New South Wales has reached 70% double-dose vaccination coverage of the adult population and, as a result, fully vaccinated residents can come out of lockdown.
The new freedoms introduced on Monday include having visitors to the home, going to restaurants and bars, and the reopening of most retail and service businesses – including barbers and hairdressers.
New NSW premier Dominic Perrottet has announced significant changes to the original roadmap out of lockdown that was announced by his predecessor Gladys Berejiklian at the beginning of September, giving fully-vaccinated residents greater freedoms than first planned.
Importantly, unvaccinated people are left entirely out of the first wave of freedoms. And unvaccinated residents in some parts of regional NSW currently not in lockdown will be subject to restrictions from Monday.
The new rules apply to anyone over 16. Children under 16 who aren’t yet vaccinated can attend places that have reopened, provided they are accompanied by an adult from their household who is fully vaccinated. Unvaccinated adults with a valid medical exemption will also enjoy the freedoms.
A return for schools has been brought forward, with kindergarten and years 1 and 12 returning from 18 October, with all remaining students to return by 25 October.
Here are all the freedoms that only fully vaccinated people in NSW gain from Monday 11 October, as well as when the state hits 80% double vaccination coverage, and from 1 December.
Stage one – Monday 11 October
Visiting homes is allowed
Up to 10 visitors, double the previously announced limit of five, can gather at another person’s home, but all adults who ordinarily live in the household must be fully vaccinated. Children under 12 won’t be counted towards that limit.
Outdoor gatherings increase
Up to 30 people can gather outdoors. They will all have to be vaccinated. That’s an increase of 10 from the previous cap.
Pubs, restaurants and cafes reopen
Hospitality businesses can reopen under the one person per 4 sq metres rule indoors, and one person per 2 sq metres for outdoors.
Up to 20 people will be allowed per booking, and people under 16 who are unvaccinated can also attend hospitality venues, but must be accompanied by a fully vaccinated member of their household.
Masks and QR code check ins are required indoors, but not in outdoor hospitality settings.
Standing up and drinking inside the pub – known in health bureaucrat speak as “vertical consumption” – will not be allowed until 80% vaccination coverage is reached. But if the venue has an outdoor section, patrons can stand up and drink in that area from 11 October.
Retail shops reopen
Stores can reopen to vaccinated customers only with a capacity limit of one person per 4 sq metres. Masks and QR codes will still be required.
Unvaccinated people will continue to only be able to access critical retail, like supermarkets and pharmacies.
Hairdressers and nail salons reopen
Personal services will open with one person per 4 sq metres, capped at five clients per premises at any one time. When 80% vaccine coverage is reached, the cap will be removed, but the same density limit will apply.
Gyms, pools and sporting facilities reopen
These facilities will open under the one person per 4 sq metres rule and can offer classes for up to 20 people.
Both outdoor and indoor pools will open, however the latter will only be accessible for lessons, lap swimming and rehabilitation activities, not recreation.
Community sport isn’t allowed to restart just yet.
Events and entertainment return
Theme parks, racecourses, stadiums and other major recreation facilities are reopening with the one person per 4 sq metres rule, capped at 5,000 people. Up to 500 people can attend ticketed and seated outdoor events.
Cinemas, theatres, museums and libraries reopen
Entertainment and information facilities are reopening, under the one person per 4 sq metres rule and a 75% fixed seating capacity.
More guests for weddings, funerals and places of worship
These services can now operate with up to 100 guests, with dancing permitted at weddings and eating and drinking only while seated.
Up to 100 people can now attend funerals, with the same eating and drinking rules.
Places of worship will reopen subject to the one person per 4 sq metres rule, with singing only permitted for performers. There will be a 10 person limit on choirs, and all performers will have to be fully vaccinated.
Travel outside your LGA
People in Sydney no longer have to follow the 5km radius rule, and can travel within greater Sydney (including Central Coast, Wollongong, Shellharbour and the Blue Mountains).
Residents of regional LGAs can travel to other areas, but cannot enter Sydney for holidays.
Sydneysiders can not travel regionally, after the NSW government pushed back this freedom to the second stage of reopening.
Carpooling is allowed again, and caravan parks can now reopen.
Stage two – 80% vaccination
Visitors to homes increase
Up to 20 visitors will be able to gather at another person’s home, but all adults who ordinarily live in the household must be fully vaccinated. Children under 12 won’t be counted towards that limit.
Outdoor gatherings increase again
Up to 50 people will be allowed to gather outdoors. They will all have to be vaccinated.
Pubs, restaurants and cafes’ rules further eased
Patrons will be able to stand up and drink while indoors at a venue, and masks will no longer need to be worn indoors.
The same density limits apply – one person per 4 sq metres rule indoors, and one person per 2 sq metres for outdoors.
Up to 20 people will still be allowed per booking, and people under 16 who are unvaccinated can also attend hospitality venues, but must be accompanied by a fully vaccinated member of their household.
Indoor masks scrapped
Masks will no longer have to be worn indoors for fully vaccinated people, both in retail and hospitality settings as well as in offices.
Nightclubs reopen
However, they will have to operate like a bar. Dancing will be banned, with patrons only allowed to drink while seated.
No change to retail
Stores can reopen to vaccinated customers only with a capacity limit of one person per 4 sq metres.
Unvaccinated people will continue to only be able to access critical retail, like supermarkets and pharmacies.
Hairdressers and nail salons uncapped
The cap of five clients per premises at any one time will be scrapped. Personal services will still have to comply with the one person per 4 sq metres rule.
Community sport resumes
Community sport will be allowed to restart, while the density rule of one person per 4 sq metres remains for gyms, classes still capped at 20. Indoor pools still only open for organised sport or rehabilitation, not recreation.
Events and entertainment limits increase
Theme parks, race courses, stadiums and other major recreation facilities will reopen with the one person per 4 sq metres rule, capped at 5,000 people. Up to 3000 people can attend ticketed and seated outdoor events.
Cinemas, theatres, museums and libraries open
Entertainment and information facilities remain open under the one person per 4 sq metres rule or a 75% fixed seating capacity, whichever is larger.
Eased rules for weddings and funerals
Weddings guests will now be allowed to eat and drink while standing. The cap of 100 guests remains.
Up to 100 people can attend funerals, with the same eating and drinking rules. Those who are not fully vaccinated may only attend funerals with a maximum of 10 people.
Places of worship will be subject to the same rules. Those who are not fully vaccinated will be allowed.
Travel restrictions lift
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 members of their household.
Third stage – 1 December rules for vaccinated and unvaccinated
No gathering caps
There will be no limit on how many visitors can enter a household, and there will be no limits on informal outdoor gatherings.
Eased rules for shops and hospitality, entertainment venues
Retail, entertainment venues, personal services such as hairdressers and spas, and hospitality venues can all operate subject to one person per 2 square metres, with no patron caps.
Nightclubs, amusement centres and intimate services can open with one person per 4 sq metres. Dancing can resume at nightclubs.
Major recreation outdoor facilities including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can operate with one person per 2 sq m.
Greater density for gyms
Gyms and indoor recreation facilities, including indoor pools, can operate with uncapped capacities in line with the one person per 2 sq metres density rule.
Weddings, funerals and places of worship rules eased
Caps on guests will will be abandoned, with a blanket rule of one person per 2 sq metres in place. Singing will be permitted in places of worship.
