Narrabri Shire will come out of an almost five-week lockdown today.

Speaking at a state COVID-19 update today, Deputy Premier John Barilaro announced that the stay at home orders in place for the Narrabri Shire, as well as Bega Valley, Blayney, Bogan, Cabonne, Dungog, Forbes, Muswellbrook, Narrabri, Parkes, Singleton, Snowy Monaro and Upper Hunter Shire local government areas, would be lifted from 1pm today.

“I encourage everyone in those 12 LGAs which are coming out of lockdown to enjoy their freedoms in a responsible and COVIDSafe way and I urge everyone to get vaccinated as soon as you can, so you can continue to enjoy freedoms when NSW reaches the 70 per cent double dose target,” Mr Barilaro said.

That announcement comes after NSW Nationals Upper House MP Sam Farraway confirmed last night that the Narrabri Shire was one of several LGAs across the Central West and Western NSW under review to have their lockdowns lifted.

Narrabri Shire mayor Ron Campbell describes the announcement as “fantastic news”.

“I’m sure a huge relief for everyone in the Narrabri Shire,” mayor Campbell said.

“This result is directly attributed to you – the community. We were given the criteria that would assist in having our situation taken into consideration and together, we have followed those requirements that have resulted in this fantastic outcome.”

The following freedoms are now available to all people in regional LGAs where stay-at-home orders have been lifted:

Gatherings in the home and public spaces:

  • Up to five visitors will be allowed in a home (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.
  • 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.

Schools:

  • Schools will re-open with Level 3 COVIDSafe measures in place.

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:

  • Caravan parks and camping grounds can open.
  • Carpooling will be permitted.

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.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Brad Hazzard announced today that NSW had recorded 1,351 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, taking the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic is 48,152.

One of those cases is in Gunnedah, however, a lockdown has not been announced for Gunnedah today.

There have been 42,511 locally acquired cases reported in NSW since June 16, when the first case in the current outbreak was reported.

There were 12 deaths of people with COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. There have been 210 COVID-19 related deaths in NSW since June 16, and 266 in total since the start of the pandemic.

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