Stay home this Easter long weekend

City of Newcastle is urging anyone tempted out by this long weekend’s forecast sunshine to heed the advice of police and health officials and stay home instead.

The NSW Government Public Health Order on Gathering and Movement, gazetted 30 March 2020, makes it illegal to congregate in groups of more than two and states people must remain in the home unless they have a reasonable excuse to be out.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the upcoming Easter long weekend was not the time to slip up on social distancing.

“Novocastrians have embraced the need for social distancing and are staying home to protect themselves and others from the spread of COVID-19,” the Lord Mayor said.

“With forecast warm and sunny weather over the Easter long weekend, we are stressing how important it is at this critical point of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic for people to continue to stay home.”

The Lord Mayor echoed the message from NSW Police that unless people were going to the supermarket or pharmacy, going to or from work if they cannot work from home, going to medical appointments, or getting some exercise in their own neighbourhood, they should be at home.

“To help contain and slow the spread of COVID-19, we all have to work together and that means staying in our homes and our neighbourhoods for the time being.

“By working together as a community, we can reduce the spread of COVID-19 to protect each other and be back enjoying ourselves with friends and family as soon as possible.”

City of Newcastle has installed signage at beaches, parks and playgrounds across the local government area advising that the spaces are closed.

Outdoor facilities like BBQs, shelters and picnic tables are also closed, while NSW Police have the power to issue on-the-spot fines to people not complying with social distancing rules.

For the latest on City of Newcastle’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic visit newcastle.nsw.gov.au/covid-19