (unless they have an exemption). This means even when a passenger is not in the vehicle
- Passengers must wear a mask (unless they have an exemption).
- If exempt, evidence of the exemption must be carried at all times.
- Do not travel if you are unwell, stay home and get tested immediately
- Drivers must check-in using the vehicle’s NSW Government QR code at the start of the shift and they should also check out when their shift is finished
- Drivers should encourage passengers to check-in using the NSW Government QR code in their vehicle.
- Getting vaccinated is a priority for NSW, more than ever.
Getting vaccinated is a priority
Vaccination is key to coming out of this lockdown. The Commissioner encourages all the point to point transport industry to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Please reinforce this message with drivers and staff and encourage them to make an appointment.
There are walk-in vaccination clinics for the AstraZeneca vaccine and pharmacies are available to administer the vaccination as efficiently as possible. You can also go to a NSW Health vaccination site or your local GP – many options are available.
Rules on masks
Everyone who is living or working in the LGAs of concern must wear a mask at all times whenever outdoors or in the workplace, this includes inside taxis, rideshare, hire vehicles and all point to point transport services.
• This means, drivers must wear a mask at all times while in the vehicle (unless they have an exemption) - even when a passenger is not in the vehicle. Passengers also must wear a mask (unless they have an exemption).
• If exempt, evidence of the exemption must be carried at all times.
Please see our COVID FAQs for further information on masks.
Financial assistance
If the COVID-19 restrictions have affected you or your business, find out about the financial and other assistance available through the NSW Government’s COVID-19 Support Package.
Stay up to date
The Commissioner understands this is a challenging time for everyone with change occurring regularly. We will continue to update the industry as new information and Public Health Order updates become available.
The Commissioner’s website and COVID-19 updates page provides further information on the stay-at-home rules and restrictions and how they apply to the Industry.