PUNISHMENTS for breaching social gathering restrictions have been tightened even further sparking concerns for Wagga's mental health ahead of the holiday season.
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Each attendee of a private gathering with more than 20 people now risks a $1000 fine, where previously only the organiser was liable to receive a fine.
The changes, which came into effect at midnight on Monday, have left many in Wagga fearing for the community's mental health.
Yet, State Member for Wagga Joe McGirr said the rules were a necessary evil with residents to expect a Christmas unlike any before.
Founder of Walk n' Talk for Life Darren Sweeney said the group, who take monthly walks around the lake as an avenue of support and socialising, have been left on edge over the change.
"As an event organiser, I am scared; You come to realise the responsibility is on your shoulders because while I want to help facilitate these healthy catch-ups, I don't want to put these people at risk of fines," he said.
"You just don't know where to draw the line anymore, because if I have a walk and say, 24 people show up, even though they keep their distance, don't shake hands or hug, and we are just taking a walk around the lake, is that considered a group gathering?"
While he understood the need to stop the spread of COVID-19, Mr Sweeney said he was concerned about the trade-off for people's states of mind.
"It's the uncertainty that's the worst part, and the loss of freedom," he said.
"When you lose your choice, that's the biggest detriment, because when people lose that, you find people have a lot of time of their hands to dwell, they feel isolated, and you start to see the effects."
While interaction is still allowed to an extent, Mr Sweeney said it was an important factor of mental well-being to meet new people and branch out beyond small groups.
"When you're socialising in a small group, you find a lot of those relationships become toxic, you're around the same thoughts and opinions day in and day out, and you aren't able to seek out those objective voices and new ideas," he said.
Wagga MP Joe McGirr said the government's caution and existing community cooperation were largely to thank for the low case numbers in regional NSW.
"It's not about being punished, it's about learning to live with the virus until we have a vaccine," he said.
"The reason we have kept COVID-19 out of the region for the most part is because we have those restrictions and are sticking to them."
Dr McGirr said while Wagga had not seen a new case in a significant time, the risk remained.
"Just look at what happened in New Zealand, you think you get rid of it, and it pops back up again," he said.
"I know there will be a big impact at Christmas time, no one wants to be the Grinch at Christmas, but we've seen that the highest risk of spreading this virus is through big gatherings, and particularly those more festive types where there's eating and drinking and such, so these new rules are another step in avoiding that."
Riverina Police District Commander Superintendent Bob Noble said he also held concerns for people's mental health, particularly over the Christmas period, but added that support was always available.
"As police and people who work in that broader mental wellbeing space, we are concerned about people's mental health now, already," he said.
"As we move to Christmas, if movement continues to be curtailed and the ability to see loved ones continues to be restricted, we are going to have to keep and eye on one another, make sure we support one another, and stay connected as best we can."
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The lack of new cases in Wagga meant police would exercise lenience where necessary, according to Superintendent Noble, but they would not stand for blatant breaches of the law.
"We generally aren't going to be issuing a fine to anyone, whether it's a premises or individual or group, unless we can't see any other way that that individual is going to manage and change their behaviour," he said.
"We are still exercising a lot of discretion, and if people toe the line and change their behaviour, they can continue to expect that, but when we think a person is just not listening, that lenience won't be extended."