NSW roadmap explained: What happens at 80 per cent vaccination target
NSW residents finally know what freedoms they will be able to enjoy once the state hits its vaccination target. Here’s what you can look forward to.
As NSW nears its hotly anticipated vaccination targets, residents have been given a clear idea of the freedoms they can begin looking forward to.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian today announced the state’s three-stage reopening plan, with the most significant freedoms to set in when the vaccination rate hits 80 per cent.
From the Monday after the state reaches 80 per cent of its eligible population being fully vaccinated, double dosed residents will be allowed up to 10 people in their home.
They will also be allowed to participate in community sport, and access hospitality
venues where drinking while standing up indoors will also be allowed.
Venues will have freedom to operate at one person per four square metres indoors, and one person per two square metres outdoors.
The state is on track to have 70 per cent of adults double dosed by October 6, according to covidlive.com.au, and 80 per cent by October 15. Another set of restrictions is set to lift from December 1.
These are all the changes vaccinated residents can look forward to.
Home and outdoor gatherings
Once the 80 per cent vaccination target is reached, 10 visitors will be allowed to visit a household, along with an unlimited number of children aged 12 and under.
Up to 20 people will be able to gather in unregulated outdoor settings, with up to 200 people permitted to attend events with a Covid-safe plan.
There will be up to 500 people allowed at events that are ticketed and seated, and community sport will be allowed to resume as normal.
People who have not been fully vaccinated will only be allowed to gather outdoors in groups of two.
Hospitality, retail and gyms
Retail stores will be allowed to operate at one person per four square metres, while those who are not fully vaccinated will continue to only have access to non-critical retail via click-and collect.
Business providing services including hairdressing, spa treatments, nails, beauty, waxing, tattoo and massage can operate with one person per four square metres.
Hospitality venues will be able to operate with one person per four square metres inside and one person per two square metres outside. Diners won’t be required to stay seated while drinking indoors.
Group bookings will be limited to 20 people and people who are not fully vaccinated will only have access to hospitality settings for takeaway.
Gyms and indoor recreation facilities — excluding indoor pools — will be permitted to operate with one person per four square metres, capped at 20 people per class.
Major outdoor recreation facilities
Major recreation outdoor facilities including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos will be allowed to operate with one person per four square metres, capped at 5,000 people, or by exemption.
Entertainment, information and education facilities
Places like cinemas, theatres and music venues will be allowed to operate
with one person per four square metres or at 75 per cent fixed seated capacity, whichever
is larger.
Education facilities and nightclubs
Places including libraries, galleries and museums will be able to operate with one person per four square metres.
Amusement centres and nightclubs will remain closed.
Working from home
Employers will be required to continue to allow employees to work from home where it is “reasonably practicable”.
Staff who are not fully vaccinated should be required to continue working from home if practicable
Education
Students will return to school with Covid-safe measures from 25 October.
Weddings, funerals and places of worship
An uncapped number of people will be allowed at weddings under the one person per four square metre rule, with dancing and eating and drinking allowed while standing.
Unvaccinated people will only be allowed to attend weddings with a maximum of five guests, and will not be allowed to at receptions.
Fully vaccinated people will be allowed at funerals with an uncapped number of people, so long as they comply with the one person per four square metre rule.
Non-vaccinated people will only be allowed at funerals with a maximum of 10 people. Churches and places of worship will be allowed to open with one person per four square metres, but there will be no singing permitted.
Those who are not fully vaccinated will be allowed.
Travel
Unrestricted trips between Greater Sydney and regional NSW will be
permitted after the 80 per cent target is reached.
Caravan parks and camping grounds will also be allowed to operate, including for those who are not fully vaccinated
Carpooling will be allowed, however those who are not fully vaccinated will only be allowed to 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 December 1
From 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
There will be no limit on the number of visitors to a home and density will shift to one person per two square metres for indoor and outdoor settings.
There will be no limit on the number of people who can attend informal outdoor gatherings
A Covid-safe plan will be required for outdoor events with more than 1000 people and community sport will be permitted for all people.
— Venues including hospitality, retail stores and gyms
Retail stores will be allowed to operate at one person per two square metres, and personal services such as hairdressers, spa, nail, beauty, waxing, tattoo and massage will be able to operate with one person per two square metres.
Hospitality venues will be able to operate with one person per two square metres inside and
outside, with no seating required for eating and drinking.
Gyms and indoor recreation facilities, including indoor pools, will be allowed to operate with
one person per two square metres at uncapped volumes.
Intimate services will be allowed to open with one person per four square metres.
— Major outdoor recreation facilities
Major recreation outdoor facilities including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos will be allowed to operate with one person per two square metres.
— Entertainment, information and education facilities
Entertainment facilities including cinemas, theatres, music halls will be allowed to operate
with one person per two square metres.
Information and education facilities including libraries, museums and galleries will be allowed to operate with one person per two square metres.
Amusement centres and nightclubs will be able to open with one person per four square metres.
— Working from home
Working from home will be up to each person’s employer’s discretion.
— Education
All year groups return to face-to-face learning.
— Weddings, funerals and places of worship
There will be one person per two square metres for weddings with dancing permitted and eating and drinking allowed while standing.
One person per two square metres will be allowed for funerals, while churches and places of worship can operate with one person per two square metres, with singing permitted.
— Travel
Domestic travel, including trips between Greater Sydney and regional NSW, will be allowed, and caravan parks and camping grounds will be able to operate.
Carpooling will be permitted, and 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 will not be required when outdoors.
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