12 suburbs in Penrith Local Government Area now under area of concern restrictions
Due to a notable increase in community transmission, twelve suburbs in the City of Penrith Local Government Area (LGA) will now be part of areas of concern, along with the eight previously identified LGAs, and will need to adhere to stricter movement restrictions from 5pm today, Sunday 8 August.
These suburbs, which are adjacent to the Cumberland and Liverpool LGAs, are Caddens, Claremont Meadows, Colyton, Erskine Park, Kemps Creek, Kingswood, Mount Vernon, North St Marys, Orchard Hills, Oxley Park, St Clair, and St Mary’s.
In line with the restrictions currently in place for Blacktown, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool and Parramatta LGAs, people in these 12 suburbs must only obtain food or other goods and services, and exercise, within 5km of their home. People cannot leave their local government area for work unless they are on the Government’s list of authorised workers. Taxi, rideshare and hire care drives 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, cannot leave the Penrith LGA to provide passenger services.
What do these additional restrictions mean for taxi, ride share and hire vehicle drivers?
Can drivers provide passenger services within their local government area?
Yes, point to point transport drivers who live in the 12 suburbs of concern in the Penrith LGA can provide passenger services within the Penrith LGA.
Can drivers provide health care and social assistance passenger services outside of the Penrith 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
- Department of Veteran Affairs
- Healthshare NSW
- Family violence and sexual assault services`
Please see our COVID FAQs for further information.
Getting vaccinated is a priority
Vaccination is key to coming out of stricter restrictions. The Commissioner encourages all of the point to point transport industry to get vaccinated as soon as possible. This message should be strongly reinforced with drivers and staff and encourage them to make an appointment.
Rules on masks
Everyone who living or working in the Penrith LGA 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.
Staying COVID safe
- 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
- Drivers who are eligible are encouraged to get vaccinated, for more information on vaccinations please go here.
- Don’t drive if you are feeling unwell and get a COVID test straight away
- Drivers should sanitise their vehicles regularly (see our website for tips)
- Practise good hygiene at all times
- Set the air conditioning to external airflow rather than to recirculation, or have windows open where appropriate
- Passengers should sit in the backseat of the vehicle
- Encourage passengers to use contactless payments where possible
- Passengers should handle their own luggage where possible
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.