Plans for NSW retail to somersault into action with hairdressers, nail salons likely to open first

One retail sector is set to be the big winner, with restrictions likely to be rolled back in low-risk areas during September.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is set to roll back certain restrictions during September. Picture: Getty Images

The Berejiklian government is poised to announce a reopening of some retail businesses in low-risk areas of Greater Sydney during September, under plans to ease restrictions and begin a tentative economic revival, even as cases remain high across some ­parts of the city.

The plan, likely to be finalised on Wednesday afternoon and ­announced on Thursday, would see a limited reopening of businesses in less-affected LGAs, with services available to those who are vaccinated.

It is understood nail salons and hairdressers, which were among the first retailers to reopen following a state-wide lockdown in NSW last year, will be the likely beneficiaries.

Gladys Berejiklian announced NSW had reached its six millionth jab on Tuesday morning.

“Because we have hit that milestone, I look forward to making the announcement on Thursday or Friday this week as to what fully vaccinated people will be able to do from the month of September because of the target we have set,” the NSW Premier said.

Ms Berejiklian said 30 per cent of the eligible population has now received two doses.

“I am proud that during our darkest time everybody has come forward and is doing the right thing (with vaccinations).”

The target of six million inoculations had been planned for the end of ­August but has been hit a week early.

One of the nation’s peak hospitality associations meanwhile is urging the NSW government to consider plans for a revival of outdoor dining in September as part of its roadmap to recovery.

Restaurant and Catering Australia chief Wes Lambert said lockdowns had proven catastrophic for his industry and the resumption of outdoor dining, in areas where there had been few or no cases of Covid-19, would assist with a much-needed recovery.

“We are pleading with the ­government to ensure that there is some level of hospitality ­included in the roadmap for the lowest-risk LGAs,” Mr Lambert said. “We’re losing $228m a week. It’s a multi-billion problem in NSW. Without JobKeeper, and without the stimulus and the ­insolvency protections of 2020, it is important the hospitality industry is not left in the dust.”

On Monday, health officials announced 818 locally acquired cases of Covid-19, with at least 42 of these cases known to be infectious in the community.

Three deaths were also reported – two men and one woman, all of whom were aged in their 80s, all of whom had underlying health conditions.

Parkour practice: one side of this street in Sydney’s Burwood LGA is under curfew from 9pm-5am; the other side in the Inner West Council area is not. Picture: Getty Images

The Premier appeared to once again sharpen messaging on the growing redundancy of case numbers, saying it was her hope that by October the state would hit a vaccination target of 70 per cent, which would allow officials to focus on hospitalisations and “treat Covid as you would the flu”.

“If we keep working the way we are, we’ll get to that target ahead of the end of October,” she said.

“It all depends on us continuing to keep that up. Some countries … have noticed a slight pause when the population gets to 60 per cent double doses … but I don’t have those concerns in NSW.”

Health and education officials are continuing to deliberate over plans to allow a return of face-to-face schooling, although gov­ernment officials have told The Australian this is more likely to occur in term 4, which begins in October.