NSW roadmap – what we can do when we get to 80% double dose – around October 18

Released by the NSW government this morning, here’s a detailed look at what we can and cannot do once we get to the 80% double vaccination dose in NSW.

We should reach 70% double dose on October 11 and 80% the week after that, October 18.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian set out some clear details for the state’s reopening plan for the first time, this morning.

The Premier announced three stages NSW will go through to reopen, saying that the state will hit 70% doubled vaccinated on 11 October, when some freedoms will kick in.

At 80%, people will be able to travel anywhere freely in NSW, and the state is expected to hit the mark around a week after hitting 70%.

The third stage of reopening will happen on December 1, which is around five weeks after hitting 80%.

The 2 sq m rule will come in then, (before then, it’ll be the 4 sq m rule).

The Premier said that although she is laying out the dates, that people shouldn’t see them as “freedom days”:

“I don’t want to be the party pooper but I’ve said let’s not think about this as a freedom day but let’s think about this as a sustained reopening to getting back to normal but there is no doubt that for those of us who are fully vaccinated at the 70% double dose life will feel so much better.

“Life will feel getting back to normal ideally and obviously a number of things kick in at 80%, including community sport, regional travel and a whole range of other things and then on 9 December will be the final stage of reopening where unvaccinated people will be able to participate,” she said.

“Now the only exception is for places of worship: at 80% double-dose vaccinated people will be able to attend places of worship … but that is it and we ask people to exercise a huge degree of caution.”

80 PER CENT ROADMAP

Under the Reopening NSW roadmap at 80 per cent, the following freedoms will apply only to fully vaccinated adults (16+) and those with medical exemptions (staff and patrons).

Gatherings in the home and outdoor public spaces

· Up to 10 visitors will be allowed in a home (not including children 12 and under)

· Up to 20 people can continue to gather in unregulated outdoor settings

· Up to 200 people can attend COVID Safe events

· Up to 500 people can attend controlled (ticketed and seated) events

Community sport permitted

· Those who are not fully vaccinated may only gather outdoors in groups of 2 people.

Venues including hospitality, retail stores and gyms

· Retail stores can operate at one person per 4 sqm (those who are not fully vaccinated will continue to only have access to non-critical retail via click-andcollect)

· Personal services such as hairdressers, spa, nail, beauty, waxing, tattoo and massage) can operate with one person per 4 sqm (uncapped)

· Hospitality venues can operate with one person per 4 sqm inside and one person per 2 sqm outside, with the requirement to be seated while drinking indoors removed. Group bookings will be limited to 20 people. Those who are not fully vaccinated can only access hospitality settings for takeaway

· Gyms and indoor recreation facilities (excluding indoor pools) can operate with one person per 4sqm, capped at 20 people per class. Major outdoor recreation facilities

· Major recreation outdoor facilities including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can operate with one person per 4 sqm, capped at 5,000 people (or by exemption).

Entertainment, information and education facilities

· Entertainment facilities (including cinemas, theatres, music halls) can operate with one person per 4 sqm or 75 per cent fixed seated capacity (whichever is larger)

· Information and education facilities (including libraries, galleries and museums) can operate with one person per 4 sqm

· Amusement centres and nightclubs will remain closed.

Working from home

· Employers must continue to allow employees to work from home, if reasonably practicable

· Employers must require employees who are not fully vaccinated to work from home, if reasonably practicable.

Education

· Return to school with COVID Safe measures on 25 October (as previously announced).

Weddings, funerals and places of worship

· One person per 4sqm (uncapped) for weddings with dancing permitted and eating and drinking allowed while standing. Those who are not fully vaccinated may only attend weddings with a maximum of 5 guests (no receptions)

· One person per 4 sqm (uncapped) for funerals. Those who are not fully vaccinated may only attend funerals with a maximum of 10 people

· Churches and places of worship can continue to open with one person per 4 sqm, with no singing. Those who are not fully vaccinated will be allowed.

Travel

· Unrestricted trips between Greater Sydney and Regional NSW will be permitted

· Caravan parks and camping grounds can operate, including for those who are not fully vaccinated

· Carpooling is permitted. Those who are not fully vaccinated can only carpool with their household.

Masks

· Masks will remain mandatory for all indoor premises and settings, except children under 12

· Only hospitality staff will be required to wear a mask while outdoors

CHANGES FROM 1 DECEMBER 2021

On Wednesday 1 December 2021, the following settings will apply to all NSW citizens, regardless of their vaccination status:

Gatherings in the home and outdoor public spaces

· No limit on the number of visitors to a home

· Density will shift to one person per 2 sqm for indoor and outdoor settings

· No limit on the number of people who can attend informal outdoor gatherings

· COVID Safe plan required for outdoor events with more than 1,000 people

· Community sport permitted for all people.

Venues including hospitality, retail stores and gyms

· Retail stores can operate at one person per 2 sqm

· Personal services such as hairdressers, spa, nail, beauty, waxing, tattoo and massage can operate with one person per 2 sqm

· Hospitality venues can operate with one person per 2 sqm inside and outside, with no seating required for eating and drinking

· Gyms and indoor recreation facilities, including indoor pools, can operate with one person per 2 sqm (uncapped)

· Intimate services can open with one person per 4 sqm Major outdoor recreation facilities

· Major recreation outdoor facilities including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can operate with one person per 2 sqm. Entertainment, information and education facilities

· Entertainment facilities (including cinemas, theatres, music halls) can operate with one person per 2 sqm

· Information and education facilities (including libraries, museums and galleries) can operate with one person per 2 sqm

· Amusement centres and nightclubs can open with one person per 4 sqm.

Working from home

· Working from home will be at employer’s discretion.

Education

· All year groups return to face-to-face learning.

Weddings, funerals and places of worship

· One person per 2 sqm for weddings with dancing permitted and eating and drinking allowed while standing

· One person per 2 sqm for funerals

· Churches and places of worship can operate with one person per 2 sqm, with singing permitted. Travel

· Domestic travel, including trips between Greater Sydney and Regional NSW

· Caravan parks and camping grounds can operate

· Carpooling is permitted

· Quarantine settings for vaccinated arrivals will be altered. A cap on unvaccinated travellers may remain.

Masks

· Masks wearing will be mandatory while travelling on public transport, on planes and at airports, and for front-of-house hospitality workers

· Mask wearing is not required when outdoors. For further information about the Reopening NSW roadmap, go to www.nsw.gov.au/COVID-19.

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