Covid-19: NSW government confirms Tweed and other regional NSW areas will be released from coronavirus lockdown
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro has announced “vast amounts” of the state will be released from lockdown – including region just across the Queensland border.
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DEPUTY Premier John Barilaro has announced “vast amounts” of New South Wales will be released from lockdown on Saturday – including the Tweed.
Mr Barilaro made the welcome announcement for the Tweed Shire and other areas of the state at NSW’s daily Covid-19 press conference on Thursday.
“Parts of regional NSW will be coming out of lockdown,” he confirmed.
“Vast amounts of the regions will open.”
Mr Barilaro spoke about lockdowns after NSW revealed 1405 new locally acquired coronavirus cases and six more deaths.
He said lockdowns would end “based on active cases in the community”.
The Tweed has recorded no new cases during the NSW Delta variant outbreak.
Mr Barilaro said the NSW government was “trying to do the right thing” and strike a balance.
He did warn communities released from lockdown would not return to life as normal.
“If there is a case in your community you will go into lockdown for 14 days,” he said.
Mr Barilaro said restrictions would be in place banning community sport.
He also warned communities would have to wear face masks and abide by venue capacity limits, among other measures.
EXPLAINED: WHAT HAPPENS AFTER LOCKDOWN
The lockdown will officially lift for “low risk” areas from 12.01am on Saturday.
The following freedoms will be available to all people in regional areas opening up:
- Gatherings in the home and public spaces:
- Up to five visitors will be allowed in a home (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 one person per 4 sqm inside and one person per 2 sqm outside, with standing whiledrinking permitted outside.
- Personal services such as hairdressers and nail salons can open with one person per 4 sqm, capped at five clients per premises.
- Gyms and indoor recreation facilities can open under the one person per 4 sqm rule and can offer classes for up to 20 people.
- Sporting facilities including swimming pools can reopen.
Schools:
- Schools will re-open with Level 3 Covid Safe measures in place.
Stadiums, theatres and major outdoor recreation facilities:
- Major recreation outdoor facilities including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can reopen with one person per 4sqm, capped at 5,000 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 reopenwith one person per 4 sqm or 75 per cent 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.
- Churches and places of worship to open subject to one person per 4 sqm rule, with no singing.
Travel:
- Caravan parks and camping grounds can open.
- Carpooling will be permitted.
Masks:
- Masks will remain mandatory for all indoor public venues, including public transport, front-of-house hospitality, retail andbusiness 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.
Earlier: Speculation is rife the Tweed and other regional areas will be released from New South Wale’s strict Covid-19 lockdown at midnight on Friday.
Tweed politicians have taken to social media to address reports by ABC News – attributing unidentified “government sources” – that the North Coast’s stay-at-home order will end.
The NSW government previously extended the lockdown to Friday, but there has been no real indication it would come to an end on the day.
On Wednesday, NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro flagged a potential end to the onerous regional lockdown impacting the Tweed – but said “no decision has been made”.
He said the end of the lockdown would be solely “up to the health advice”.
The Tweed has not recorded any new coronavirus cases during the ongoing NSW Delta variant outbreak.
Mr Barilaro said on Wednesday his government would “let the community know shortly”, but even if the lockdown did end it would not result in the return of “pre-lockdown” conditions.
He also warned even a single new locally acquired case could see the Tweed and other regional areas ordered back into lockdown.
Richmond MP Justine Elliot, whose electorate covers the Tweed, took to Facebook on Wednesday night to address the lockdown speculation.
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“I am aware of reports from the ABC that the lockdown for us in Northern NSW is set to lift from 11:59pm, Friday 10 September,” she wrote.
“This is NOT YET OFFICIAL. We are awaiting official word from NSW Health. I am working to get this information confirmed as soon as possible.
“As soon as I have any OFFICIAL information, it will be posted here for our community.
“The NSW Government URGENTLY needs to clarify these reports to give our community some certainty.”
Tweed councillor James Owen also weighed in on Facebook.
“Tweed Shire the OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT regarding the lifting of lockdown will be made tomorrow,” he said.
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“While everything is pointing towards a favourable outcome we are best to wait and not speculate at this stage.
“There will be no OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT OR CLARIFICATION from the NSW Government tonight despite what others are posting.”
Earlier this week, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was asked by a reporter how her state would respond if NSW ended lockdowns in areas like the Tweed.
She said if that occurred Queensland would act “very quickly”, but may need to see sewage testing and other indications the Delta variant was not present in communities.
The government has heavily restricted movement across the Queensland-NSW border, causing an array of widely publicised issues in the Tweed and other border communities.
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