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NSW residents must again mask up inside, as the state braces for another day of high COVID-19 numbers.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet reintroduced the rule in time for Christmas Eve, along with others, after a record day of infections.
Plus the countdown is on for density limits again in pubs, bars and other hospitality venues, which must limit numbers to one per two square meters, from December 27.
Many venues are being forced to close due to staff either catching COVID-19 or isolating after being with somebody who has.
READ MORE: Mask mandate and density limits reintroduced in NSW amid surging COVID-19 cases
QR code check-ins also return for low-risk venues such as shops, after being scrapped just over a week ago.
People are also being told to work from home again if they can.
Previously, for the past few weeks, masks were only required on public transport, at airports and on planes, and for unvaccinated hospitality staff.
The new rules are in place until January 27.
The majority of COVID-19 cases in New South Wales are the Omicron variant it was confirmed yesterday.
READ MORE: What you need to know about NSW's renewed COVID-19 restrictions
The state recorded a fresh surge of 5715 new COVID-19 infections, and Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant later said a large proportion of the Omicron cases are in the state's young population.
But she added Omicron is "five times less severe" than Delta.
There were 347 people in hospital with the virus, and 45 in intensive care, hundreds less than during the state's lockdown a few months ago.
Free at-home testing
Mr Perrottet said the government was working towards giving out free rapid antigen tests to residents in the New Year.
Currently in NSW the home tests can be bought at pharmacies from around $50 for a packet of five.
"We see this as crucial as we move through this next part of the pandemic," he said.
"We need to move away from PCR testing and make sure we drive personal responsibility."
Meanwhile, people who need to get paid tests for travel at Sydney Airport are being warned to allow up to five hours, rather than the usual 90 minutes, as lines balloon.
Sydney Airport tweeted the plea amid "massive demand."
Anybody leaving to travel internationally must get a paid PCR test, which costs from $80.
They must also get a test within a day of returning to Sydney from overseas.
Source: 9News
