Coronavirus Confusion

By tonyh, 6 August, 2021
Information

The current situation with the lockdown on our border has caused us some confusion.

It used to be, and I think still is, that self-isolation is only required if you have been in a hotspot location – see the hotspot links at the end of this article. For those that have been in the Newcastle/Hunter area (which includes the Terrace) since July 31st, it seems we are committed to the stay-at-home rules which are different. This is as as far as I can work it out.

This is just a bunch of notes with links that I have pulled off the web this morning. 

What's the difference between quarantine and isolation?

Broadly, quarantine is for people who may have been exposed to coronavirus (via travel or some other means) but aren't immediately unwell.

Isolation is for people who have tested positive, are awaiting test results, have come into contact with a positive case or who are unwell and showing symptoms.

People in NSW must self-isolate if they've been diagnosed, tested or are waiting for results, are a close contact of a confirmed case, are suspected of having coronavirus for a number of reasons, or if they've been in Victoria in the past 14 days.

https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules/self-isolation#when-you-must-self…

So what's a stay-at-home direction?

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-25/self-isolation-quarantine-stay-a…

Stay at home rules as at 6/8/2021

Includes Newcastle and the Hunter 

  • If you live in, usually work in, or usually attend a university or other tertiary education facility in Newcastle and the Hunter, including the Newcastle, Cessnock, Dungog, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Muswellbrook, Port Stephens or Singleton local government areas, stay at home rules apply.
  • You must stay home. Only leave your home if you have a reasonable excuse.
  • If you must leave home, stay within your local area. Do not travel outside your local area if you can avoid it.
  • Limit your physical contact with people you do not live with. See the restrictions for visitors to a residence. 
  • You must carry a face mask with you at all times when you leave your home in Newcastle and the Hunter.
  • If you have left Newcastle and the Hunter, stay at home rules apply if you were in the local government areas of Newcastle, Cessnock, Dungog, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Muswellbrook, Port Stephens or Singleton on or after Saturday 31 July 2021. 
  • If you have left the area, you must follow the stay-at-home rules until 11:59 pm on Thursday 12 August 2021.

Reasonable excuses to leave home if you are subject to stay-at-home rules because you have been in the Hunter region 

A reasonable excuse is if you need to:

  • obtain food or other goods and services
  • in your local government area, within 10km of your home if reasonably practicable
  • for the personal needs of the household or for other household purposes (including pets)
  • for vulnerable people
  • only one person per household may leave the home to obtain food or other goods and services each day (you may take a dependent person with you if that person cannot be left at home on their own)
  • leave home to go to work if you cannot reasonably work from home  and the business is allowed to be open
  • leave home for education if it is not possible to do it at home
  • exercise and take outdoor recreation in the local government area you live in or 10km from your home
  • go out for medical or caring reasons, including obtaining a COVID-19 vaccination.

There is a list of other reasonable excuses on the website.

Other useful sites:

 

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