Covid-19: Freedom Day 2.0 comes early

NSW residents are set to soak up a raft of new freedoms from Monday, including the removal of mask mandates in office buildings and students back in the classroom.

‘We can’t wait for school to start again to get some normalcy back in the house,’ says Tanya Sido, right, with husband Arj, Ronak, 3, Kabir, 5, and Liora, 7.

NSW residents are poised to soak up new freedoms from Monday, including a removal of mask mandates in office buildings and students back in the classroom, after the state met its 80 per cent ­double-dose vaccination trigger at the weekend.

Vaccination rates have surged ahead of schedule, bringing forward the state’s second phase of its Covid-19 road map out of lockdown one week early.

The state celebrated the milestone with a bang, with the NSW government lighting up Sydney’s Opera House with a special tribute to frontline healthcare workers and people who heeded vaccin­ation calls.

While some new freedoms will be enjoyed sooner than expected, Sydneysiders will have to wait a until November 1 before they can travel freely into the regions.

Slower vaccination rates in the regions sparked concerns a premature easing of restrictions could lead to further lockdowns, but NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet announced an extension of JobSaver payments until November 1 to soften the blow.

Federal government data on Sunday showed NSW had hit 80 per cent of its eligible population fully vaccinated, with 91.9 per cent having had one dose.

The new freedoms will see gatherings in the home increase from 10 people to 20, excluding children, and up to 50 people will be able to gather outdoors from Monday. There will be no 20-­person booking limit in hospitality venues from November 1.

Density limits in hospitality, personal services and retail ven­ues will also be relaxed to allow more patrons, with standing while drinking allowed.

The Sydney Opera House salute to frontline workers and those who have been vaccinated

After initial teething problems, the new vaccine passport system in the Service NSW app appeared to be working at the weekend.

Fully vaccinated people a can now present both their vaccine passport and QR check-in code through the Service NSW app after linking their Covid-19 vaccination certificate on the Express Plus Medicare app to the Service NSW app.

Up to 3000 people can attend controlled and ticketed outdoor events and nightclubs will be able to reopen for seated drinking. Weddings and funerals will be uncapped but will need to adhere to a one person per 4sq m density limit.

Mask mandates in office buildings will be lifted in a bid to encourage millions of workers back into the office and help to revive the city’s languishing CBD.

However, the removal of masks is unlikely to see workers rush back to the office as businesses take time to work through their Covid-19 safety protocols.

Business NSW chief executive Daniel Hunter said most businesses were adopting a staggered return, with workers in the office a few days a week to begin with.

“Business is excited we’ve reached the 80 per cent double vaccination rate and the return to the office, particularly in the various CBDs across NSW, will be a welcome sign of a return to normal,” Mr Hunter said.

“Several businesses are planning celebrations with their staff and have developed some rostering arrangements that ensure everyone has a couple of days back in the office.

“There will be a few weeks of transition for the return to the ­office as many workers are still caring for school-aged children waiting for their school to operate at full capacity.”

Schools will reopen for kindergarten, and years 1 and 12 on Monday, with all year groups back in class by October 25.

Masks will be mandatory for school staff and high school students and highly recommended for children in year 3 to year 6.

Mr Perrottet admitted there would be “teething issues” as students returned to school this week but said people should feel con­fident and supported with a ­variety of Covid-19 safety measures in place.

Announcing a major mental health support package on Sunday, Mr Perrottet said getting kids back into the classroom would help alleviate pressures on parents, teachers and students.

“Tomorrow is a great day for our parents and for our kids, and we believe that we will be able to open our schools in a very safe way,” he said.

After a very tough four months, Tanya Sido is looking forward to taking her seven-year old daughter Liora back to school on ­Monday.

Balancing her work as an ­assistant surgeon with homeschooling and caring for her other two young sons had been challenging, Ms Sido said

“We can’t wait for school to start again,” she said. “Liora is looking forward to seeing her friends and teachers again.

“She really needs the routine and we need to get some normalcy back in the house, too.”