Coronavirus: Key dates in NSW's freedom plan

NSW has revealed a three-stage plan towards reopening, with key dates to look forward to in October in December.

NSW has revealed a three-stage plan towards reopening, with key dates to look forward to in October and December.

Eased coronavirus rules will be made available to those who have had two vaccine shots once that cohort makes up 70 per cent of the state’s population, and more freedoms will become available at 80 per cent.

At 80 per cent, the new activities that will be made available for those who have had two coronavirus jabs will include having 10 visitors at home, playing community sports, and standing up and drinking at pubs.

There will be a third reopening stage in December – and those who haven’t been vaccinated will have to wait until then to take advantage of some of the freedoms.

New freedoms will be made available to the double-jabbed in October. Picture: NCA NewsWire / James Gourley

STAGE ONE

On the Monday after 70 per cent of NSW residents are vaccinated, a raft of restrictions will ease.

According to the website covidlive, that milestone could be reached as soon as October 6, meaning October 11 would be the date stage one kicks in.

When that goal is reached, pubs, retail stores and gyms are meant to open again, but only for the fully vaccinated.

STAGE TWO

On the Monday after 80 per cent of NSW residents have had two shots, more restrictions will ease for that group of people.

That goal could be reached as soon as October 15, meaning October 18 could be the day stage two restrictions are implemented.

International travel caps will also be reconsidered, meaning it’s likely more people will be able to leave and re-enter Australia.

The reopening from lockdown will happen in three stages. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

One freedom that has been postponed from the 70 per cent target to the day the state reaches 80 per cent is regional travel.

The government’s crisis cabinet has decided it wants to wait to let Sydneysiders travel to the regions until 80 per cent of the whole state has been double-jabbed.

Most indoor activities will need to adhere to the 4 sqm rule.

Here are the new rules expected to be implemented at 80 per cent – only for those who are fully vaccinated:

Gatherings indoors and outdoors

• Up to 10 visitors will be allowed in a home (plus children 12 and under)
• Up to 20 people can continue to gather in unregulated outdoor settings
• Up to 200 people can attend Covid-safe events
• Up to 500 people can attend ticketed and seated events
• Community sport activities permitted
• Major outdoor facilities such as stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can have a maximum of 5000 visitors, subject to the 4 sqm rule – and exemptions will be available

NSW recorded 787 new locally acquired cases of #COVID19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. pic.twitter.com/8Qkdwzp9qA

— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) September 27, 2021

• Entertainment venues such as cinemas and theatres can operate under the 4 sqm rule, or at 75 seated capacity, whichever is larger
• Libraries, galleries and museums will be able to operate subject to the 4 sqm rule
• Nightclubs and amusement centres will remain closed

Pubs, gyms and stores

• Retail stores will be able to operate under the 4 sqm rule
• Beauty parlours, hairdressers, barbers, massage services and tattoo artists will be able to admit as many people as they can fit, as long as the 4 sqm rule is followed
• Pubs and other hospitality venues will be subject to the 4 sqm rule indoors, but outdoor areas can be twice as packed (2 sqm to each patron)
• Drinking standing up will be allowed both indoors and outdoors
• Group bookings will be limited to 20 people
• Gyms (but not indoor pools) will be able to admit up to 20 people per class, and operate according to the 4 sqm rule

WORKING FROM HOME

• Employers must continue to allow fully vaccinated employees to work from home if it’s reasonably practicable
• However those who aren’t fully vaccinated will have to keep working from home, unless it isn’t reasonably practicable

TRAVEL

• People from greater Sydney will be able to visit regional NSW again
• Caravans and camping grounds can operate
• Carpooling is permitted

WEDDINGS, FUNERALS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP

• There will be no cap of how many people can attend a wedding or funeral, as long as everyone is fully vaccinated and the 4 sqm rule is followed
• Dancing at weddings will be permitted, as will eating and drinking while standing up
• The unvaccinated will be able to attend wedding ceremonies with a maximum of five people, but no receptions – and funerals with a maximum of 10 people
• Places of worship such as mosques and churches will be subject to the 4 sqm rule
• Singing in places of worship will be allowed

Bars will be able to accept more customers once the 80 per cent goal is reached. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jenny Evans

STAGE THREE

From December 1, stage three of the reopening will allow everyone to take advantage of a number of new freedoms.

That includes both those who are vaccinated and those who aren’t.

GATHERINGS INDOORS AND OUTDOORS

There will be no limits on how many people can gather in a home

There will be no limits on how many can attend an “informal outdoor gathering”

The 4sqm rule for indoor and outdoor settings will be changed to 2sqm

Outdoor events with more than 1000 people will have to have a Covid-safe plan

Everyone will be allowed to take part in community sport

Major outdoor facilities such as stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos will be subject to 2sqm rule

Amusement centres and nightclubs will be open subject to 4sqm rule

Libraries, galleries and museums will be subject to 2sqm rule

PUBS, GYMS AND STORES

The 2sqm rule will apply – including at pubs, gyms, stores, hairdressers and beauty salons – both indoors and outdoors

Standing up while eating and drinking will be allowed

Gyms and indoor pools will have no capacity caps

“Intimate services” – meaning sex work – will be subject to 4sqm rule

WORKING FROM HOME

Employers will no longer be required to allow employees to work from home, rather it will be up to the employer’s discretion

EDUCATION

Face-to-face learning will return for all year groups

WEDDINGS, FUNERALS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP

Weddings and funerals will be subject to 2sqm rule

Dancing, and eating and drinking while standing, will be allowed

Singing will be permitted in places of worship

Places of worship will be subject to 2sqm rule

TRAVEL

Travelling between Sydney and the rest of NSW will be permitted

Caravan parks and campgrounds will be able to operate

Carpooling will be permitted

International arrivals can expect different quarantine settings than the current ones

However caps on unvaccinated arrivals may remain

MASKS

Masks will still be mandatory on public transport, planes and airports

Front-of-house hospitality workers, such as bartenders and baristas, must still wear masks

There will be no mask mandate outdoors