23 June 2021
With the current COVID outbreak in Sydney continuing to grow, Bishop Anthony advises us of the following;
The NSW Government has introduced the following measures, effective immediately, 23 June 2021 (enforceable from 4pm) until 12:01am Thursday, 1 July for the Greater Sydney region which now includes the Central Coast, as well as Wollongong and Blue Mountains.
- visitors to households will be limited to 5 guests – including children
- masks will be compulsory in all indoor non-residential settings, including workplaces and at organised outdoor events (except in a hospitality venue when eating or drinking)
- drinking while standing up at indoor venues will not be allowed
- singing by audiences at indoor shows or by congregants at indoor places of worship will not be allowed
- dancing will not be allowed at indoor hospitality venues or nightclubs however, dancing is allowed at weddings for the bridal party (no more than 20 people)
- The one person per four square metre rule will be re-introduced for all indoor and outdoor settings, including weddings and funerals
- Outdoor seated events will be limited to 50 per cent seated capacity
- Previous public transport capacity limits, represented by green dots, will be reintroduced
- If you live or work in the City of Sydney, Waverley, Randwick, Canada Bay, Inner West, Bayside, and Woollahra local government areas, you cannot travel outside metropolitan Sydney for non-essential travel.
To this end Bishop Anthony places before us for the coming weekend:
- Church Capacity is subject to the 1 person per 4 Square metre rule. This will reduce your current capacity by 50%. Please ensure thorough check in records or QR codes are used.
- Congregational singing should not occur. From the government directive, it seems possible, however, for a cantor or a small choir to sing, provided that they are socially distanced, and it is certainly possible for music, such as an organ or other instruments, to be played. How this might occur will need to be the decision of each parish priest.
- Masks need to be worn by all who are present in the church as has been our experience in the past, as well as any gathering outside. Priests or deacons who are presiding may remove their mask whilst engaging in presidential prayers. Please note that masks are also compulsory inside other non-residential buildings in the parish, including the parish office.
- Social gatherings after Mass should be limited to avoid mingling, so as to be careful not to put our most vulnerable at risk.
Please continue to be aware of COVID-Safe behaviours such as the practice of good hand hygiene, Physical distancing and QR code check ins which continue to keep our communities safe. Encourage anyone with symptoms of COVID-19, even mild symptoms, to get tested at a COVID-19 testing clinic and not leave their home until a negative test is received. This includes people who have visited a confirmed COVID-19 case location in NSW or interstate during a specific time period.
Finally, please remain vigilant to information from NSW Health, particularly in relation the locations of current COVID-19 cases. We will continue to monitor the situation and will share further details as required.