Here's everything you need to know about NSW's exit from COVID-19 lockdown

From gatherings at home to pubs, gyms, weddings and travel, here's what's possible for the fully vaccinated once the state reaches its 70 per cent double-dose target.

Diners seen at a cafe in Bronte in Sydney, Sunday, 19 July, 2020.

Diners seen at a cafe in Bronte in Sydney, Sunday, 19 July, 2020. Source: AAP

The NSW government has unveiled its path out of COVID-19 lockdown for those who are fully vaccinated, with hospitality venues, gyms and retail set to reopen. 

The so-called "roadmap to freedom" was announced on Thursday .  

Under the plan, stay-at-home orders for adults who have received both vaccine doses will be lifted from the Monday after 70 per cent of the state's population over 16 is fully vaccinated.

"You have been warned, if you're not vaccinated, come forward and get the vaccine, otherwise you won't be able to participate in the many freedoms that people have at 70 per cent vaccination," Premier Gladys Berejiklian said. 

Parts of regional NSW that have had no COVID-19 cases in the past fortnight will also come out of lockdown at midnight on Friday 10 September.
According to the latest federal government data, 75.6 per cent of the state's adult population has received one dose, and 42.7 per cent is fully inoculated. 

From gatherings at home to pubs, gyms, weddings and travel, here's everything you need to know about what's possible once the state reaches its 70 per cent double-dose target.

Gatherings

From that time, gatherings of up to five people will be allowed in a home where all adults are vaccinated (not including children aged 12 and under).

Up to 20 people will be allowed to gather in outdoor settings.

Hospitality, hairdressers and gyms

Hospitality venues can reopen subject to one person per four-square-metres inside and one person per two-square-metres outside, with standing while drinking allowed outside. 

Retail stores will be subject to the same four-square-metre rule, but unvaccinated people will continue to only be allowed access to critical outlets, such as supermarkets. 

Personal services such as hairdressers and nail salons can reopen with the same four-square-metre rule, but will be capped at five clients per premises. 

The same rule will apply to gyms and indoor recreation facilities, which can offer classes for up to 20 people. Sporting facilities including swimming pools can also reopen.
Friends and families gather for picnics at Cremorne Point on 17 May, 2020 in Sydney, Australia.
Friends and families gather for picnics at Cremorne Point on 17 May, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. Source: Getty Images AsiaPac

Stadiums, theatres and outdoor recreation

Stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can reopen and host events, capped at 5,000 people and subject to the four-square-metre rule. 

Up to 500 people can attend ticketed and seated outdoor events.

Cinemas, theatres, music halls, museums and galleries can also reopen, subject to the same rule or 75 per cent of their fixed seated capacity.

Unvaccinated young people aged under 16 can only attend indoor venues with members of their household.

Weddings, funerals and places of worship

Up to 50 guests can attend weddings, with dancing permitted and eating and drinking only while seated. 

The same number of people can attend funerals, with eating and drinking while seated. 

Churches and places of worship can reopen, subject to the four-square-metre rule, with no singing.

Travel

Domestic travel, including trips to regional NSW, will be allowed, and caravan parks and camping grounds will reopen.

Carpooling will also be allowed.

Masks

Masks will remain mandatory for all indoor public venues, including public transport, front-of-house hospitality, retail and business premises, and on planes and at airports. Children aged under 12 will not need to wear one indoors. 

Only hospitality staff will be required to wear a mask when outdoors.

Who will be able to enjoy the eased restrictions?

Only fully vaccinated people and those with medical exemptions will have access to the eased restrictions outlined in the state government's "roadmap". 

The government has also acknowledged the plan is subject to further fine-tuning and health advice "if circumstances change drastically or if cases within a designated area remain too high". 

When asked whether the 12 local government areas (LGAs) of concern would be guaranteed similar eased restrictions as the rest of the state, NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said "there may be times, as we move forward, where there are high case numbers that there would be targeted restrictions in place".

What about regional NSW?

The state's mid-north coast, the north coast, Albury, the Riverina and Murrumbidgee areas will emerge from lockdown at midnight on Friday, 10 September. 

But lockdown will continue for the southern parts of the state, the southeast, the Illawarra, Shoalhaven, Hunter, Central Coast, central west and parts of the far west.

In the areas where stay-at-home orders have been lifted, major outdoor recreation facilities such as stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can reopen subject to the four-square-metre rule and capped at 5,000 people.

Up to 500 people can also attend ticketed and seated outdoor events and entertainment centres including cinemas and galleries will reopen with 75 per cent of their fixed seated capacity.

Weddings and funerals will be limited to 50 people, with churches and places of worship to open subject to the four-square-metre rule and no singing.

Masks will be mandatory at indoor public venues, with hospitality venues, shops, and hairdressing and nail salons all able to reopen with restrictions.

Up to five people will be allowed in a home and up to 20 can gather outdoors. Gyms and sporting facilities can also open with conditions.

However, Deputy Premier John Barilaro has warned stay-at-home orders could return if even one new local case was recorded.

"You are not coming back to a pre-lockdown environment," he said.

What will happen at 80 per cent double-dose?

When the state hits its 80 per cent double-dose target, the government says it intends to open up further "freedoms" around international travel, community sport, major events and other areas. 

With AAP. 

SBS is providing live translations of daily New South Wales and Victoria COVID-19 press conferences in various languages. 


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5 min read
Published 9 September 2021 5:25pm
By SBS News
Source: SBS News



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