But construction cannot resume in the eight LGAs of concern list above, nor will construction workers be allowed to leave these areas. Work in other local government areas will only be allowed on unoccupied sites.
These sites will be subject to a one-person per four square metre rule and must have COVID-safe plans in place.
Tradespeople, including cleaners, who are able to work with zero contact with residents will also be allowed to resume but in groups of no more than two people inside and five outside. If contactless arrangements are not possible, work cannot go ahead.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said residents would be required to vacate the area of work occurring within their homes.
If you can time your maintenance work or appropriate trade to come to your house when you go out to do your groceries or exercise for the day so be it, he said.
What were actually saying is to vacate the area of work, so segregate the home so that there is no mix between trades and the household.
Shopping
The rules around shopping within Greater Sydney – which includes the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour – have also been tightened. People are now only allowed to shop in their local government areas or within a 10-kilometre radius, unless the product is unavailable locally.
This is in line with existing exercise and outdoor recreation rules which already require people to remain in their LGA or within 10 kilometres from home.
Singles bubble
From Saturday, a singles bubble will be introduced allowing people who live alone to nominate one designated family member or friend who is allowed to visit their household.
Singles in the eight hotspot local government areas can only nominate someone who lives within a 10-kilometre radius.
People who do not live with their partner are still allowed to leave home to visit them.
Schools
Year 12 students will be allowed to return to classrooms from August 16 and rapid antigen testing will be introduced to mitigate the risk of outbreaks.
A vaccination program targeting students in the affected local government areas will be rolled out using Pfizer doses taken from regional NSW to boost supply.
Homeschooling arrangements will remain for all other years. Children of essential workers can attend their physical school if arrangements are available.
Surveillance testing
All authorised workers who live in Canterbury-Bankstown must now get a COVID-19 test once every three days in order to leave their LGA for work.
Aged care and healthcare workers who live in Fairfield or Cumberland but work outside these areas must get tested once every three days in order to work outside their LGA.
Other Fairfield authorised workers no longer need to get tested every three days in order to work in another LGA.
These surveillance testing requirements will be enforceable from Saturday. However, relevant workers will have from Wednesday to get their first test.
The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.