The long-awaited restrictions for New Year’s Eve have been announced but no matter where you are in Sydney, you’re being urged to stay in and watch the fireworks on TV or celebrate with a small group outdoors.

Tight restrictions apply for all of Greater Sydney and the special celebrations for frontline workers around the harbour have been cancelled.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has apologised for being “so strict” but says we all want “2021 to be better than 2020”.

“Can I say to people — please reduce your mobility, don’t move around unless you absolutely have to, don’t travel around unless you absolutely have to.”

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Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant has asked people to use any outdoor space available if they plan to host guests on the night.

“If you can have your New Year’s Eve celebrations on an open verandah, outdoor barbecues — please keep people out of indoor spaces,” she said.

And yes, unfortunately the midnight kiss might be off the cards this NYE.

“When the clock ticks over to midnight … I know that’s normally an emotional time where we like to kiss and hug everybody around us, can I ask for absolute restraint,” Health Minister Brad Hazzard said.

So here’s what you can and cannot do depending on where you are.

The northern beaches (north zone)

With another five COVID-19 cases announced today (four being linked to the Avalon Cluster), those in the north zone of the northern beaches will still be subject to stay-at-home provisions until January 9.

This means residents must stay home with the exception of four reasons: shopping for goods and services, travel for work or education (which cannot be done at home), exercise or for medical care.

While cases are falling, the Premier said there were still too many unlinked cases in this area to give the community the NYE they were hoping for.

However, residents in the area are getting a small reprieve for NYE when they will be allowed to have five people gather in one household (including children) for just the one night.

Any visitors must also be from the north zone of the northern beaches though.

Until January, outdoor gatherings of five people are also allowed.

However, no restaurants, cafes, pubs or clubs (except for takeaway) will be permitted to open for what would normally be one of their busiest nights of the year.

To counter this business downturn, Health Minister (and northern beaches resident) Brad Hazzard has asked people to get takeaway meals from nearby restaurants on NYE.

“The takeaway message is to get some takeout if the local businesses are providing it. That will keep our local businesses supported,” he said.

The north zone applies to those who live north of the Narrabeen Bridge and east of the Baha’i Temple at Ingleside.

The northern beaches (south zone)

The stay-at-home order will also remain in the southern end of the northern beaches but is expected to be relaxed by January 2.

Like the north, there will be temporary easing for NYE, which means 10 people can gather in the one home (including children).

All guests must also be from the south zone of the northern beaches.

Gatherings of 10 people are also allowed outdoors until January 2.

No restaurants, cafes, pubs or clubs (except for takeaway) will be permitted to open for December 31.

On the morning of January 2, the Premier says health authorities will revaluate the restrictions.

“Our ultimate aim is to make that [southern] zone part of Greater Sydney as soon as possible,” she said.

“There will be an easing of restrictions from the third, but what that looks like yet is yet to be determined.”

Greater Sydney, Wollongong and the Central Coast

No more than 10 people are allowed at a residence for any reason and outdoor gatherings are now capped at 50 instead of 100.

“What police and our health authorities don’t want to see is those groups of 50 converging and suddenly becoming hundreds,” Ms Berejiklian said.

The Premier acknowledged many people would already have made plans for the big night and said as long as they weren’t in the northern beaches, they should be able to go ahead with their plans with some small adjustments and common sense.

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