NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has confirmed that this year’s New Year’s Eve celebrations will be “quieter than usual” across the state as restrictions aim to minimise the spread of COVID-19 over the festive period.
“This New Year’s it is going to have to be a lot quieter than previous New Year’s,” he said on Thursday morning.
Hazzard also confirmed that there will be “more cases” announced in the daily press conference at 11am, adding that the five-visitor limit at house parties will remain in place tonight.
Sydneysiders are free to gather outside in groups of up to 30 people, but can only have five visitors within their homes. However, Brad Hazzard has advised people to gather in as small groups as possible to prevent the spread of the virus.
“Certainly any symptoms – we’ve said this a thousand times – any symptoms, don’t visit your family or friends, because you may be the one who carries it into that household,” he told ABC News Breakfast today.
“And anybody who is having friends around, make sure that no more than five people come to your home. And I would say, I mean, it’s obvious that when we have someone come into our home that they tend to be close to us and therefore we take chances in terms of kissing and cuddling and so on, but don’t do it. Don’t do it for the moment.
“Have them in your household, enjoy their company, but don’t get too close. Maintain that 1.5m social distancing. You’re doing them a favour, you’re doing yourself a favour, you’re doing your community a favour.”
However, due to COVID restrictions, the really good vantage points in the middle of Sydney’s CBD have restricted access, which means that most of us will miss out.
Further announcements regarding case numbers and any changes in restrictions are expected when New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Brad Hazzard address the media at 11am today.
