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Major lockdown restrictions will be officially lifted on 11 October – assuming that the 70% vaccination target is met – with most freedoms kicking in for fully vaccinated people at 80%, roughly two weeks later. From 1 December, both vaccinated and unvaccinated people will have almost all and equal freedoms.
Travel to the regions has now been limited to when we reach the 80% target, rather than 70%, which is expected to be reached as soon as late October.
All restrictions will be removed from 1 December, with a 2 square metre rule put in place for most businesses.
International travel allowances will be decided by the Prime Minister; they are expected to lift in December.
Okay, let’s break down the plan:
The rules at 70%, expected to be 11 October 2021
Gatherings in the home and public spaces:
- Up to 5 visitors will be allowed in a home where all adults are vaccinated (not including children 12 and under).
- Up to 20 people can gather in outdoor settings.
Venues including hospitality, retail stores and gyms:
- Hospitality venues can reopen subject to 1 person per 4sqm inside and 1 person per 2sqm outside, with standing while drinking permitted outside.
- Retail stores can reopen under the 1 person per 4sqm rule (unvaccinated people will continue to only be able to access critical retail).
- Personal services such as hairdressers and nail salons can open with 1 person per 4sqm, capped at 5 clients per premises.
- Gyms and indoor recreation facilities can open under the 1 person per 4sqm rule and can offer classes for up to 20 people.
- Sporting facilities including swimming pools can reopen.
Stadiums, theatres and major outdoor recreation facilities:
- Major recreation outdoor facilities including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can reopen with 1 person per 4sqm, capped at 5000 people.
- Up to 500 people can attend ticketed and seated outdoor events.
- Indoor entertainment and information facilities including cinemas, theatres, music halls, museums and galleries can reopen with 1 person per 4sqm or 75% fixed seated capacity.
Weddings, funerals and places of worship:
- Up to 50 guests can attend weddings, with dancing permitted and eating and drinking only while seated.
- Up to 50 guests can attend funerals, with eating and drinking while seated.
- Churches and places of worship to open subject to 1 person per 4sqm rule, with no singing.
Travel:
- Domestic travel, including trips to regional NSW, will no longer be permitted.
- Caravan parks and camping grounds can open.
- Carpooling will be permitted.
Employers must continue to allow employees to work from home if the employee is able to do so.
There will be revised guidance on isolation for close and casual contacts who are fully vaccinated, with details to be provided closer to the reopening date.
Masks:
- Masks will remain mandatory for all indoor public venues, including public transport, front-of-house hospitality, retail and business premises, on planes and at airports.
- Only hospitality staff will be required to wear a mask when outdoors.
- Children aged under 12 will not need to wear a mask indoors.
FROM 80 PER CENT ROADMAP (expected late October 2021)
Under the Reopening NSW roadmap at 80 per cent, the following freedoms will apply only to fully vaccinated adults (16+) and those with medical exemptions (staff and patrons).
Gatherings in the home and outdoor public spaces
- Up to 10 visitors will be allowed in a home (not including children 12 and under)
- Up to 20 people can continue to gather in unregulated outdoor settings
- Up to 200 people can attend COVID Safe events
- Up to 500 people can attend controlled (ticketed and seated) events
- Community sport permitted
- Those who are not fully vaccinated may only gather outdoors in groups of 2 people.
Venues including hospitality, retail stores and gyms
- Retail stores can operate at one person per 4 sqm (those who are not fully vaccinated will continue to only have access to non-critical retail via click-and-collect)
- Personal services such as hairdressers, spa, nail, beauty, waxing, tattoo and massage) can operate with one person per 4 sqm (uncapped)
- Hospitality venues can operate with one person per 4 sqm inside and one person per 2 sqm outside, with the requirement to be seated while drinking indoors removed. Group bookings will be limited to 20 people. Those who are not fully vaccinated can only access hospitality settings for takeaway
- Gyms and indoor recreation facilities (excluding indoor pools) can operate with one person per 4sqm, capped at 20 people per class.
Major outdoor recreation facilities
- Major recreation outdoor facilities including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can operate with one person per 4 sqm, capped at 5,000 people (or by exemption). (This is already meant to be allowed at 70%, we have asked for confirmation of when this will be permitted)
Entertainment, information and education facilities
- Entertainment facilities (including cinemas, theatres, music halls) can operate with one person per 4 sqm or 75 per cent fixed seated capacity (whichever is larger)
- Information and education facilities (including libraries, galleries and museums) can operate with one person per 4 sqm
- Amusement centres and nightclubs will remain closed. Working from home
- Employers must continue to allow employees to work from home, if reasonably practicable
- Employers must require employees who are not fully vaccinated to work from home, if reasonably practicable.
Education
Return to school with COVID Safe measures on 25 October (as previously announced).
Weddings, funerals and places of worship
- One person per 4sqm (uncapped) for weddings with dancing permitted and eating and drinking allowed while standing. Those who are not fully vaccinated may only attend weddings with a maximum of 5 guests (no receptions)
- One person per 4 sqm (uncapped) for funerals. Those who are not fully vaccinated may only attend funerals with a maximum of 10 people
- Churches and places of worship can continue to open with one person per 4 sqm, with no singing. Those who are not fully vaccinated will be allowed.
Travel
- Unrestricted trips between Greater Sydney and Regional NSW will be permitted
- Caravan parks and camping grounds can operate, including for those who are not fully vaccinated
- Carpooling is permitted. Those who are not fully vaccinated can only carpool with their household.
Masks
- Masks will remain mandatory for all indoor premises and settings, except children under 12
- Only hospitality staff will be required to wear a mask while outdoors
CHANGES FROM 1 DECEMBER 2021
On Wednesday 1 December 2021, the following settings will apply to all NSW citizens, regardless of their vaccination status:
Gatherings in the home and outdoor public spaces
- No limit on the number of visitors to a home
- Density will shift to one person per 2 sqm for indoor and outdoor settings
- No limit on the number of people who can attend informal outdoor gatherings
- COVID Safe plan required for outdoor events with more than 1,000 people
- Community sport permitted for all people.
Venues including hospitality, retail stores and gyms
- Retail stores can operate at one person per 2 sqm
- Personal services such as hairdressers, spa, nail, beauty, waxing, tattoo and massage can operate with one person per 2 sqm
- Hospitality venues can operate with one person per 2 sqm inside and outside, with no seating required for eating and drinking
- Gyms and indoor recreation facilities, including indoor pools, can operate with one person per 2 sqm (uncapped)
- Intimate services can open with one person per 4 sqm
Major outdoor recreation facilities
- Major recreation outdoor facilities including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can operate with one person per 2 sqm.
Entertainment, information and education facilities
- Entertainment facilities (including cinemas, theatres, music halls) can operate with one person per 2 sqm
- Information and education facilities (including libraries, museums and galleries) can operate with one person per 2 sqm
- Amusement centres and nightclubs can open with one person per 4 sqm. Working from home
- Working from home will be at employer’s discretion.
Education
All year groups return to face-to-face learning.
Weddings, funerals and places of worship
- One person per 2 sqm for weddings with dancing permitted and eating and drinking allowed while standing
- One person per 2 sqm for funerals
- Churches and places of worship can operate with one person per 2 sqm, with singing permitted.
Travel
- Domestic travel, including trips between Greater Sydney and Regional NSW
- Caravan parks and camping grounds can operate
- Carpooling is permitted
- Quarantine settings for vaccinated arrivals will be altered. A cap on unvaccinated travellers may remain.
Masks
- Masks wearing will be mandatory while travelling on public transport, on planes and at airports, and for front-of-house hospitality workers
- Mask wearing is not required when outdoors.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the NSW Government is considering changes to incoming international arrival caps, so more people can return home for Christmas.
“The NSW Government’s 70 per cent roadmap lifts fully vaccinated people out of lockdown and when we reach 80 per cent, restrictions will ease even further,” Mr Barilaro said.
“The key continues to be vaccination rates, so please do not hesitate and book in for your free COVID-19 vaccine today so we can reach these targets as soon as possible.
There are currently 133 active cases of COVID-19 on the Northern Beaches.
NSW recorded 787 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
For further information about the Reopening NSW roadmap, go to www.nsw.gov.au/COVID-19.
