The rapid rate of second dose vaccinations means next Monday, October 18, is firming as the day the Reopening NSW Roadmap’s 80 per cent settings will come into effect for those who are fully vaccinated.
Community sport will resume, more friends and family will be reunited, and there will no longer be a cap on guests at weddings and funerals. Masks will also no longer be required in offices, and drinking while standing and dancing will be permitted indoors and outdoors at hospitality venues.
From November 1, bookings for hospitality venues will no longer be capped.
Also from November 1, the NSW Government will remove quarantine requirements and caps for overseas arrivals who the Commonwealth Government recognises as fully vaccinated with a TGA-approved vaccine, helping Australians stranded abroad get home before the end of the year.
Travel between Greater Sydney (including the Blue Mountains, Wollongong, Shellharbour and the Central Coast) and Regional NSW will also be permitted from November 1, to allow people in the regions more time to receive their second vaccine.
To support regional businesses likely to be impacted by this change, the government will defer the second taper of the JobSaver program until October 31. Eligible regional businesses will receive 30 per cent of weekly payroll, before tapering payments to the scheduled 15 per cent from November 1.
Deputy Premier Paul Toole said it was a tough decision to delay travel between Regional NSW and Greater Sydney, but by November 1, it’s expected more than 77 per cent of regional Local Government Areas will be fully vaccinated.
“Everyone has done a brilliant job of getting vaccinated and rates are rising fast; however we have looked at the health modelling and listened to feedback from regional communities who want more time to get their double dose vaccination rates up as high as possible before they welcome back visitors,” Mr Toole said.
“We know businesses in regional NSW were getting ready to welcome people back, but it’s important we get this right so that we can have greater confidence the vaccines will do their job – and that when we re-open travel to the regions, they can remain open and that businesses have continued support in the meantime. We thank people for their patience.”
NSW residents will still need to comply with COVID-Safe check-ins and provide proof of vaccination to staff in most settings.
More restrictions will be relaxed on December 1, as previously announced in the Reopening NSW Roadmap.
For the latest information and to view the 80 per cent Roadmap and lifting of restrictions, visit nsw.gov.au
