Vaccinated people will have more freedoms from mid-September

Fully vaccinated people will have slightly more freedoms from mid-September with outdoor gatherings of up to five people to be allowed in most areas of the state.

Fully vaccinated people will have slightly more freedoms from mid-September with outdoor gatherings of up to five people to be allowed in most areas of the state.

But residents of hotspot areas will continue to be severely restricted.

Household groups in local government areas of concern will be able to gather outdoors for recreation for an hour — if adults are fully vaccinated.

The changes — which kick in from September 13 — mean that families in hotspot LGAs in west and southwest Sydney will soon be able to enjoy activity which is currently allowed in the rest of NSW, if adults are fully vaccinated.

They were announced on Thursday by premier Gladys Berejiklin at her daily press conference.

It came as the state hit a new daily high of 1029 Covid cases.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro speaking after a COVID-19 update on Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / James Gourley

Premier Gladys Berejiklian specified that picnics would be allowed under the provision of “recreation”.

The hour of recreation for hotspot residents will be on top of a prescribed hour for “exercise”.

Crisis cabinet signed off on the freedoms after input from Chief Psychiatrist Murray Wright.

Chief health officer Kerry Chant described the changes as “baby steps” that would bring positive “mental health impacts”.

“This is about rewarding the community in a way that is very safe,” Dr Chant said.

“I think we have to balance COVID risk with compassion.”

There’ll be a further easing of restrictions for people who are fully vaccinated when NSW gets to 70 per cent double-dose vaccination coverage.

GLADYS ROLLED AT CRISIS CABINET

Sydneysiders hanging out for a haircut or colour will be disappointed with additional freedoms announced by the Premier on Thursday.

Vaccinated haircuts were not on the list of “freedoms” triggered by NSW reaching the 6 million vaccine dose threshold.

That’s despite Gladys Berejiklian previously hinting that reaching the 6 million dose target could allow for vaccinated people to access some “personal care services”.

Crisis cabinet rejected allowing this last night.

Ms Berejiklian has repeatedly said freedoms for September could include access to “services” that are currently off the cards.

“Potentially, if someone that’s providing a service is vaccinated and their client is vaccinated, we feel much more comfortable in relaxing that restriction on August 29,” the Premier said earlier this month.

Ms Berejiklian suggested haircuts were among the freedoms being considered.

“It would be potentially, you know, services which could be provided to people so long as both people were vaccinated,” she told KIIS FM last week.

Asked whether that included haircuts, Ms Berejiklian said: “potentially”.

“Those types of personal care services and what have us,” she said.

“If we can do something safely and all parties are fully vaccinated then that gives us some options.”