COVID-19

---

Tues, 31 Aug 2021

 

LATEST COVID-19 UPDATE

Test and Isolate

A COVID-19 Test and Isolate support payment of $320 is available to support eligible workers who are required to self-isolate and unable to work while waiting for a COVID-19 test result. Currently, to be eligible for this payment, workers must be older than 17 years and live in one of the local government areas of concern. Find information on eligibility here.
 

This new payment is an addition to the range of financial support packages available for individuals and businesses.

View translated materials about the payment here.

New LGA rules
In response to the evolving Delta outbreak, new rules in the local government areas of concern now apply. These new rules include curfews from 9pm to 5am, limiting outdoor exercise to one hour a day and the closure of certain retail premises except for click and collect. If you live alone (with no other adults in your home), you can have a nominated visitor in your home. If you live in an LGA of concern, you now need to register your visitor here.

 

View translated media releases about the new LGA rules here.

Additional measures for Greater Sydney
Mask wearing is mandatory when outside your home, except when exercising. This applies for Greater Sydney, and also includes regional NSW.

Lockdown in regional NSW has been extended until at least 10 September.

 

Relief funds for COVID hotspot areas

During COVID-19, we understand that community-led initiatives are critically important in supporting our most vulnerable communities. That’s why local community organisations and groups are now eligible to apply for funding to deliver community-led grassroots projects supporting vulnerable members of our community.
Eligible organisations can apply for funding between $10,000 and $30,000 for their projects until Friday 3 September.

 

You can read more about how to apply for these grants here.

Priority Pfizer doses
People aged 16-39 who live in the local government areas of concern are now being given priority access to the Pfizer vaccine. If you are aged 16-39 and live in one of the suburbs of concern, you can access the priority vaccination program. Only people aged 16-39 can book through this scheme. All eligible members of our community are being urged not to waste this opportunity to protect themselves, their loved ones and our community. Book your priority vaccination here now.  

 

View translated materials about the priority Pfizer doses here.

Permits for regional travel
A new permit system is now in place for travel between Greater Sydney and regional NSW. People travelling from Greater Sydney to regional NSW with a reasonable excuse to leave Greater Sydney now must have a permit, this includes for authorised workers travelling more than 50 km and for urgent repairs of a second home, or people who are relocating. For further information on COVID-19 rules, please see nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules
 
View translated materials about the permits for regional travel here.

In language community messages

Watch in language videos from community leaders and health professionals, urging us all to work together to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our communities from COVID-19. These videos are available in the following languages:

• Arabic

• Assyrian

• Cantonese

• Dari

• English

• Lao

• Mandarin

• Samoan

• Thai 

• Tongan

• Vietnamese  

Live in-language interpretations of the daily 11am COVID-19 update. 

The NSW Government has partnered with SBS to provide live interpretations of the daily 11am (AEST) NSW Government COVID-19 update. Watch here: 

Watch in Arabic via Facebook.com/sbsarabic24 
Watch in Assyrian via Facebook.com/SBSAssyrian 
Watch in Cantonese via Facebook.com/SBSCantonese
Watch in Khmer via Facebook.com/SBSKhmer
Watch in Mandarin via Facebook.com/sbschinese 
Watch in Vietnamese via Facebook.com/SBSVietnamese 

 

For more information
Updated information about COVID-19 in NSW, and translated resources and materials are available at www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19
 
If you think you have COVID-19 or you have a question related to your health, you can speak to a registered nurse by calling 1800 020 080 or go to www.healthdirect.gov.au

---

Fri, 20 Aug 2021

Greater Sydney lockdown extended until the end of September (see map below from today’s Daily Telegraph newspaper which gives a visual of which areas are affected and for how long)

Curfew imposed on “LGAs of Concern” in Sydney from 9pm to 5am – with exceptions for critical workers

The following additional restrictions which may affect you from next weekend (28^th August 2021) in regard to live-streaming your services, pastoral care, and officiating funeral services:

• • From next Saturday (28^th August 2021) “Authorised workers” from the “Areas of Concern”, or those entering to work in one of them will need a permit.
  • Authorised workers from the LGAs who work outside their area can only work if they get their first vaccination by the 30th of August, or if their workplace has rapid antigen testing 

 

 

It has just been announced that all of NSW will enter a state-wide lockdown from 5pm today (Saturday 14 August 2021), with all regional areas joining Greater Sydney and other previously locked down LGA’s with “stay at home orders”

This means that all of NSW Churches and Pastors (NB: apart from the 12 Sydney LGAs of concern whose conditions will still be the same as what I wrote in my email earlier this week and which are more restrictive) will need to follow these restrictions below which I am reproducing again for all those now affected by this announcement.

You can only leave your home for an essential reason, and visitors to the home are not allowed. You can have 1 visitor at a time to fulfil carers’ responsibilities or provide care or assistance — or for compassionate reasons, including where 2 people are in a relationship but don’t live together  

• Weddings
  • Weddings can not be held.
  • You can’t:
    • enter any of these LGAs to hold or attend a wedding
    • leave your place of residence to attend a wedding if you live in, usually work in, or usually attend a university or other tertiary education facility in any of these LGAs
• Funerals
  • Attending a funeral is a reasonable excuse to leave home and to enter any of these LGAs
  • People from any of these LGAs can only leave their place of residence to attend a funeral, memorial service or gathering afterwards outside of any of these LGAs if they are a spouse (including a de facto), parent, child or sibling of the deceased
  • Up to 10 people can attend an indoor or outdoor funeral or memorial service or gathering afterwards — but they must wear a mask indoors
  • The person conducting the service and other people who are necessary for the preparation and conduct of the service can attend and are not included in this cap
  • A funeral cannot occur at a place of residence
• Churches
  • A place of worship can’t open to members of the public except to hold a funeral service or memorial service that complies with the rules for funerals and memorial services — see above
  • A place of worship can, however, host livestream services. You can attend a place of worship if you are directly involved in the service or the operation of the livestream equipment
  • Only 2 people can sing or chant during the livestream of a religious service and they don’t need to wear a mask
  • No more than 2 other people can be in the room while they are singing, and anyone in the room with the singers must wear a face mask
  • Singers must be 3 metres from anyone else while singing
• Stay-at-home order
  • If you live in, usually work in, or usually attend a university or other tertiary education facility in any of these LGAs you are subject to a stay-at-home direction.
  • You must stay at home — unless you have a reasonable excuse and it’s absolutely necessary to leave. Apart for funerals, and conducting live steams, another reasonable excuse for a Pastor is “to provide pastoral care if you are a priest, minister of religion or member of a religious order”
  • If you have a reasonable excuse to and absolutely must leave your home, stay within your local area. Don’t travel outside your local area if you can avoid it

All the information from NSW Health click here (currently being refreshed)

 

 

From 6pm Monday 9 August 2021 until 12.01am Tuesday 17 August 2021, the following LGAs in the North Coast region are under stay-at-home orders:

• Byron Shire,
• Richmond Valley,
• Lismore,
• Ballina Shire

 The restrictions that apply are the same that are already in place across Greater Sydney — excluding the LGAs “of concern” in western Sydney. This includes restrictions for weddings, funerals and places of worship.

You can only leave your home for an essential reason, and visitors to the home are not allowed. You can have 1 visitor at a time to fulfil carers’ responsibilities or provide care or assistance — or for compassionate reasons, including where 2 people are in a relationship but don’t live together

 Weddings

• Weddings can not be held.
• You can’t:

• • enter Byron Shire, Richmond Valley, Lismore, and Ballina Shire, Greater Sydney, Tamworth, Armidale, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens, Singleton, Dungog, Muswellbrook and Cessnock to hold or attend a wedding.
  • leave your place of residence to attend a wedding if you live in, usually work in, or usually attend a university or other tertiary education facility in Byron Shire, Richmond Valley, Lismore, and Ballina Shire, Greater Sydney, Tamworth, Armidale, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens, Singleton, Dungog, Muswellbrook and Cessnock.

Funerals

• Attending a funeral is a reasonable excuse to leave home and to enter Byron Shire, Richmond Valley, Lismore, and Ballina Shire, Greater Sydney, Tamworth, Armidale, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens, Singleton, Dungog, Muswellbrook and Cessnock
• People from Byron Shire, Richmond Valley, Lismore, and Ballina Shire, Greater Sydney, Tamworth, Armidale, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens, Singleton, Dungog, Muswellbrook and Cessnock can only leave their place of residence to attend a funeral, memorial service or gathering afterwards outside of Byron Shire, Richmond Valley, Lismore, and Ballina Shire, Greater Sydney, Tamworth, Armidale, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens, Singleton, Dungog, Muswellbrook and Cessnock if they are a spouse (including a de facto), parent, child or sibling of the deceased.
• Up to 10 people can attend an indoor or outdoor funeral or memorial service or gathering afterwards — but they must wear a mask indoors.
• The person conducting the service and other people who are necessary for the preparation and conduct of the service can attend and are not included in this cap.
• A funeral cannot occur at a place of residence.

Churches

• A place of worship can’t open to members of the public except to hold a funeral service or memorial service that complies with the rules for funerals and memorial services — see above.
• A place of worship can, however, host livestream services. You can attend a place of worship if you are directly involved in the service or the operation of the livestream equipment.
• Only 2 people can sing or chant during the livestream of a religious service and they don’t need to wear a mask.

• • No more than 2 other people can be in the room while they are singing, and anyone in the room with the singers must wear a face mask.
  • Singers must be 3 metres from anyone else while singing.

Stay-at-home order

• If you live in, usually work in, or usually attend a university or other tertiary education facility in Byron Shire, Richmond Valley, Lismore, and Ballina Shire, Greater Sydney, Tamworth, Armidale, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens, Singleton, Dungog, Muswellbrook and Cessnock you are subject to a stay-at-home direction.
• You must stay at home — unless you have a reasonable excuse and it’s absolutely necessary to leave. Apart for funerals, and conducting live steams, another reasonable excuse for a Pastor is “to provide pastoral care if you are a priest, minister of religion or member of a religious order”
• If you have a reasonable excuse to and absolutely must leave your home, stay within your local area. Don’t travel outside your local area if you can avoid it.

 

From 5pm Thursday 5 August 2021 until 12.01am Friday 13 August 2021, the following LGAs in the NSW Hunter region are under stay-at-home orders:

• Newcastle
• Lake Macquarie
• Maitland
• Port Stephens
• Singleton
• Dungog
• Muswellbrook
• Cessnock

The restrictions that apply are the same that are already in place across Greater Sydney — excluding the LGAs of concern in western Sydney. This includes restrictions for weddings, funerals and places of worship.

You can only leave your home for an essential reason, and visitors to the home are not allowed. You can have 1 visitor at a time to fulfil carers’ responsibilities or provide care or assistance — or for compassionate reasons, including where 2 people are in a relationship but don’t live together

 

Weddings

• Weddings can not be held.
• You can’t:

• • enter Greater Sydney (which now includes the 8 LGA’s in the Newcastle and the Hunter) to hold or attend a wedding
  • leave your place of residence to attend a wedding if you live in, usually work in, or usually attend a university or other tertiary education facility in Greater Sydney (which now includes the 8 LGA’s in the Newcastle and the Hunter)

Funerals

• Attending a funeral is a reasonable excuse to leave home and to enter Greater Sydney (which now includes the 8 LGA’s in the Newcastle and the Hunter)
• People from Greater Sydney (which now includes the 8 LGA’s in the Newcastle and the Hunter) can only leave their place of residence to attend a funeral, memorial service or gathering afterwards outside of Greater Sydney (which now includes the 8 LGA’s in the Newcastle and the Hunter) if they are a spouse (including a de facto), parent, child or sibling of the deceased.
• Up to 10 people can attend an indoor or outdoor funeral or memorial service or gathering afterwards — but they must wear a mask indoors.
• The person conducting the service and other people who are necessary for the preparation and conduct of the service can attend and are not included in this cap.
• A funeral cannot occur at a place of residence.

Churches

• A place of worship can’t open to members of the public except to hold a funeral service or memorial service that complies with the rules for funerals and memorial services — see above.
• A place of worship can, however, host livestream services. You can attend a place of worship if you are directly involved in the service or the operation of the livestream equipment.
• Only 2 people can sing or chant during the livestream of a religious service and they don’t need to wear a mask.

• • No more than 2 other people can be in the room while they are singing, and anyone in the room with the singers must wear a face mask.
  • Singers must be 3 metres from anyone else while singing.

Stay-at-home order

• If you live in, usually work in, or usually attend a university or other tertiary education facility in Greater Sydney (which now includes the 8 LGA’s in the Newcastle and the Hunter), you are subject to a stay-at-home direction.
• You must stay at home — unless you have a reasonable excuse and it’s absolutely necessary to leave. Apart for funerals, and conducting live steams, another reasonable excuse for a Pastor is “to provide pastoral care if you are a priest, minister of religion or member of a religious order”
• If you have a reasonable excuse to and absolutely must leave your home, stay within your local area. Don’t travel outside your local area if you can avoid it.

The best website for information, in regard to what these restrictions mean to your church and as a Pastor, is: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules/affected-regions#other-reasonable-excuses

 

---

Thursday, 8 July 2021

---

 

Sunday, 3 July 2021

Dear Multicultural NSW Religious Communities Forum members, Following feedback received from members, the Minister for Health has approved an exemption under the Public Health Orders relating to singing and chanting in places of worship. Please find the exemption instrument attached. It can also be found here.   The exemption means that: 

In Greater Sydney:

• Two singers are permitted to sing or chant at a place of public worship.
• These singers must be in a room or designated area of the place of public worship.
• There can only be two other persons (eg. musician or camera operator) in the room or designated area with the two singers while they are singing.
• While they are singing, the two singers must be 3 metres away from anyone else at the place of public worship.
• These singers are not required to wear a face mask while they are singing or chanting only, but must at all other times while they are at the place of public worship.

 Places of worship outside of Greater Sydney:

• The following people are permitted to sing or chant while at a place of public worship:
• An individual who is integral to the conduct of the religious service, or
• A group of up to 5 singers at one time during a single service.  

• These people must wear a mask while singing and while at the place of public worship.
• They must maintain physical distancing of 1.5 metres from each other and at least 3 metres from the congregation.

 Please note that all other requirements of the Public Health (COVID-19 Temporary Movement and Gathering Restrictions) Order 2021 continue to apply, and places of public worship in Greater Sydney must still be closed to members of the public except for:

• a funeral or memorial service, or a gathering following a funeral or memorial service, at which there are no more than 100 persons, including the person conducting the service, or
• providing educational services or childcare.

---

Monday, 28 June 2021

As we endeavour to keep our churches and communities safe, take time to review your Covid Safe plans and take a look at what churches in the ACT and NSW need to do to fall in line with government guidelines. 

For ACT churches, find more information here https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/

For NSW churches, find more information here www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19

---

Saturday, 26 June 2021

Current stay-at-home orders will be extended across all of Greater Sydney (including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Wollongong) from 6pm today (26 June) until 11.59pm Friday, 9 July. 

Everyone in Greater Sydney must stay at home unless it is for an essential reason.

• The reasons you may leave your home include:
  • Shopping for food or other essential goods and services;
  • Medical care or compassionate needs (people can leave home to have a COVID-19 vaccination unless you have been identified as a close contact);
  • Exercise outdoors in groups of 10 or fewer;
  • Essential work, or education, where you cannot work or study from home.  
• Weddings will not be permitted from 11.59pm, Sunday 27 June.  
• Funerals will be limited to one person per four square metres with a cap of 100 people, and masks must be worn indoors.  

Therefore… your church services and activities tomorrow (27^th June), during the week, and next Sunday (3^rd July), and till Friday 9^th July 2021 can ONLY gather ONLINE. You can not gather as a church physically for the next 13 days. 

Religious services may be livestreamed.  People involved in the service itself and the operations of the recording equipment may be present for the duration of the service.

For more information please visit: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules/greater-sydney#places-that-are-closed

• In all other parts of NSW the following restrictions will apply:
  • People who have been in the Greater Sydney region (including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Wollongong) on or after June 21 should follow the stay-at-home orders for a period of 14 days after they left Greater Sydney.
  • Visitors to households will be limited to 5 guests – including children;
  • Masks will be compulsory in all indoor non-residential settings, including workplaces, and at organised outdoor events;
  • Singing by audiences and choirs at indoor venues or by congregants at indoor places of worship will not be allowed
  • Dancing will not be allowed at indoor hospitality venues or nightclubs however, dancing is allowed at weddings for the wedding party only (no more than 20 people);
  • The one person per four square metre rule will be re-introduced for all indoor and outdoor settings, including weddings and funerals;
  • Outdoor seated, ticketed events will be limited to 50 per cent seated capacity;

For more information visit www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19

---

Thursday, 24 June 2021

ACT TRAVEL ADVICE

The ACT Government has new travel restrictions in place in response to the COVID-19 situation in NSW. People should not travel between the ACT and Greater Sydney and surrounds. If you are travelling elsewhere during the school holidays, be aware that things can change quickly and you may have to follow updated travel directions in the ACT when you return.

If you do travel, make sure you maintain COVID safe behaviours:

• avoid COVID-19 affected areas
• skip the slopes, beach or shops and stay home if you’re unwell
• check travel advice before, during and after your trip
• be aware of any restrictions at your destination
• get tested if you have any COVID-19 symptoms, however mild
• use electronic check in processes to help with contact tracing
• be prepared to cancel or amend your travel plans at short notice. 

Stay up to date with travel advice on the ACT COVID-19 website.

---

Wednesday, 23 June 2021

NEW COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS FOR GREATER SYDNEY

To protect the people of NSW from the evolving COVID-19 outbreak, new restrictions will be introduced for Greater Sydney from 4pm today for one week.

Following updated health advice from the Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant about the growing risk to the community, the following restrictions will be introduced for Greater Sydney, the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour;

Visitors to households will be limited to 5 guests – including children;

Masks will be compulsory in all indoor non-residential settings, including workplaces, and at organised outdoor events;

Drinking while standing at indoor venues will not be allowed;

Singing by audiences at indoor shows or by congregants at indoor places of worship will not be allowed;

Dancing will not be allowed at indoor hospitality venues or nightclubs however, dancing is allowed at weddings for the bridal party only (no more than 20 people);

Dance and gym classes 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;

Previous public transport capacity limits, represented by green dots, will be reintroduced;

If you live or work in the City of Sydney, Waverley, Randwick, Canada Bay, Inner West, Bayside, and Woollahra local government areas, you cannot travel outside metropolitan Sydney for non-essential travel.

For more information visit www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19

---

ADVICE NSW GOVERNMENT TO ALL NSW RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES, CHARITIES AND PLACES OF WORSHIP  

19 June 2021

In light of the recent locally acquired COVID-19 cases, NSW Health is kindly requesting your assistance ahead of any services or gatherings tomorrow and next week.

We are asking you to continue your COVID safe practices outlined in the places of worship safety plan, including ensuring:

• That you keep a record of all congregants/attendees
• There is appropriate distancing between congregants/attendees
• That good hand hygiene is encouraged

We are also asking that you take extra steps to keep your community COVID safe. NSW Health strongly recommends that all congregants/attendees wear a mask whilst indoors.  Congregants/attendees are asked to check health venue sites before attending.  Even with the mildest symptoms, do not attend, but rather get a test.

To stay up to date with the latest case locations, visit the NSW Government website.

---

6 May 2021

Please find below an update on COVID-19 restrictions coming into force from 12:00pm 6 May until 12.01am Monday, 10 May for the Greater Sydney region (including Wollongong, Central Coast and Blue Mountains).

As part of the restrictions, singing by audiences at indoor shows or by congregants at indoor places of worship will not be allowed and all congregational members will be required to wear masks. Click here to read the full media release

We will provide further updates when they are available.

---

Letter from NSW Health as we head into Easter (view here)

29 March 2021

---

Premier’s update on restrictions

25 March 2021

The Minister has signed an exemption to the Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order 2021 in relation to singing at a place of public worship. Under the exemption, in relation to places of public worship:

• There will be no cap of 30 performers permitted to sing indoors
• There will be no requirement of 1 person per 4 square metres of space if members of the congregation are singing in an indoor area
• There will be no mandatory requirement for people to wear a face mask if they are singing indoors in a place of public worship

The exemption commences on 27 March and will be repealed at the beginning of 29 March.

The Premier announced that from 12.01am Monday 29 March 2021, there will be no restrictions on singing including in places of worship.

 

QUICK FINDER MENU

• What you can and can’t do under the rules
• Religious Gatherings and Places of Worship
• COVID Safe Check-in App (QR codes for COVID Safe Place of Worship)
• Latest Health Advice on Masks
• Places of Worship Safety Plan

---

Changes to Places of Worship & Religious Gatherings

Latest COVID-19 Update: Changes from Friday 26 February

The recent easing of restrictions across NSW has meant changes regarding face masks and the re-introduction of the 2 square metre per person rule for places of worship and religious gatherings.

As a result, the COVID Safety Plans for places of worship have been amended and you will need to update your COVID-19 Safety Plan.

How many people are allowed?

Full details are provided in the physical distancing section of the COVID-19 Safety Plan.

Capacity must not exceed one visitor per 2 square metres of publicly accessible space. Children count towards the capacity limit.

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.

NSW Health advice regarding singing and chanting

The Minister has signed an exemption to the Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order 2021 in relation to singing at a place of public worship. Under the exemption, in relation to places of public worship:

• There will be no cap of 30 performers permitted to sing indoors
• There will be no requirement of 1 person per 4 square metres of space if members of the congregation are singing in an indoor area
• There will be no mandatory requirement for people to wear a face mask if they are singing indoors in a place of public worship

The exemption commences on 27 March and will be repealed at the beginning of 29 March.

See NSW Health advice regarding singing and chanting

 

---

Face Masks

Updated 25 March 2021

There will be no mandatory requirement for people to wear a face mask if they are singing indoors in a place of public worship

Common questions about the face mask rules 

---

QR Codes for COVID Safe Places of Worship

Updated 3 January 2021

NSW Health strongly encourages places of worship to use the Service NSW App and QR Codes to help you with COVID Safe contactless record keeping.

The relevant information can be found here:

https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/covid-safe/customer-record-keeping/qr-codes#covid-safe-check-in-with-the-service-nsw-app

While the use of QR Codes is not mandatory for places of worship at this time, the link above provides simple instructions to help familiarise yourselves with the system.

Customers will need to have the Service NSW app installed on their mobile to record their visit.

Businesses need to ensure that they have measures in place that will accurately capture customer and staff details.

It makes the check in seamless by sending accurate customer information directly to Service NSW. This means the data does not have to be stored by the business and it is readily available for NSW Health to access if it becomes necessary. 

COVID Safe Check-in is available to all businesses in NSW and is provided as part of the COVID Safe registration pack.

How to get your COVID Safe Check-in QR code

Businesses who have already registered as COVID Safe will be emailed their unique QR code.

Registered businesses and organisations can also access or recover QR codes from their business resources page. The resources also include the online concierge check-in form and COVID Safe signage and posters.

Businesses and organisations will need the email they registered with to access the business resources page. 

How customers use the COVID Safe Check-in

1. When a customer arrives at a venue, they scan the QR code with their smartphone.
2. Customers who have the Service NSW app installed will be taken to the check in.
   Customers who don’t have the Service NSW app installed will get two options:
   • download the Service NSW app, create an account and check in
   • check in using an online form.
3. A staff member may check the successful sign in on the customer’s phone. 

Setting up your own QR code check in 

1. Businesses can find their own QR code guest registration service by searching online or asking their IT services provider for advice. Read the terms and conditions carefully, paying particular attention to:
   • pricing and payment details
   • privacy policies
   • length of contract and how to cancel the service
   • how the data is stored and how you can access it when required – data must be stored securely onshore in Australia
2. Sign up with a service and download the unique QR code.
3. Display the code at the entrance to the venue so customers can access it easily. A staff member or COVID-19 Safe Hygiene Marshal should be nearby to assist customers and confirm they have checked in.
4. If any customers are unable to use the QR code, businesses should have an alternative check in method available, such as an SMS service or the online check-in form provided as part of business resources for COVID Safe registered businesses.

---

Places of Worship Safety Plan

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.

 

We would like to reiterate the current advice from NSW Health regarding hygiene and cleaning:

• Adopt good hand hygiene practices.
• Ensure bathrooms are well stocked with hand soap and paper towels or hand dryers.
• Consider modifying religious rites or rituals to avoid direct contact where practical. Where this is not practical, ensure hands are washed before and after each interaction with soap and water or hand sanitiser.
• Avoid sharing books, drinking cups or other shared objects used during the service such as collection plates. Also consider putting barriers around frequently touched objects of worship, such as shrines, relics or fonts, to prevent people frequently touching these.
• Clean frequently used indoor hard surface areas (including children’s play areas) at least daily with detergent or disinfectant. Clean frequently touched areas and surfaces several times per day.
• Disinfectant solutions need to be maintained at an appropriate strength and used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Staff are to wear gloves when cleaning and wash hands thoroughly before and after with soap and water.

Detailed health advice for places of worship including a checklist and COVID-19 safety plan can be found here.

---

Updated information and advice about COVID-19 in NSW, see nsw.gov.au/covid-19 and to access translated materials follow this link.