Premier announces changes to state’s COVID-19 re-opening roadmap

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet announced a raft of changes to the state’s COVID-19 re-opening roadmap this morning.

NSW will take its first steps towards reopening on Monday after passing the 70 per cent double vaccination target yesterday.

With that first vaccination milestone being reached, the NSW Government is also easing a number of restrictions as part of the re-opening NSW roadmap, which will allow fully vaccinated adults to enjoy more freedoms from next week.

The changes to the 70 per cent roadmap will allow up to 10 visitors (not counting children 12 and under) to a home (previously five), lift the cap on outdoor gatherings to 30 people (previously 20), and increase the cap for weddings and funerals to 100 people (previously 50).

Indoor pools will also be re-opened for swimming lessons, squad training, lap swimming, and rehab activities.

Further restrictions will be relaxed on the Monday after the state clears the 80 per cent double vaccination hurdle.

People will be able to have up to 20 visitors (excluding children 12 and under) to a home, and up to 50 people will be allowed to gather outdoors.

Up to 3000 people will be allowed to attend controlled and ticketed outdoor events (previously 500), nightclubs will be permitted to reopen for seated drinking only, and masks will no longer be required in office buildings.

The Premier stressed that all roadmap freedoms at 70 and 80 per cent will continue to be for fully vaccinated people only.

School students will now return to on-site learning with a range of COVID-safe measures in place by October 25. Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 12 students will still return to face-to-face learning on October 18, with all other years now returning one week later on October 25.

The Premier said the common-sense changes would help life return to normal as soon as possible.

“Vaccinations are the key to life returning to normal and the changes today will help family and friends reconnect, get kids back to school and get businesses back up and running sooner,” Mr Perrottet said.

“NSW is putting in the hard yards and it’s important people continue to turn out in droves to be vaccinated.”

Deputy Premier Paul Toole said workers in regional areas who have received one vaccination dose will be permitted to return to their workplace from October 11 and will be given a grace period until November 1 to receive their second dose. Those regional areas are those outside Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Wollongong, Shellharbour and the Central Coast.

“This move ensures we get businesses in the regions re-open and local economies buzzing again. It’s about ensuring we make this a roadmap that works for everyone,” Mr Toole said.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said NSW residents 12-years-old and over have led the charge to get vaccinated.

“Getting to 70 per cent double dose is a badge of honour for every fully vaccinated NSW citizen to wear proudly but we can do so much more and 90 per cent is within our grasp,” Mr Hazzard said.