What you can and can't do under the rules

Up to 20 visitors may visit another household at any one time. The total number of visitors includes adults and children. (A member of the household is not counted as a visitor.)

• There is no daily limit to visitors to your home, so long as you do not have more than 20 visitors at any one time.
• If you are over 70 or have a pre-existing medical condition, you should limit the number of visitors and take care at all times.  
• You can have guests from any household so long as it does not exceed 20 visitors in total. 
• An overnight stay as part of a visit to someone’s house is allowed.

If there are more than 20 visitors at a home, every person will be held individually responsible for a breach of the public health order.

As the home is a high transmission area, the NSW Chief Health Officer strongly recommends a COVID-Safe precautionary approach of having no more than 10 visitors at a time. 

Strata buildings

Visit NSW Fair Trading for information for people living and working in strata and community schemes.

People who are not counted as visitors

Under the public health orders, some people at your home will not be counted as visitors if they need to be at your home to 

• engage in work

• provide childcare

• fulfil responsibilities as a carer

• provide a service, care or assistance to a vulnerable person or for compassionate reasons 

• fulfil contact arrangements between parents and children under the age of 18 or between siblings 

• help a member of the household to move in or out of the home 

• avoid an injury or illness or to escape a risk of harm 

• assist in an emergency situation.  

A COVID-19 Safety Plan is required by real estate agents to allow people to view or inspect a home to buy or rent it or to attend an auction. People attending a home for this purpose will not be counted as visitors.

People who are at higher risk

People who are at higher risk of COVID-19 infection include:

• people aged 70 years and over
• people aged 65 years and over with chronic medical conditions
• people with a compromised immune system
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples 50 years and older with one or more chronic medical conditions.

If you are in one of these groups, follow the guidance for vulnerable people.

Under the public health order, there are restrictions on people from different households meeting up together in a public place as defined in the Summary Offences Act 1988.

No more than 30 people can gather outside in a public place which includes public parks, reserves, beaches, public gardens and spaces. 

Under the order, a public gathering means a meeting or assembly of persons for a common purpose in a public place. 

The maximum of 30 people does not apply to

• a group of people who are all from the same household
• community sporting activities
• outdoor music performances and rehearsals 
• a protest or demonstration about governmental or political matters.
• outdoor religious services or
• controlled outdoor events.

Under the public health order, a significant event means a corporate event, funeral or memorial service, a wedding service, or a gathering following a funeral or memorial service or wedding service.

If you are organising a significant event that is permitted to be held in a public park, a reserve or a public garden, you must complete and register a COVID-19 Safety Plan.

The number of people you can have at your event will depend on the type of event.

See the separate advice that applies for

• weddings
• funerals, memorial services and wakes
• organisers of corporate events
• outdoor music performances and rehearsals

A controlled outdoor public gathering is an outdoor gathering in a public place that:

• is enclosed by fencing or another form of barrier
• can be accessed only with a ticket.

There can be up to 3,000 people at a controlled outdoor public gathering, with 1 person per 2 square metres if everyone is assigned a seat (other than workers), or 1 person per 4 square metres if people are seated in an allocated seating area. 

The gathering must not last longer than 5 hours.

The organiser must have and comply with a COVID-19 Safety Plan, and electronic entry recording is compulsory.

You can have a maximum of 150 people at a wedding or a gathering following a wedding service, subject to the 4 square metre rule. You must complete and register a COVID-19 Safety Plan for your event.

Up to 20 people in the wedding party are permitted on the dance floor. There cannot be rotation of people on the dance floor beyond the official wedding party. 

People attending will be required to provide their name and contact details so that they can be used for contact tracing.

For outdoor weddings at a hospitality venue

If a wedding or gathering following a wedding is held at a hospitality venue in an outdoor area and there is electronic entry recording, you may have up to 150 people and apply the one person per 2 square metre rule.  You must complete and register a COVID-19 Safety Plan for your event.

Increase to the number of guests from 1 December 2020

The number of people who can attend a wedding will increase to 300 people from Tuesday 1 December 2020, subject to the 4 square metre rule indoors and 2 square metre rule outdoors (wherever held).

The maximum number of people who may attend a funeral or memorial service or a gathering following a funeral or memorial service, is the lesser of one person per 4 square metres or 100 people. Funerals at outdoor public places or a place of residence are subject to the same limits.

Places of public worship, funeral homes and crematoria must also be registered as a COVID Safe business.

People attending the service will be required to supply their name and contact details so that they can be used for contact tracing.

Read common questions about attending funerals, memorial services and wakes and find out about COVID-19 Safety Plans for

• funerals, memorial services and wakes
• places of worship.

For outdoor services at a hospitality venue

If a funeral or memorial service, or gathering following a service is held at a hospitality venue in an outdoor area, you may have up to 100 people and apply the one person per 2 square metre rule.  You must complete and register a COVID-19 Safety Plan for your event.

Increase to the number of guests from 1 December 2020

The number of people who can attend a funeral or memorial service will increase to 300 people from Tuesday 1 December 2020, subject to the 4 square metre rule.

The number of people in a place of public worship is subject to the 4 square metre rule and generally must not exceed 300 people.

The venue must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan and be registered as a COVID Safe venue to keep staff, volunteers and visitors safe.

For religious services held at a location other than a place of public worship, the principal organiser is responsible for developing and complying with a COVID-19 Safety Plan. 

If a place of public worship has separate buildings, the maximum number of people in each separate building is subject to the 4 square metre rule and the requirements of the public health order to a maximum of 300 people per building. 

If there are separate buildings, each building should have a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place.

The maximum number of people at an outdoor religious service (not including weddings and funerals) must not exceed 500 people, subject to the one person per 2 square metre rule (if each person is assigned a seat) or the 4 square metre rule for informal seating in open areas (eg picnic rug).

The maximum number of people at an indoor religious service (not including weddings and funerals) wherever held must not exceed 300 people, subject to the 4 square metre rule.

Places of public worship may hold outdoor religious services (of up to 500 people) or outdoor music performances (of up to 500 people) at the same time as indoor religious services or other indoor activities (of up to 300 people), provided there is sufficient space on the premises and the events start and finish at different times.
 
People attending a religious service will be required to provide their name and contact details when they enter so that they can be used for contact tracing. It is strongly recommended that people attending services in places of worship wear a mask.

Develop a COVID-19 Safety Plan for your church, meeting house, mosque, synagogue, temple or another place of worship to help your community connect safely.

Services can be streamed or recorded to enable people to engage in worship.

Weddings and funerals at places of worship

A wedding held in a place of public worship may only have up to 150 people (300 people from 1 December 2020) subject to the 4 square metre rule.

A funeral or memorial service held in a place of public worship may only have up to 100 people (300 people from 1 December 2020) subject to the 4 square metre rule.

Venue operators must generally ensure there are at least 4 square metres of space for each person on the premises or in the area, as applicable.

Hospitality venues may apply the one person per 2 square metre rule for outdoor areas.

The capacity at the venue must not exceed the maximum allowed for the venue.

See the COVID-19 Safety Plans developed especially for:

• School formals
• School graduation ceremonies

Find out more about

• Year 12 events – NSW Government announcement
• Term 4 easing of restrictions
• COVID-19 and schools
• public holiday and school term dates.

Group singing and chanting remains a high-risk activity for transmission should someone involved be infected.

Indoors settings

In order to mitigate this risk, a small group of up to 5 people may

• sing together in one area if all singers face forwards and not towards each other
• have physical distancing of 1.5 metres between each other and any other performers, and
• 5 metres distancing from all other people in front including the audience and conductor.

The audience or congregation should not participate in singing in this setting due to the increased risk of transmission and NSW Health strongly recommends anyone 12 years or older wear a face mask.

Ensembles and other musical groups should rehearse and perform outdoors or in large, well-ventilated indoor spaces.

Outdoors settings

A group of up to 30 people may perform together in a singing group outdoors if:

• all singers face forwards and not towards each other 
• have physical distancing of 1.5 metres between each other and any other performers, and
• 5 metres distancing from all other people including the audience and conductor.

If the event is one where the audience or congregation are likely to participate in the singing, such as carols by candlelight or religious services, audience members and congregants 12 years or older should wear a face mask.

Note: audiences that are singing are not counted in the 30-person limit on those who are performing in a singing group.

Primary and preschool

In primary school and preschool settings, in-class educational activities such as group repetition, chanting, recitation or singing may occur, provided this takes place outdoors or in a well-ventilated indoor environment.

Teachers and any other adults present must maintain 1.5 metres physical distancing for these in-class educational activities.

This activity is permitted due to the importance of these activities in children’s education and development, and the lower transmission risk between primary students.

Musical instruments

Players of non-reeded woodwind instruments (such as flutes and recorders) should maintain

• a physical distance of 3 metres from others in the direction of air flow, and
• 1.5 metres in all other directions.

Players of all other musical instruments (including reeded woodwind instruments) should maintain a physical distance of 1.5 metres between each other and the audience/conductor.

Ensembles and other musical groups should rehearse and perform outdoors or in large, well-ventilated indoor spaces.

More information

See the NSW Health advice for school communities.

Businesses that prepare and serve food and drink to customers on the premises or for takeaway need to have a COVID-19 Safety Plan.

For detailed advice, business owners should refer to the COVID-19 Safety Plan for their venue type.

Penalties apply to venues found to breach the public health order rules.

The maximum number of people permitted at hospitality venues is the lesser of:

• one person per 4 square metres for indoor areas, and
• one person per 2 square metres for outdoor areas, or
• 300 people.

For hospitality venues with more than one separate area, this maximum applies per separate area.

Significant events held at outdoor hospitality venues may apply the one person per 2 square metres rule. The events are still subject to a maximum of

• 300 people for corporate events
• 150 people for weddings (300 people from Tuesday 1 December 2020)
• 100 people for funerals and memorial services (300 people from Tuesday 1 December 2020).

A corporate event is an event, hospitality or social activity organised, held or funded by a business or other organisation for staff, clients or stakeholders. A corporate event is not open to the public.

The maximum number of people who can attend a corporate event cannot exceed 300 people or one person per 4 square metres, whichever is the lesser.

Future bookings exceeding the maximum number can be taken, providing the organiser complies with the rules in force at the time of the event.

Learn about the COVID-19 Safety Plan for conferences, functions and corporate events.

For outdoor corporate events at a hospitality venue

If a corporate event is held at a hospitality venue in an outdoor area,  you may have up to 300 people and apply the one person per 2 square metre rule. You must complete and register a COVID-19 Safety Plan for your event.

A function centre is a building or place used for holding events, functions, conferences, and includes convention centres, exhibition centres and reception centres. Function centre operators must complete and register a COVID Safety Plan.

If a trade show or exhibition is held in a function centre and open to the public, the maximum capacity is one person per 4 square metres.

If a trade show or exhibition is held at a venue that is not a function centre, then the rules and restrictions applicable to that venue apply, for example:

• an exhibition held at a hospitality venue is subject to the one person per 4 square metre rule indoors, and one person per 2 square metre rule outdoors, capped at 300 persons
• an exhibition at a museum or gallery will have a maximum capacity of one person per 4 square metres.

Music performances and rehearsals can be held outdoors with a maximum of 500 people if

• the person principally responsible for organising the rehearsal or performance develops and complies with a COVID-19 Safety Plan
• all participants provide their contact details (name and phone number or email) where practicable.

Outdoor music performances and rehearsals held at certain larger venues, including entertainment facilities, major recreation facilities and zoos, may have more than 500 people subject to the restrictions at those venues.

Outdoor music performances and rehearsals may be held at places of public worship, subject to the one person per 2 square metre rule if everyone (except workers) has been assigned a seat, or the one person per 4 square metre rule otherwise.

• Outdoor musical performances and rehearsals of up to 500 people are permitted if they meet the requirements of the COVID-19 Safety Plan.
• Music festivals within the meaning of the Music Festivals Act 2019 and including indoor music festivals of more than 500 people but less than 2000 people, are not permitted.
• Premises are not currently able to operate as nightclubs.

Under the public health order, an entertainment facility means a theatre, cinema, music hall, concert hall, dance hall and the like, but does not include a pub or registered club.

Entertainment facilities must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan and can sell tickets for seated events at 50% of capacity, to a maximum of 1000 tickets, or they can use the 4 square metre rule to calculate capacity with no maximum number of people.

Events must be ticketed with ticketholders assigned to a seating area for the 50% capacity calculation to be used.

Alternatively, entertainment facilities may allow one person per 4 square metres on the premises, with no maximum capacity.

Community sporting activities are allowed, including training sessions and contact activities.

A maximum of 20 people per class applies to gym and recreation classes such as yoga, tai chi and pilates.

For community sporting activities that involve more than 30 participants, the organiser must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan for community sporting competitions and full training activities.

• Participants include players, people who are training, officials and spectators.
• More than one parent may attend community sporting activities if physical distancing of at least 1.5 metres can be maintained between people that are not from the same household.
• The maximum number of participants at a community sporting activity must not exceed 500 participants.
• Record keeping for spectators must take place for all ticketed community sporting activities where this is practical.
• See the latest advice for minimising the risk of COVID-19 transmission if you're a community sports player or spectator.

Gyms must be registered as COVID Safe and have a COVID-19 Safe Hygiene Marshal present when there are more than 20 people using the gym at the same time.

• The gym COVID Safety Plan applies to any gym that is an indoor recreation facility which is open to members of the public. This includes gyms that are in a hotel or workplace.

• A gym does not include a dance, yoga, pilates, gymnastics or martial arts studio.

• A maximum of 20 people per class applies to gym and recreation classes such as yoga, tai chi and pilates.

If a gym is not open to members of the public, such as a gym in residential premises, for example a home or an apartment building, these requirements do not apply.

Under the public health order, a major recreation facility means a building or place used for large-scale sporting or recreation activities that are attended by large numbers of people whether regularly or periodically, and includes theme parks, sports stadiums, showgrounds, racecourses and motor racing tracks.

Major recreation facilities

• must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan
• are permitted to have up to 25% of normal capacity of the venue or 10,000 persons (whichever is lesser)
• can admit ticketholders providing each person has been assigned to a seating area.

The 4 square metre rule applies to certain areas within major recreation facilities such as food and drink premises.

Where a major recreation facility is not hosting a ticketed and seated event, it can admit up to 500 people, or one person per 4 square metres (whichever is lesser).

Find out more about COVID-19 Safety Plans for sport and recreation businesses and organisers

• Community sporting competitions and full training activities
• Gyms
• Indoor recreation facilities including yoga, pilates and dance studios, martial arts training facilities recreation
• Swimming pools, saunas and spas.

If you're planning a trip, see the latest travel advice.

Learn more about requirements for self-isolation and ​​​​​​​quarantine rules.

If you've been in South Australia in the last 14 days and you're wanting to travel into NSW, you're required to complete a NSW entry declaration form.

Who should complete the form?

• Any traveller entering NSW from South Australia who is over the age of 16. This includes people returning home to NSW and visitors from other states.
• It also includes travellers who have been to South Australia in the last 14 days who are entering NSW from other states or territories.

Learn more about the updates on restrictions for entering NSW and how to complete the NSW entry declaration form.

There are no limitations on people who live in NSW travelling within NSW.

For a holiday home or short term rental, the four square metre rule does not apply.

Up to 20 people may stay in a holiday home or holiday rental. More than 20 people can stay in a holiday home or holiday rental if they are all members of the same household.

If you are visiting a national park camping ground you must book ahead.

Learn more about

• driving and boating
• restrictions on travelling interstate and border restrictions.

If you are planning to visit other Australian states and territories, check local arrangements prior to your trip. Some states and territories may require travellers to quarantine on arrival.

• Australian Capital Territory: Application for an exemption to enter ACT
• Northern Territory: interstate arrivals and quarantine
• Queensland border restrictions
• South Australia: domestic travel restrictions
• Tasmania: border restrictions and COVID-19 community updates
• Victoria's COVID-19 restriction levels
• Western Australia: COVID-19 travel advice

If you are arriving in NSW, see the latest travel advice.

International travellers arriving in NSW will be charged for their hotel quarantine accommodation. This does not apply to travellers flying into NSW who have been in New Zealand for the previous 14 days.

Learn more about the cost of quarantine for international travellers.

To deal with the public health risk of COVID-19 and its possible consequences, the Minister for Health and Medical Research has made a number of orders, under section 7 of the Public Health Act 2010:

• Restrictions on gathering and movement
• Border control: South Australia
• Quarantine: air transportation and maritime
• Self-isolation
• Residential aged care facilities
• Spitting and coughing

Visit NSW  Legislation: COVID-19 related legislation for current orders, amendments and exemptions.