Minister for Health and Medical Research Brad Hazzard has signed an exemption to the Public Health (COVID-19 Northern Beaches) Order 2020 to allow Northern Beaches residents to use public outdoor playground equipment and natural swimming pools.

Under the exemption, a natural swimming pool is a pool that contains untreated water supplied directly to the pool from the ocean or other natural water source, and that does not have a circulation system.

The exemption, which is designed to allow people to enjoy outdoor exercise, is effective immediately.

Adults from different households are reminded to maintain a social distance of 1.5m.

The change allows the Northern Beaches to join the rest of NSW in enjoying playgrounds and natural pools.

Northern Beaches residents must otherwise continue to comply with the public health order in place.