Covid: New rules for Sydney workers in the regions

PREMIER Gladys Berejiklian has announced people from Greater Sydney travelling to New South Wales for essential work will need to be tested once a week, however any regional people who travel to Sydney will still need to self-isolate on their return for a period of 14 days.

Dr Kerry Chant, chief medical officer said the case in Goulburn shows people can not be complacent wherever they live.

“It does highlight why people can’t be complaint about the risk anywhere and remind them to stay at home, while essential workers are permitted to go to the regions, all you can do is do that essential work and go home, you can’t go to pubs and clubs, you must have the same restrictions as if you were living in,” Dr Chant said.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard has signed another public health order, effective after midnight tonight, requiring Sydney essential workers travelling to regional areas to be tested once a week and to carry evidence of those tests on them.

Residents of Fairfield are to be tested every three days, if they leave their homes for essential work.

Mr Hazzard said employers and employees should decide if their work is essential and consider using other workers where possible.

The person who tested positive in Goulburn was a painter from Sydney and when asked by journalists why a local worker had not been used, Mr Hazard said it was “complex” and “commonsense” should be used.

The worker in Goulburn tested positive on July 9, has isolated since the 10th and his close contacts are also in self-isolation.

The Premier said it was a time for people to exercise commonsense.