NSW imposes NYE restrictions in Sydney harbor area

Authorities have banned New Year’s Eve revelers from congregating in Sydney’s downtown harbor-side to see the celebrated fireworks due to the pandemic risk.

New South Wales state Premier said on Monday that people who live in the city center can invite up to 10 guests to their homes to celebrate. The guests will have to apply for permits to enter the area.

The Premier also announced that New South Wales front line workers would no longer be given a front row seat to watch the New Year's Eve fireworks on the Sydney Harbor foreshore. But the government will allow bookings for restaurants and other venues.

Front line workers were earlier granted permits for the event. Australia’s largest city recorded five new cases of COVID-19 connected to a cluster in the northern beaches region, bringing the total to 126 infections since Dec. 10. This brings the total number of cases in New South Wales to 4,683 since the beginning of the pandemic. Around 1 million people usually congregate on the harbor foreshore to see the annual fireworks that center on the Sydney Harbor Bridge.