The NSW’s recently released roadmap to freedom has revealed that the stay-at-home orders for adults who have been fully vaccinated will be lifted on the Monday after the state passes the 70 per cent double vaccination target.
With the state increasingly reaching the 70 per cent double vaccination target, the NSW Government will soon open up the state for those fully vaccinated.
“I cannot stress enough how important it is for people to get vaccinated – if you have not had both doses of the vaccine by the time we hit the 70 per cent milestone, you will not be able to take advantage of these freedoms,” Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the NSW Government has worked with industry in outlining the freedoms mentioned in the roadmap.
The roadmap has specified that only fully vaccinated people and those with medical exemptions will have access to the allowed freedoms. The roadmap has also outlined specific rules for various freedoms.
For home gatherings, only up to five visitors are allowed in a home where all adults are vaccinated. This rule does not include children aged 12 and under. Gatherings in outdoor settings are also allowed but only up to 20 people.
The following venues can reopen but are subject to the rule of one person per 4sqm:
- Retail stores
- Hospitality venues (with one person per 2sqm outside)
- Personal services such as hairdressers and nail salons (capped at five clients per premises)
- Gyms and indoor recreation facilities (can also offer classes for up to 20 people)
- Sporting facilities and swimming pools
- Major recreation outdoor facilities (capped at 5,000 people)
- Indoor entertainment and information facilities
- Churches and places of worship (with no singing)
The roadmap also outlines that up to 500 people are allowed to attend ticketed and seated outdoor events for stadiums, theatres and major outdoor recreation facilities.
Guests may also attend weddings and funerals at a capacity of 50 people. For both events, eating and drinking while seated is necessary. Dancing at weddings is also allowed.
Domestic travel such as trips to regional NSW will be permitted once the state’s full vaccination rate reaches 70 per cent. Caravan parks and camping grounds can open and carpooling will be allowed.
Those under 16 years of age and unvaccinated will be able to access all outdoor settings, but will only be allowed to visit indoor venues with members of their household.
Employers must continue to allow employees to work from home if they are able to do so.
Masks will remain mandatory for all indoor public venues, while only hospitality staff will be required to wear a mask outdoors. Children under 12 years old are not required to adhere to this rule.
However, the roadmap is subject to further fine-tuning if there are any drastic changes as to the state’s COVID-19 cases.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the easing of restrictions would come as a huge relief to struggling businesses and workers, who just want to get their lives back on track, safely.
“This roadmap gives us the light at the end of the tunnel we all want and will enable our economy to start firing again, driving our state back to prosperity,” Mr Perrottet said.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the government will continue to be guided by the health advice, and may still require targeted restrictions to deal with outbreaks.
“As we work toward reopening NSW, it is vital people continue to come forward and get vaccinated to help protect the community and reduce transmission of the virus,” Mr Hazzard.
When NSW hits the 80 per cent double dose target, the government intends to open up further freedoms around international travel, community sport, major events and other areas.
Source: NSW Government Media Release. Content has been edited for style and length.