COVID-19 Alert – Restrictions for fully vaccinated when NSW hits 70% double dose vaccinated, school to return 25 October – Thursday, 9 September 2021
Stay-at-home orders for adults who have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will be lifted from the Monday after NSW passes the 70 per cent double vaccination target, under the roadmap to freedom released today.
The roadmap is subject to further fine-tuning and health advice if circumstances change drastically or if cases within a designated area remain too high.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said we are well on the way to hitting the 70 per cent double dose milestone which will allow the state to open up for those who have received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
“I cannot stress enough how important it is for people to get vaccinated – if you have not had both doses of the vaccine by the time we hit the 70 per cent milestone, you will not be able to take advantage of these freedoms,” Ms Berejiklian said.
Only fully vaccinated people and those with medical exemptions will have access to the freedoms allowed under the Reopening NSW roadmap.
The freedoms for vaccinated adults will come into effect on the Monday after NSW hits the 70 per cent double dose target and include:
Gatherings in the home and public spaces:
- Up to five visitors will be allowed in a home where all adults are vaccinated (not including children 12 and under).
- Up to 20 people can gather in outdoor settings.
Venues including hospitality, retail stores and gyms:
- Hospitality venues can reopen subject to one person per 4sqm inside and one person per 2sqm outside, with standing while drinking permitted outside.
- Retail stores can reopen under the one person per 4sqm rule (unvaccinated people will continue to only be able to access critical retail).
- Personal services such as hairdressers and nail salons can open with one person per 4sqm, capped at five clients per premises.
- Gyms and indoor recreation facilities can open under the one person per 4sqm rule and can offer classes for up to 20 people.
- Sporting facilities including swimming pools can reopen.
Stadiums, theatres and major outdoor recreation facilities:
- Major recreation outdoor facilities including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can reopen with one person per 4sqm, capped at 5,000 people.
- Up to 500 people can attend ticketed and seated outdoor events.
- Indoor entertainment and information facilities including cinemas, theatres, music halls, museums and galleries can reopen with one person per 4sqm or 75 per cent fixed seated capacity.
Weddings, funerals and places of worship:
- Up to 50 guests can attend weddings, with dancing permitted and eating and drinking only while seated.
- Up to 50 guests can attend funerals, with eating and drinking while seated.
- Churches and places of worship to open subject to one person per 4sqm rule, with no singing.
Travel:
- Domestic travel, including trips to regional NSW, will be permitted.
- Caravan parks and camping grounds can open.
- Carpooling will be permitted.
Non-vaccinated young people aged under 16 will be able to access all outdoor settings but will only be able to visit indoor venues with members of their household.
Employers must continue to allow employees to work from home if the employee is able to do so.
There will be revised guidance on isolation for close and casual contacts who are fully vaccinated, with details to be provided closer to the reopening date.
Masks:
- Masks will remain mandatory for all indoor public venues, including public transport, front-of-house hospitality, retail and business premises, on planes and at airports.
- Only hospitality staff will be required to wear a mask when outdoors.
- Children aged under 12 will not need to wear a mask indoors.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the government will continue to be guided by the health advice, and may still require targeted restrictions to deal with outbreaks.
“As we work toward reopening NSW, it is vital people continue to come forward and get vaccinated to help protect the community and reduce transmission of the virus,” Mr Hazzard said.
When NSW hits the 80 per cent double dose target, the government intends to open up further freedoms around international travel, community sport, major events and other areas.
Get vaccinated
If you are not booked in for a COVID-19 vaccine, please book an appointment as soon possible.
NSW Health administered 27,871 COVID-19 vaccines in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, including 7,962 at the vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park.
The total number of vaccines administered in NSW is now 7,793,418 with 2,917,049 doses administered by NSW Health to 8pm last night and 4,876,369 administered by the GP network and other providers to 11:59pm on Tuesday 7 September 2021.
Please use the following links to book your vaccination:
Anyone aged 16-59 who live in LGAs of concern can book at Qudos Bank Arena here
Authorised workers who live in LGAs of concern
Childcare, disability, and food workers who live or work in LGAs of concern
COVID-19 cases
NSW recorded 1,405 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
Two new cases were acquired overseas in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, and 23 previously reported cases have been excluded following further investigation. The total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic is 38,919.
Of the 1,405 locally acquired cases reported to 8pm last night, 450 are from South Western Sydney Local Health District (LHD), 394 are from Western Sydney LHD, 211 are from Sydney LHD, 118 are from South Eastern Sydney LHD, 74 are from Nepean Blue Mountains LHD, 34 are from Northern Sydney LHD, 24 are from Western NSW LHD, 22 are from Central Coast LHD, 23 are from Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD, 12 are from Hunter New England LHD, four are from Far West LHD, three are from Southern NSW LHD, nine are in correctional settings and 27 cases are yet to be assigned to an LHD.
There have been 33,296 locally acquired cases reported since 16 June 2021, when the first case in this outbreak was reported.
There are currently 1,175 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 202 people in intensive care, 80 of whom require ventilation.
There were 156,481 COVID-19 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day’s total of 130,341.
Five deaths
Sadly, NSW Health has been notified of the deaths of five people who had COVID-19.
A man in his 80s from north-western Sydney died at Nepean Hospital.
A woman in her 70s from western Sydney died at Ryde Hospital.
A woman in her 70s from western Sydney died at Concord Repatriation General Hospital.
A man in his 80s from south-western Sydney died at Westmead Hospital.
A woman in her 40s from south-western Sydney, died at Liverpool Hospital.
NSW Health extends its deepest sympathies to their loved ones.
There have been 153 COVID-19 related deaths in NSW since 16 June 2021, and 209 in total since the start of the pandemic.
Get tested
If you are directed to get tested for COVID‑19 or self-isolate at any time, you must follow the rules whether or not the venue or exposure setting is listed on the NSW Health website.
It remains vital that anyone who has any symptoms or is a close or casual contact of a person with COVID-19, isolates and is tested immediately. When testing clinics are busy, please ensure you stay in line, identify yourself to staff and tell them that you have symptoms or are a contact of a case.
Please check the NSW Government website regularly, and follow the relevant health advice if you have attended a venue of concern or travelled on a public transport route at the same time as a confirmed case of COVID-19. This list is being updated regularly as case investigations proceed.
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