September 12 - 18, 2021: Issue 510

 

Covid Update: Roadmap to freedom unveiled for the fully vaccinated

Thursday September 9, 2021

From Monday September 13th, there will be some easing of restrictions for people across NSW who have received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
  • For those who live outside the LGAs of concern, up to 5 fully vaccinated adults can engage in outdoor recreation in a person’s LGA or within 5km of home. Children under 12 will not be counted in this total.
  • For those who live in the LGAs of concern, a household with all adults vaccinated will be able to engage in outdoor recreation (including picnics) for up to 2 hours within the existing rules (outside of curfew hours and within 5km of home). This is in addition to the ability to engage in outdoor exercise.
People who live alone can gather with one other adult to participate in outdoor recreation within the same existing rules.

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. 

Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the NSW Government has worked with industry to design this road map, which is our biggest incentive to get vaccinated, to reach the 70 per cent target as soon as possible. 

“Our roadmap outlines the freedoms that twice vaccinated people will enjoy once we reach 70 per cent double dose which means a meal with loved ones or a drink with friends is just around the corner,” Mr Barilaro 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. 

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the easing of restrictions would come as a huge relief to struggling businesses and workers, who just want to get their lives back on track, safely. 

“This roadmap gives us the light at the end of the tunnel we all want and will enable our economy to start firing again, driving our state back to prosperity,” Mr Perrottet said. 

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.

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.

If you are not booked in for a COVID-19 vaccine, please book an appointment as soon possible.

For the latest information visit nsw.gov.au/covid-19.

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: www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19, 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.

There are more than 500 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW, many of which are open seven days a week.

To find your nearest clinic please visit: www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/health-and-wellbeing/clinics

NSW Health Update: Saturday September 11, 2021

NSW recorded 1,599 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. 

Four new cases were acquired overseas in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, and 30 previously reported cases have been excluded following further investigation. The total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic is 42,000. 

Sadly, NSW Health has been notified of the deaths of eight people who had COVID-19.

A man in his 70s from western Sydney died at Blacktown Hospital. 

A man in his 30s from western Sydney died at home. 

A man in his 40s from south-western Sydney died at home. 

A man in his 70s from western Sydney died at Royal North Shore Hospital.

A woman in her 80s from Sydney’s southern suburbs died at Sutherland Hospital. 

A man in his 80s from south-western Sydney died at Liverpool Hospital.

A woman in her 80s from south western Sydney died at Campbelltown Hospital.

A man in his 50s from western Sydney died at Royal North Shore Hospital.

NSW Health extends its deepest sympathies to their loved ones.

There have been 170 COVID-19 related deaths in NSW since 16 June 2021, and 226 in total since the start of the pandemic.

There have been 36,374 locally acquired cases reported since 16 June 2021, when the first case in this outbreak was reported.   

There are currently 1,164 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 221 people in intensive care, 94 of whom require ventilation.

There were 147,975 COVID-19 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day’s total of 133,226.  

NSW Health administered 32,150 COVID-19 vaccines in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, including 9,567 at the vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park.

Across NSW, 77.3 per cent of the over-16 population has received a first dose COVID-19 vaccine, and 44.5 per cent are fully vaccinated to 11:59pm on Thursday, 9th September 2021.

The total number of vaccines administered in NSW is now 8,016,805 with 2,981,034 doses administered by NSW Health to 8pm last night and 5,035,771 administered by the GP network and other providers to 11:59pm on Thursday 9 September 2021.

Of the 1,599 locally acquired cases reported to 8pm last night, 490 are from South Western Sydney Local Health District (LHD), 444 are from Western Sydney LHD, 192 are from Sydney LHD, 177 are from South Eastern Sydney LHD, 94 are from Nepean Blue Mountains LHD, 57 are from Northern Sydney LHD, 37 are from Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD, 27 are from Central Coast LHD, 16 are from Western NSW LHD, 13 are from Far West LHD, 10 are from Hunter New England LHD, two are from Southern NSW LHD, seven are in correctional settings and 30 cases are yet to be assigned to an LHD.

NSW Health's ongoing sewage surveillance program has detected fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 at the Byron Bay and Bangalow treatment plants in northern NSW, at the Jindabyne, Harden, Moruya and Yass sewage treatment plants in southern NSW, at the Port Macquarie treatment plant in Mid North Coast, at the Trangie treatment plant in western NSW, and at the Young treatment plant.

No recent cases have been identified in these locations, so everyone is urged to monitor for the onset of symptoms, and if they appear, to immediately be tested and isolate until a negative result is received.

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.

There are 500 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW, many of which are open seven days a week. To find your nearest clinic visit COVID-19 clinics or contact your GP.