Stay-at-home restrictions for all Regional NSW

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Stay-at-home restrictions for all Regional NSW


To minimise movement and protect the people of NSW from the evolving COVID-19 outbreak, new restrictions will be introduced for all of Regional NSW, effective from 5pm tonight, Saturday 14 August until 10 September

Following updated health advice from NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant, stay-at-home orders will apply to all people who live in regional NSW. This means the whole of New South Wales will be under stay at home restrictions from 5pm today.

  • This new order will replace any existing orders in regional NSW (meaning regional areas that were due to come out of lockdown will now remain under stay-at-home orders until Saturday 28 August).
  • Everyone must stay at home unless they have a reasonable excuse to leave, for example; shopping for food or other essential goods and services; medical care or compassionate needs (including to get a COVID-19 vaccine) and, essential work, or education, where you cannot work or study from home.

People cannot have visitors in their home from outside their household, including family and friends.

Masks must be worn indoors (not including the home) and in outdoor settings where you cannot socially distance from others (e.g. while queuing for takeaway).This includes inside a taxi, rideshare, hire car and all point to point transport vehicles.

NSW Health urges people to continue to get tested even with the mildest of cold-like symptoms. There are more than 440 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW, many of which are open seven days a week. To find your nearest testing clinic, visit the NSW Health website. 

Special rules remain in place for the affected local government areas of concern in Greater Sydney.

For further information, please see nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules.​
 

What do the restrictions and stay-at-home order 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 please 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.
  • Drivers must carry out good hygiene practices and, at least, at the end of each shift follow health and safety precautions by wiping down their vehicle’s surfaces, both inside and out.  Our website has tips for cleaning your vehicle. 
  • See our COVID-19 2021 FAQs for further information.

 

Staying COVID safe – Vehicle Sanitisation Station (VSS)

  • Service providers should be strongly encouraging their drivers to use Vehicle Sanitisation Stations that are located in a number of regional centres – Albury, Dubbo, Newcastle, Orange and Tamworth. 
  • Taxis, hire vehicles, rideshare vehicles, community transport, Government fleet and Emergency Services vehicles can be sanitised for free up to two times a day. 
  • Each vehicle is also eligible to receive 5 free masks per visit.  Locations and opening hours are available on our website. 
  • Regional service providers without access to a VSS can order up to 50 disposable face masks online through the Commissioner’s Industry Portal.

Vaccination – a priority

  • The NSW Premier and Chief Health Officer have made it clear that an increase in vaccinations is a priority for NSW more than ever before. 
  • The Commissioner strongly encourages everyone, but especially members of the point to point transport industry, to get vaccinated. Please reinforce this message with drivers and staff.
  • You can check your eligibility and book your COVID-19 vaccination on the NSW Government’s COVID-19 website. 
  • 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 clinic or your local GP – there are many options available.

For those who have received their first vaccination, thank you for taking action towards protecting yourself and the community and make sure to book your second dose.  Getting vaccinated will help us keep NSW COVID safe and get back on the road to recovery. 
 

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 and concerning time for everyone in NSW. We will continue to update the Industry as new information regarding restrictions and Public Health Order updates become available. 

The Commissioner’s website and COVID-19 updates page provide further information on the stay-at-home rules and restrictions and how they apply to the Industry.  

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