Community sport, larger outdoor gatherings could return before 70 per cent target: Brad Hazzard

The Health Minister said more incentives could be offered before NSW hits its reopening vaccine target, saying: ‘Give us another week.’

Double vaccinated, locked down NSW residents could find out within a week if community sport will return and larger outdoor gatherings will be permitted before the state hits the 70 per cent target, as the government looks to increase jab incentives.

From Monday, some restrictions will ease for fully vaccinated Sydneysiders, including unlimited exercise for residents of the 12 local government areas of concern, and outdoor recreation time in groups of up to five in other parts of the city.

A broad range of restrictions will ease in mid-October, after the state reaches 70 per cent double vaccination.

But on Saturday, Health Minister Brad Hazzard dropped a hint that other restrictions could ease within the next month, including the return of community sport, and outdoor gatherings increasing to 10 people, if current vaccination rates continue.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has suggested community sport could return within the next month. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

“As the numbers go up, I think we need to be looking at … what other normality can we bring back into our lives?” he said.

When asked why community sport was not currently part of the restrictions easing come 70 per cent vaccination, Mr Hazzard said he wanted to see sport resume.

More restrictions could ease provided NSW continues to record high vaccination rates. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

“I think (chief health officer) Dr (Kerry) Chant and the team are aware that trying to get people out to play sport is on the agenda,” he said.

“Give us another week and I am fairly confident we will be able to move in that area, but we still need to get those vaccination rates up.”

His comments came as NSW recorded a record high of 1599 new cases of Covid-19.

Thousands of people flocked to Sydney’s beaches on Saturday, but Mr Hazzard said the outdoors was ‘the safest place to be’. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

While Sydney remains under strict lockdown orders, scores of people flocked to the beach on Saturday as the mercury rose to 29C.

A seemingly unfazed Mr Hazzard said he was not concerned.

“I am concerned about people who are not vaccinated,” he said.

“Fresh air we know is the safest place to be at the present time.”

As of Sunday morning, 45 per cent of eligible NSW residents are fully vaccinated.

Originally published as Community sport, larger outdoor gatherings could return before 70 per cent target: Brad Hazzard