​In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the NSW Government imposed public health restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus in the community. These included requirements for self-isolation, limits on gathering and movement (including the six-week public lockdown), restrictions on businesses, and controls on entry into NSW.  The restrictions were introduced by orders made by the NSW Minister for Health and Medical Research under section 7 of the Public Health Act 2010. 

This issues backgrounder provides a chronology and summary of all public health orders made up to 31 October 2020.  The chronology was compiled by the NSW Ombudsman's office, which has been tracking the orders since the start of the pandemic in order to support its work responding to enquiries and complaints from members of the public. This report is published in a partnership between the NSW Parliamentary Research Service and the NSW Ombudsman's office.