Everything you can do in Sydney today as more freedoms arrive in NSW for fully vaccinated residents

NSW has achieved another major goal after becoming the first state to hit the 80 per cent double vaccination mark, meaning new freedoms are here.

NSW will no longer be declared a Covid-19 hotspot following confirmation of the state’s 80 per cent double vaccination dose, the Australian government has confirmed.

The Australian Government’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly, announced the news on Sunday, weeks after NSW was first declared a hotspot on August 14.

The changes came under effect at 11.59pm Sunday night.

Under the National Plan, agreed to by all First Ministers, the Commonwealth’s hotspot declaration automatically ceases within a particular state or territory once the 80 per cent fully vaccinated rate has been reached within that jurisdiction, with hotspot-related support to cease two weeks thereafter.

“Professor Kelly congratulated the residents of NSW for so wholeheartedly embracing the need to be vaccinated against Covid-19 and for the contribution this has made to helping our country safely reopen,” a statement read.

NSW recorded 301 new virus cases and 10 deaths on Sunday.

From today, the list of activities we once took for granted have been put back on the table for double vaxxed residents – from having large weddings, to attending outdoor events such as footy games or concerts and drinking in a pub while standing up.

With NSW hitting the 80 per cent double dose vaccination milestone on Saturday afternoon, the state’s new Premier Dominic Perrottet announced a raft of restrictions would be eased on Monday.

One of the most hated rules – being forced to wear masks in offices – has also been scrapped, while the fully vaccinated will be able to welcome 20 people into their home.

Reopening NSW Roadmap

Fronting the media on Friday, Premier Dominic Perrottet announced a string of changes from Monday.

They include:

• Up to 20 visitors will be allowed in a home

• Up to 50 people will be able to gather outdoors

• Standing and drinking will be permitted in pubs

• 3000 people will be able to attend ticketed outdoor events

• Density limits will also be removed for hairdressers and other personal care services

• There will be no caps for weddings and funerals, as long as all guests are fully vaccinated

• Face masks will no longer be mandatory in offices

It comes after the state celebrated its so-called “Freedom Day” on October 11, after passing the 70 per cent target.

The 80 per cent goal wasn’t expected to be met so quickly, but NSW residents have rushed to get their jabs in droves, meaning NSW’s road map to freedom was revised yet again.

Mr Perrottet confirmed the 80 per cent milestone had been hit on Saturday afternoon in a series of tweets:

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Restrictions ease further on Monday, so keep up to date with @NSWHealth and @ServiceNSW. Summer in NSW is looking good.

— Dom Perrottet (@Dom_Perrottet) October 16, 2021

Premier Dominic Perrottet has announced the new Reopening NSW Roadmap. Picture: Gaye Gerard/NCA NewsWire

A map showing the rate of double vaccinations in NSW. Picture: NSW Health

Mr Perrottet said it was time to “celebrate an incredibly important milestone”, and announced that on Monday evening, the government will light up the Sydney Opera House with images of frontline workers “who have made enormous sacrifices, particularly our nurses, and to celebrate everyone across NSW for the effort they have made to ensure that NSW leads the country out of the pandemic”.

Changes from November 1

The Premier also announced several changes due to come into effect from November 1.

They include:

• Sydneysiders will be permitted to travel to regional NSW (details below), and ACT residents can travel to Sydney, as announced by the ACT chief minister today

• Hotel quarantine “will be a thing of the past” with fully vaccinated Australians and international tourists alike able to enter the state without needing to quarantine

• The cap of 20 for bookings for restaurants and hospitality venues will also be removed

Mr Perrottet described the end of hotel quarantine as a “boon” for all.

“There is absolutely no reason, if you are fully vaccinated, whether you are a returning Australian or tourist, that you should have to hotel quarantine,” he said.

“This will be a boon for most people coming home and it will be a boon for our tourism industry.

“We can’t live here in a hermit kingdom. We’ve got to open up, and this decision today is a big one, but it is the right want to get New South Wales connected globally.”

The rules have changed again. Picture: Jeremy Piper/NCA NewsWire

Major rule backflip

Despite the easing of restrictions coming on Monday, Mr Perrottet has announced one major backflip.

Under the revised road map, Sydneysiders will be barred from travelling to regional NSW until November 1 – the same date international travel will recommence.

The state’s double-dose vaccination rate is now 78.81 per cent, with the 80 per cent goal due to be reached this weekend, and under the original plan, travel within the state was set to be allowed once that milestone was reached.

However, there are fears the vaccination rate in some regions is far lower.

The delay in allowing those from Greater Sydney to travel into the regions has been announced to allow greater time for the regions to catch up before an influx of tourists arrive.

The government is also providing “extra business support” for businesses in regional NSW inconvenienced by the reopening delay.

Earlier reports suggested the freedom would be pushed back by just a week until October 25, but now residents will have to wait more than two weeks.

Regional travel has been pushed back until November 1.

The revised date was first announced by Deputy Premier Paul Toole on 2GB on Friday morning.

“Regional travel will be allowed from November 1,” Mr Toole said, adding the decision was made to keep regional communities safe and opening with the current vaccination rates in some areas would put communities in “jeopardy”.

Mr Toole apologised to NSW residents, saying he knew the change was “frustrating” but claiming many regional communities “are scared”.

“I know its frustrating, I know that. But I have also got to get the balance right and you know some of the communities actually want it to be longer,” he said.

“I am sorry for those people who have actually had their bags packed and those people that want to go to regional communities.”

The news was confirmed by Mr Perrottet this morning.

“I know for many people in Sydney and some in the bush, this will be an unpopular decision but we are elected to make the right decisions and I believe the decision we have made today with our cabinet committee is an important one, and ultimately the right decision,” he said.