As the double-dose vaccination rates reached the 70 per cent benchmark on October 6, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet announced several new changes to the roadmap to reopening the state at 70 per cent and 80 per cent.
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As of Monday, October 11 NSW will lift the stay-at-home orders and ease some restrictions.
All roadmap freedoms at 70 and 80 per cent will continue to be for fully vaccinated people only.
Here's how it will affect residents in the Southern Highlands:
Regional workers:
Deputy Premier Paul Toole said workers in regional areas who have received one vaccination dose will be permitted to return to their workplace from October 11 and will be given a grace period until November 1 to receive their second dose.
Masks and QR codes:
At 80 per cent fully vaccinated, masks will no longer be required in office buildings only.
Masks will be required for all staff and customers in all indoor settings including on public transport, planes and in airports (except children under the age of 12).
Masks will no longer be required in outdoor settings (except for front-of-house hospitality staff).
COVID Safe check-ins and proof of vaccination required for staff and customers.
Visitors:
At 70 per cent full vaccinated, 10 fully vaccinated visitors (excluding children under 12) will be allowed into households. Previously, only five visitors were allowed in a household.
On the Monday after the state reaches 80 per cent fully vaccinated, households can receive 20 visitors (excluding children under 12). Previously it was announced that only 10 visitors would be allowed at 80 per cent.
Outdoor Gatherings:
From Monday, October 11, 30 fully vaccinated people will be allowed to gather outdoors. This is an increase of 10 people.
At the 80 per cent benchmark, up to 50 people will be allowed to gather outdoors. Previously outdoor gathering limits remained at 20.
Weddings and Funerals
The cap for weddings has now increased to 100 people from the previously announced 50 person limit.
Indoor swimming pools:
Indoor pools will also be re-opened for swimming lessons, squad training, lap swimming, and rehab activities on Monday, October 11.
Outdoor events:
Once NSW reaches the 80 per cent vaccination benchmark, up to 3,000 people will be allowed to attend controlled and ticketed outdoor events (previously 500).
Nightclubs will be permitted to reopen for seated drinking only (no dancing),
Schools:
All school students will also now return to on-site learning with a range of COVID-safe measures in place by October 25.
Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 12 students will still return to face-to-face learning on October 18, with all other years now returning one week later on October 25.
Travel:
Travel from Greater Sydney to Regional NSW will not be allowed from Monday October 11. This includes day trips.
Residents in Regional NSW will not be able to travel to Greater Sydney.
Travel between the two will only be permitted once we reach 80 per cent fully vaccinated.
From Monday however, Regional LGAs are able to travel to other Regional LGAs.
The stay-at-home orders will be lifted next Monday, October 11 and replaced by the roadmap settings.
It is currently unknown when NSW will hit the 80 per cent double vaccination rate. It is projected for some time in October.
If you are not booked in for a COVID-19 vaccine, please book an appointment as soon as possible.
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