In some good news for your afternoon, Wagga City Council has confirmed that Lost Lanes festivities can comply with new coronavirus restrictions and still go ahead this evening.
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The winter festival, which council estimates will provide a $2.3 million boost to the local economy, will return for a night of arts, music and food in the Victory Memorial Gardens and in some of the city's car parks and hidden laneways.
From 6pm today, masks will be compulsory in all indoor non-residential settings, including workplaces, and at organised outdoor events, which means anyone attended Lost Lanes will need to wear one.
The one person per four square metre rule will be reintroduced for all indoor and outdoor settings.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian this afternoon flagged the new restrictions for regional NSW and announced that Greater Sydney would go into a lockdown until July 9.
NSW recorded 29 new locally acquired cases of in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, including 17 cases which were announced on Friday morning, bringing the total number of active cases in the current outbreak to more than 80.
Speaking at a press conference earlier, Ms Berejikilian said the Delta COVID-19 mutation was spreading at a rate "at least double" that of previous variants.
Council was already planning for Lost Lanes to be a COVID-safe event, which means safety marshals, QR-code check ins, regular cleaning will all be in place.
The 2020 Lost Lanes was held online due to restrictions, meaning tonight will be the event's return to the streets of Wagga.
Mayor Greg Conkey said he was very happy Lost Lanes could go ahead.
"It's a great event and full credit to the staff for coming up with that concept two or three years ago. I know the ice-skating rink has got solid support already."
"I'm happy that they've encouraged people who are in Sydney not to come to Wagga. We've got to take all the precautions we can.
"It's a difficult situation and we can appreciate that, but we need to look at the greater good and that is that we just need to protect the community the best way we can."
The Amie St Clair ball will also be returning from it lockdown hiatus tonight, with organisers confirming on social media that their event was still on.
Catie McLeod
Catie is a reporter at The Daily Advertiser covering health and Wagga City Council. You can contact her on c.mcleod@dailyadvertiser.com.au or 0475 819 651.
Catie is a reporter at The Daily Advertiser covering health and Wagga City Council. You can contact her on c.mcleod@dailyadvertiser.com.au or 0475 819 651.
