Do I have to wear a mask while going for a walk? What if I exercise on the way to the shops? When you will and won't risk a fine under Sydney's new face covering rules
Sydneysiders can ditch their masks when going for a walk, even if it's just to the shops, police bosses have confirmed.
Tougher rules will come in force across NSW, and worse in western Sydney, from Monday as the state's Covid crisis continues to set the wrong kind of records.
Wearing masks outside will be mandatory for everyone NSW from 12.01 am on Monday, except when exercising.
Even then, locals are still required to carry a mask on them at all times, and there was confusion over what counted as exercise.
Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys at Sunday's Covid briefing clarified walking was good enough exercise to justify leaving your mask off.
From Monday, all residents across NSW will be required to wear masks when outdoors unless exercising. Pictured: Women walk in Coogee on Sunday
However, he strongly advised that masks be put back on when social distancing could not be maintained, such as on a busy street or walking track.
Wearing a mask would be mandatory if they stop exercising to engage in another activity, such as picking up a coffee or other goods from a shop.
'In terms of exercising, people do not have to wear a mask but where you are exercising in a place where there are crowds of people or where you think you will end up in a situation where people will be close by,' he told reporters on Sunday.
'You have to carry it so if you feel that your safety, if you feel that people are too close, why not put that mask on?'
Asked whether walking to a shop to get a coffee counted as exercise, Deputy Commissioner Worboys said people need to wear a mask if they stop moving.
'When I go to the shop, when I go to purchase a cup of coffee, when I get out of the car, I put my mask on, do my business and get back in the car,' he said.
'In terms of exercising to get a cup of coffee or to get something from the shop, there must be a point in time where you stop exercising and you actually move among people or towards the shop and I would suggest you put a mask on.
'It is just common sense that you would put that mask on. I don't really think it is that hard and I certainly don't think it is confusing.'
Those over 18 who do not wear or carry a face mask can be slapped with a $500 on-the-spot fine, with $80 and $40 penalties in place for younger age groups.
There were a record 830 new locally acquired Covid cases in NSW on Sunday - the highest ever daily rise recorded during the pandemic
NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys said masks will still need to be worn by people exercising if they cannot maintain social distancing
Anyone with an exemption must either carry a medical certificate issued by a doctor, or a statutory declaration.
NEW COVID RESTRICTIONS IN NSW FROM MONDAY
The state reported 830 new locally acquired cases of Covid on Sunday, another daily infection record, as well as three deaths, as authorities battle to contain the spread of the Delta strain.
The isolation status of almost 700 remains under investigation.
The deaths were of a man in his 60s, a man in his 70s and a woman in her 80s, none of them fully vaccinated. The fatalities take the toll for the current outbreak to 71.
'It is a very difficult time for them and for the broader community but particularly for those families of those three people who passed away,' Health Minister Brad Hazzard told reporters on Sunday.
There was also a record of more than 206,000 tests over the 24-hour period.
Lockdown settings will remain in place in regional NSW until at least August 28 and in Sydney until at least September 30.
Aside from stricter mask regulations, police will be ramping up enforcement of restrictions across the worst hit areas in Sydney's west and southwest.
Permits will be required for those travelling in and out of the 12 LGAs of concern for work, and residents will be banned from leaving home between 9pm and 5am, unless an authorised worker.
Those LGAs are Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Strathfield, and some suburbs of Penrith.
Residents of those areas will also only be permitted to exercise for one hour a day.
It comes after NSW recorded 825 new local COVID-19 cases in the previous 24-hour period.
Deputy Commissioner Worboys urged residents to use 'common sense' to protect themselves and others from catching the virus. Pictured: Two women jog in Sydney's Centennial Park on Sunday
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Saturday she'd noticed a 'change in attitude' from her interstate counterparts and an acceptance 'Delta is here'.
The premier implored people to 'be real about it' and know that vaccinations were keeping them and their loved ones out of hospital.
An illegal party in the beachside suburb of Maroubra held last weekend has led at least 16 revellers to test positive, plus some of their contacts.
Meanwhile, a concerted NSW Police operation to smother a planned anti-lockdown protest on Saturday appeared to be effective, with numbers a fraction of a demonstration last month.
Some 1,500 police were involved in patrolling approaches to the CBD, while train services, taxis and ride-share services were excluded.
NSW Police arrested 47 people and fined more than 260 in relation to protests across the state. They issued 137 tickets after stopping around 38,000 cars approaching the city.
NSW face mask rules during Covid lockdown
- You must wear a face mask at indoor non-residential premises in NSW
-You must wear a face mask when outdoors unless exercising
-Those exercising will still need to wear a mask in instances where social distancing is not possible, or the area is crowded
- You must wear a face mask when using public transport
- You must wear a face mask in a major recreation facility
- You must carry a face mask with you at all times if you are in the local government areas of Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour
- You must wear a face mask if you go outside in a public area in the Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, and Strathfield local government areas
-You must wear a face mask if you go out in the following suburbs in the Penrith local government area: Caddens, Claremont Meadows, Colyton, Erskine Park, Kemps Creek, Kingswood, Mount Vernon, North St Marys, Orchard Hills, Oxley Park, St Clair and St Marys.
- You must wear a face mask when travelling in a vehicle with a person you do not live with
- You must wear a face mask in Greater Sydney residential building common areas.
Source: NSW POLICE