COVID-19: Latest Restrictions announced (29 July 2021)

July 29th, 2021 Latest News

With the NSW Government announcing an addition 4 weeks of lockdown for the Greater Sydney region (including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour) to 28 August 2021, the following provides information and clarification on its impacts on early childhood education and care (ECEC) services:


OPERATIONAL


  1. ECEC services can continue to remain open (see Clause 24(1)(k) and Item 11 of Schedule 2 – Exempted Gatherings of the relevant NSW Public Health Order);

  2. two persons not from the same household can travel in a vehicle in Greater Sydney if engaging in work (see Clause 24AA(2)(a) of the relevant NSW Public Health Order);

  3. singing in non-residential premises are allowed if the premises are an educational establishment (see Clause 14(2)(b) of the relevant NSW Public Health Order);

  4. persons may remove a fitted face covering if the person is at work and the nature of the person’s work means clear enunciation or visibility of the person’s mouth is essential (see Clause 17(3)(d)(ii) of the relevant NSW Public Health Order); and

  5. persons may remove a fitted face covering for the proper provision of goods or service (see Clause 17(3)(g) of the relevant NSW Public Health Order).

FAMILIES


  1. parents/guardians from across Greater Sydney can continue to drop-off and pick-up their child/ren from ECEC services (see Item 3 of Schedule 1 – Reasonable Excuses as well as Item 3 of Schedule 3 – Reasonable Excuses – Affected Region of the relevant NSW Public Health Order).

STAFFING


  1. ECEC personnel who reside within the Blacktown, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool or Parramatta local government areas as Authorised Workers can leave their local government area for work (see 24(E)’s Note of the relevant NSW Public Health Order);

  2. Until 30 July 2021, ECEC personnel who reside within the Fairfield local government area as Authorised Workers can leave their local government area for work but must be COVID tested within 72 hours (ie 3 days) and be able to provide such evidence to an employer or occupier of the service or a police offer (see Clause 24B(2) of the relevant NSW Public Health Order and the Notice from the NSW Chief Health Officer);

  3. From 31 July 2021, ECEC personnel who reside within the Canterbury-Bankstown local government area as Authorised Workers can leave their local government area for work but must be COVID tested within 72 hours (ie 3 days) and be able to provide such evidence to an employer or occupier of the service or a police offer (see Clause 24B(2) of the relevant NSW Public Health Order and the Notice from the NSW Chief Health Officer); and

  4. an ECEC personnel from within Greater Sydney must not enter premises for work that are more than 50 kilometres outside Greater Sydney unless s/he has been tested for COVID-19 in the previous 7 days and has evidence of the test available for inspection by their employer or a police office (see Clause 24AD of the relevant NSW Public Health Order).

Please note that other requirements may still apply, for example your service’s policies and procedures on infectious diseases as well as the delivery of children to, and collection of children from, education and care service premises.

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Should you require any further information or clarification, please contact Service NSW on 13 77 88, or NSW Health on (02) 9391 9000, or the ACA NSW team on 1300 556 330 or nsw@childcarealliance.org.au. And for all COVID related information for the early childhood education and care sector, please visit ACA NSW's COVIDwatch.


PUBLISHED: 29 JULY 2021

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