New roadmap to reopening

PREMIER Perrottet has announced a new roadmap for reopening, with further easing of restrictions.

The state has reached 70 percent double vaccination rate and the easing of restrictions will start on October 11.

In regional areas, due to issues in accessing vaccinations, workers will be able to return to work with just one vaccination, with their second to have been administered before November 1. Regional areas are defined as outside Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Wollongong, Shellharbour and the Central Coast.

The Minister for Education stipulated that any teachers who return, must be fully vaccinated by October 18, but did not specify if this applied to regional areas or only metropolitan areas. Further clarification is being sought on how schools will return in regional areas which are not in lockdown currently and have already returned to school and areas currently such as Muswellbrook,which is in lockdown.

The easing of restrictions at 70 and 80 percent will be for fully vaccinated people only, with easing for restrictions lifting for unvaccinated people on December 1.

At 70 percent on Monday:

• Swimming pools (including indoor) will be open for organised activities such as swimming lessons, lap training and rehabilitation exercise classes;
• Visitors to the home – will double to 10 (not including children under 12);
• Outdoor gatherings – will be 30 (previously 20);
• Weddings – will increase to 100 (instead of 50);
• Funerals – will increase to 100 (instead of 50);
• Update: Please read Covid: Weddings and Funerals;
• Unvaccinated people will be able to attend weddings and funerals;
• Schools – all schools will return on October 25 – please note schools in the Upper Hunter Shire are already open as we are no longer in lockdown. Clarification is being sought as to if Muswellbrook and areas in lockdown will have the staggered approach.

On the Monday after we reach 80 percent, projected to be October 25:

• Visitors to the home – will be 20 (not including children under 12);
• Outdoor gatherings – will be 50 people (previously 20);
• Outdoor events – up to 3,000 can attend controlled and ticketed outdoor events (previously 500);
• Nightclubs – can reopen for seated drinking (no dancing);
• Masks – will no longer be required in offices, but teachers will still be required to wear masks.

At time of publication the NSW Health website had not been updated with the new roadmap, but will be updated here: NSW Health Roadmap Rules.