​A permit system for some travel between Greater Sydney and regional NSW will take effect from 12.01am on Saturday 21 August.

Under the updated public health order, the following people traveling from Greater Sydney to regional NSW require a permit:

• anyone from Greater Sydney (including authorised workers from the LGAs of concern) who needs to travel more than 50km from Greater Sydney for work purposes, noting the existing requirement for such workers to have had a COVID test in the previous seven days
• people travelling to a second home outside Greater Sydney. This is now only allowed if you are using the home for work accommodation or if the home requires urgent maintenance and repairs (if so, only one person may travel there)
• people inspecting a potential new residence, but only if they have a genuine intention to relocate as soon as practicable (no investment properties)
• people who are permanently relocating.

For the purposes of this public health order and permit, Greater Sydney will no longer include Shellharbour and the Central Coast. People travelling to Shellharbour and the Central Coast for the above reasons will require a permit to do so.

Taking a holiday to a second residence is not a reasonable excuse to leave home.

Permit applications will be made available on the Service NSW website.

People are permitted to leave their homes to facilitate custody arrangements for access to, and contact between, parents and children under the age of 18 who do not live in the same household.

Due to ongoing concerns about community transmission in some regional areas, stay‑at-home orders in place for regional NSW have been extended until 12.01am on 28 August 2021, in line with orders for the Greater Sydney area.

Everyone must stay at home unless they have a reasonable excuse to leave. They cannot have any visitors in their home from outside their household.

NSW Health urges people to continue to be tested immediately with even the mildest of cold-like symptoms. There are more than 450 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW, many of which are open seven days a week. To find your nearest testing clinic, visit COVID-19 clinics.

Special rules remain in place for the local government areas of concern in Greater Sydney.

For further information on COVID-19 rules, please see the COVID-19 rules.