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From: Thida Yang <thida.yang@multicultural.nsw.gov.au>
Sent: Wednesday, 30 June 2021 11:25 AM
To: Thida Yang <thida.yang@multicultural.nsw.gov.au>
Subject: Religious Communities Forum, 28 June 2021 - advice from
NSW Health
Importance: High
Dear Religious Communities Forum members,
Thank you to everyone who attended our forum on Monday afternoon with
the Minister for Multiculturalism and NSW Health, and for helping to keep
NSW safe at this critical time.
Below we have collated questions raised at the forum with advice
provided by NSW Health:
Singing in places of worship
Following questions from our forum yesterday, please be advised that
under the current Public Health Order (PHO), NSW Health has now
confirmed that singing is not permitted in indoor areas of places of public
worship. This includes during a live stream, and in regional NSW. This
rule will protect people who may be involved in assisting in livestreaming
an event, for example technical assistance, or who may be in regional
communities attending a service. Previously there has been transmission
via singing in a place of worship, which is of concern, particularly with this
more transmissible COVID-19 variant.
Do religious service leaders need to wear a mask while
livestreaming?
Yes. The requirement is to wear a face mask in all indoor areas of non- residential premises. This rule applies across the whole of NSW. A
service leader may temporarily take off their mask to deliver a speech for
accessibility reasons. For example to ensure viewers who may lip read
are able to understand the service leader. As soon as they have finished
their speech, the service leader should put their face mask back on.
Is there a limit to the number of people involved in livestreaming a
religious service?
In Greater Sydney the absolute minimum number of people should be
present at the live stream in the place of worship.
Why can’t places of worship remain open for a private visit and
prayer as long as there are no scheduled public services?
Places of worship are considered a high risk setting due to the nature of
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activities that take place within this space, such as singing, chanting and
congregating for long periods of time. Even when people attend for private
prayer, they are potentially in the same room as others for an extended
period of time.
Do we think that these restrictions will go for longer than two
weeks?
NSW Health is continuously assessing and monitoring the situation to
ensure the NSW community is kept informed. The most up-to-date
information about case locations, rules and COVID safe measures can be
found on NSW Government website (nsw.gov.au):
• Current COVID-19 case locations
• What you can do in regional and rural NSW
• Additional restrictions for Greater Sydney
Can we still visit and deliver spiritual solace to nursing home or
aged facilities?
Yes. You can leave home for a compassionate reason to provide pastoral
care if you are a priest, minister of religion or member of a religious
order. You must wear a face mask in indoor settings, practice physical
distancing and adhere to COVID-19 safe behaviours at all times.
How many people are allowed to attend a memorial service in
Greater Sydney and regional NSW?
The greater of one person per four square metres or up to 100 people,
including the person conducting the service, can attend a memorial
service or funeral in Greater Sydney. Face masks must be worn in indoor
areas. Certain exceptions apply.
Outside of Greater Sydney, the one person per four square metre rule has
been re-introduced for all indoor and outdoor settings, including weddings,
funerals and memorial services. Funerals and memorial services must be
limited to a maximum of 100 people if any attendees are from Greater
Sydney. Face masks must be worn in indoor areas. Certain exceptions
apply.
What differences apply in regional areas, outside Greater Sydney?
On Saturday 26 June the Public Health (COVID-19 Temporary Movement
and Gathering Restrictions) Order 2021 came into effect. Under the new
Order, stay at home rules are in place for the Greater Sydney area which
includes the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and
Shellharbour.
In Greater Sydney - Stay at Home Orders
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Persons affected by the stay at home orders cannot leave their place of
residence without a reasonable excuse. The reasonable excuses mirror
those in earlier restrictions and include:
• obtaining food, travelling to attend essential work or education
(where it is not possible to do at home)
• exercising outdoors in groups of no more than 10
• medical and caring reasons – including obtaining a COVID-19
vaccination
• family and carer obligations and compassionate reasons (including
pastoral care if you are a priest, minister of religion or member of a
religious order), including where two people are in a relationship but
do not necessarily live together
Regional and rural areas
The following restrictions are currently in place in regional and rural areas
across NSW:
• Visitors to households are limited to 5 guests – including
children
• Face masks are mandatory in all indoor non-residential settings,
including workplaces, and at organised outdoor events
• Drinking while standing at indoor venues is not allowed
• Singing by audiences at indoor shows or by congregants at indoor
places of worship is not allowed
• Dancing is not allowed at indoor hospitality venues or nightclubs
• Dancing is not allowed at weddings, but only for the wedding party
(no more than 20 people)
• Dance and gym classes are limited to 20 per class (masks must be
worn)
• 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% seated capacity;
The Order is in place until midnight 9 July, unless extended or repealed
earlier.
With Blessings
Thida
Thida Yang
Community Resilience Officer
P +61 2 8255 6799
E thida.yang@multicultural.nsw.gov.au
56 Station Street East | Parramatta,
. NSW 2150
.
.
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