The roadmap that will see NSW residents emerge from lockdown has been officially announced as another five COVID-related deaths were announced in the state.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed the state’s lockdown will end when the state reaches its 70 per cent fully vaccinated target.
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The freedoms will apply only to vaccinated residents in all areas, including those in Sydney’s LGAs of concern.
“But at any stage, if there’s a concentration of disease in a town or suburb, or an outbreak that wasn’t anticipated, health can restrict movements and give advice that’s not going to put pressure on our health system,” Berejiklian said.
No specific date has been set for the easing of restrictions, but it will happen on the Monday after the target is reached, expected mid-next month.
“It is really up to how quickly people get vaccinated and how many people come forward for the vaccine,” Berejiklian said.
Restrictions unveiled
People will be able to have five visitors in their home, with all adults vaccinated, and 20 people will be able to gather outdoors.
Hospitality, retail, gyms and sporting facilities will return with the four-square-metre rule.
The two-square-metre rule will apply to outdoor hospitality venues, with standing while drinking permitted outside.
Personal services, such as hair and nail salons, will also be subject to the four-square-metre rule and will be capped at five clients per premises.
Weddings and funerals will be capped at 50 people.
Places of worship will also be subject to the four-square-metre rule.
Up to 500 people will be able to attend outdoor ticketed events and major recreation facilities including stadiums and theme parks will be able to reopen with a cap of 5000 people and the four-square-metre rule.
Indoor entertainment venues will be subject to the four-square-metre rule or 75 per cent seated capacity.
Domestic travel, including travel to regional NSW, will be permitted and camping will be allowed.
Schools will return on October 25.
Workers at hospitality, retail, entertainment, personal services and travel venues will need to be vaccinated.
Masks remain
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.
Children under 12 will not be required to wear masks indoors.
Hospitality staff will be required to wear masks when outdoors.
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.
People should continue to work from home if they can.
Some regions in NSW will come out of lockdown on Saturday.
‘You have been warned’
Anyone not fully vaccinated by the time the state reaches the 70 per cent target will not be able to enjoy the freedoms.
“We have obviously consulted the national plan, we have also had input from the health experts and stakeholders to make sure that when we start reopening at 70 per cent double dose, that it is done in a safe way and it is only for people who are vaccinated,” Berejiklian said.
“You have been warned, if you’re not vaccinated, come forward and get the vaccine, otherwise you won’t be able to participate in the many freedoms that people have at 70 per cent vaccination.”
When NSW hits the 80 per cent double dose target, the government is set to announce more freedoms, including international travel.
COVID update
The five people whose deaths were announced on Thursday include three women and two men.
Another 1405 cases of COVID were recorded on Thursday.
Since the outbreak began in June, there have been 153 COVID-related deaths and 33,296 cases.
There are currently 1175 COVID cases admitted to hospital, with 202 people in intensive care, 80 of whom require ventilation.
“We’re definitely not out of the woods,” Berejiklian said, adding cases in NSW are set to peak in the next week.
Hospitals will under the most stress next month, the premier said.
More than 42 per cent of the state is currently fully vaccinated, but the rate of vaccination has slightly declined in recent days.
“We really need to call upon anybody who hasn’t had any doses to come forward and get their first dose, but also to make sure that you come forward for your second dose as soon as you can as well,” Berejiklian said.
“That is really important for us to keep the pace that we have managed to have in the last few weeks.”