Shoppers at Westfield mall in Sydney's Northern Beaches IGNORE lockdown laws as they sit and eat at cafes

Shoppers in the heart of the Northern Beaches lockdown have been captured ignoring stay-at-home orders.

The Covid cluster which first appeared a week ago has now surpassed 100 cases and Sydney's northern peninsula remains under strict lockdown orders as health authorities try to contain the outbreak.

Although Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced some restrictions would be eased to allow families to meet up for Christmas celebrations, there are still only four acceptable reasons to leave home - essential shopping, daily excessive, work and medical appointments. 

Gathering in public is banned, along with dinning at eateries.

But locals at Westfield Warringah Mall Shopping Centre were seen on Thursday sitting in the food court of the complex enjoying takeaway lunches as they made their last-minute Christmas Eve purchases.

Shoppers at Westfield Warringah Mall Shopping Centre are pictured on December 24

New South Wales Police told the Sydney Morning Herald the tables and chairs were mistakenly put out by cleaning staff in breach of the lockdown rules.

Police said no Penalty Infringement Notices have been issued within the Northern Beaches Police Area Command at this stage.

'The seating was put out by Centre Management security in error and have since been packed away,' police said.  

A Westfield Warringah Mall spokeswoman said they will address the issue and put up clearer signage to highlight the shopping centre's Covid-Safe protocols.

'Take away food service is permitted by our food court operators and seating is only provided for customer convenience and not for the consumption of food,' she said.

'Our customer experience team have been asking customers to move on.' 

Westfield Warringah Mall Shopping Centre is pictured on December 14 

While most Northern Beaches residents have been adhering to the stay-at-home orders, one woman breached the rules by travelling three hours down the coast.

The bizarre case saw a 37-year-old venture down the coastline to Sanctuary Point, a town in NSW, after being told her suburb of Bilgola would be in lockdown to manage the Covid-19 outbreak.

Police were alerted of the breach when the woman fainted at a pizza shop on Wednesday. 

She was slapped with a $1,000 fine for breaking the lockdown.

The woman from Bilgola Plateau in the Northern Suburbs breached lockdown orders and travelled three hours to Sanctuary Point

The woman was taken to Shoalhaven Hospital and appeared to be suffering from Covid-19 symptoms but refused testing and left the hospital, police said.

Following an investigation, officers attended a home in Edmund Street, Sanctuary Point, and found the woman was staying with three others who were told to self-isolate.

Further inquiries confirmed the woman was from Bilgola Plateau, on the Northern Beaches, and had breached lockdown orders.

She was handed a $1,000 fine for failure to comply with the requirement of a public health order.

The pizza shop has since closed to undergo a deep clean as a precaution.

People are seen lining up at a COVID-19 pop-up testing location at Avalon Recreation Centre on December 18

NSW recorded nine new locally-acquired Covid cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Wednesday from a record of more than 60,000 tests.

Seven of the cases are linked to the 104-strong cluster on the northern beaches, while the sources of the other two infections are under investigation. 

Gladys Berejiklian saying she 'nearly fell off her chair' when she heard of the scale of the testing blitz.

However, the NSW Premier on Thursday urged residents to limit how much they move around over Christmas, keep their gatherings small and dine outdoors if possible.

'Apart from those close family gatherings, which we have allowed over the Christmas break, we don't want people moving around unless you absolutely have to,' she said.

'We are asking the community to reassess any non-essential travel on Christmas Day. Really select the people you need to be there with, and space it out into the New Year.

'We are far from out of the woods and in fact we have to be extra vigilant over the next few days.' 

What are the Christmas COVID restrictions for NSW? 

On December 24, 25 and 26, the following conditions will be in place:

For the Northern Beaches peninsula zone (North of Narrabeen Bridge, and east of the Baha'i Temple):

· There is a new reason for leaving home: to visit the home of others who live within this zone.

· Up to 5 visitors (total, including children) will be allowed in homes as long as they reside in the peninsula zone.

· People may not enter or leave this zone, unless for the four approved reasons already in place.

· On December 27, the region will revert to existing restrictions.

For the remainder (southern zone) of the Northern Beaches:

· There is a new reason for leaving home: to visit the home of others who live within this zone.

· Up to 10 visitors (plus primary school children and younger) will be allowed in homes. This may include people from outside this zone, not including the Northern Beaches peninsula zone.

· People who reside outside the northern beaches are allowed to visit others in this zone.

· Residents of this zone may not leave, unless for the four approved reasons already in place.

· We will reassess restrictions in this zone following Boxing Day.

For the Greater Sydney region, Central Coast, Wollongong and Nepean Blue Mountains:

· Current restrictions that were due to expire at midnight tonight will remain in place.

· However, primary school aged children and younger will be allowed on top of the current 10 visitors cap for homes.

· On December 27, the region will revert to existing restrictions.

Restrictions for Regional NSW remain unchanged.

In addition, as of 1 January 2021, hospitality venues and hairdressers will be required to use the NSW Government QR code system.

Decisions on New Year's Eve and upcoming sporting events will be made after this Christmas period.