The NSW Government has released a new COVID-19 Freedom Roadmap to support the safe return to weddings, events and gatherings by providing guidance on how guests at weddings and events can safely attend these important social occasions.
The NSW government has revealed the much-anticipated plan for people who are vaccinated against COVID-19. This is what you need to know when NSW reaches our dose vaccination targets.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This information has been recently updated.
To view the latest COVID-19 news, visit: COVID Update: Major Changes To The NSW Roadmap.
When are the stages of reopening taking effect?
Berejiklian believes stage one roadmap to freedom will come into effect from the 11th October 2021, and that based on current vaccination rates, 80% Double-Dose Covid Vaccination needs to be achieved to enter the second stage of reopening about two weeks later, on the 25th October 2021.
The third and final stage, including for unvaccinated people, will occur from the 1st December 2021, regardless of vaccination rate, however Berejiklian said she hopes for a rate of 90% by this time.
Source: theguardian.com
At 80% Double-Dose Covid Vaccination the following rules will apply only to fully vaccinated people.
Gatherings at home and outdoors
You can have up to 10 visitors will be allowed in a home (not including children 12 and under)
Up to 20 people will be able to gather in unregulated outdoor settings (like parks).
A limit of 200 people can attend COVID-safe events
500 people can attend controlled (ticketed and seated) major events.
Personal services such as hairdressers, spa, nail, beauty, waxing, tattoo and massage can operate with one person per 4 square metres.
Hospitality venues can operate with one person per 4 square metres inside and one person per 2 square metres outside, with the requirement to be seated while drinking indoors removed. Group bookings will be limited to 20 people.
Gyms and indoor recreation facilities (excluding indoor pools) can operate with one person per 4 square metres, capped at 20 people per class (gyms will be allowed to open under these conditions from October 11)
Outdoor facilities
Major recreation outdoor facilities including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can operate with one person per 4 square metres, capped at 5,000 people (or more by exemption)
Entertainment, information and education facilities
Entertainment facilities including cinemas, theatres, music halls will be permitted to operate with one person per 4 square metres or 75 per cent fixed seated capacity (whichever is larger)
Information and education facilities (including libraries, galleries and museums) can operate with one person per 4 square metres.
Amusement centres and nightclubs will remain closed.
Weddings, funerals and places of worship
There will be no cap for gatherings at weddings but there must only be one person per 4 square metres. Dancing will be permitted and eating and drinking will be allowed while standing. Those who are not fully vaccinated may only attend weddings with a maximum capacity restriction of five guests (no receptions).
There will also be no caps for funerals but the one person per 4 square metres rule will apply. Those who are not fully vaccinated may only attend funerals with a maximum of 10 people
Following pressure from religious groups, the government has decided churches can welcome back anyone, regardless of vaccination status, once the state reaches 80 per cent vaccination coverage. However the one person per 4 square metres rule will apply and singing will be banned.
80 per cent roadmap will also remove the limit of fully vaccinated guests for weddings and funerals.
Regional travel
Unrestricted trips between Greater Sydney and regional NSW will be permitted
Caravan parks and camping grounds can operate
Carpooling is permitted. Those who are not fully vaccinated can only carpool with their household
Masks
Masks will remain mandatory for all indoor premises and settings, except for children under 12
Only hospitality staff required to wear a mask while outdoors.
Source: abc.net.au.
What Covid-19 restrictions will ease from 1 December, 2021?
On Wednesday 1 December, the following settings will apply to all NSW citizens, regardless of their vaccination status.
Gatherings in the home, outdoor events, and public spaces
No limit on the number of visitors to a home.
Density will shift to one person per 2 square metres for indoor and outdoor settings.
No limit on the number of people who can attend informal outdoor gatherings.
Covid-safe plan required for outdoor events with more than 1,000 people.
Venues including hospitality, retail stores and gyms
Retail stores can operate at one person per 2 square metres.
Personal services such as hairdressers, spa, nail, beauty, waxing, tattoo and massage can operate with one person per 2 square metres.
Hospitality venues can operate with one person per 2 square metres inside and outside, with no seating required for eating and drinking.
Gyms and indoor recreation facilities, including indoor pools, can operate with one person per 2 square metres (uncapped).
Intimate services can open with one person per 4 square metres.
Major outdoor recreation facilities
Major recreation outdoor facilities including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can operate with one person per 2 square metres.
Entertainment, information and education facilities
Entertainment facilities (including cinemas, theatres, music halls) can operate with one person per square metres.
Information and education facilities (including libraries, museums and galleries) can operate with one person per 2 square metres.
Amusement centres and nightclubs can open with one person per 4 square metres.
Weddings, funerals and places of worship
One person per 2 square metres for weddings with dancing permitted and eating and drinking allowed while standing.
One person per 2 square metres for funerals.
Churches and places of worship can operate with one person per 2 square metres, with singing permitted.
Travel
Domestic travel, including trips between greater Sydney and regional NSW.
Caravan parks and camping grounds can operate.
Quarantine conditions for vaccinated arrivals to be updated. A cap on unvaccinated travellers may remain.
Masks
Mask-wearing will be mandatory while travelling on public transport, on planes and at airports, and for front-of-house hospitality workers.
Mask wearing will not be required when outdoors.
Source: theguardian.com.
Download the COVID-19 Road To Recovery Fact sheet here.
Questions
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Useful Links
- Roadmap to freedom unveiled for the fully vaccinated – Stay-at-home orders for adults who have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will be lifted from the Monday after NSW passes the 70% double vaccination target, under the roadmap to freedom released today. (nsw.gov.au)
- NSW Covid-19 Restrictions Eased for Weddings: 70 percent double dose plan – The roadmap for Weddings and Events will see Dancing and singing will be allowed again at wedding receptions and events across Greater Sydney once 70 percent double dose vaccination is reached.. (evententertainers.com.au)
- Everything you need to know about NSW’s new COVID freedoms – The NSW government has revealed the freedoms people who are vaccinated against COVID-19, and those who are not, will get back before the end of the year. This is what you need to know. (abc.net.au)
- Roadmap to recovery reveals path forward for all NSW – NSW has a clear path to follow out of the pandemic and lockdowns, with the roadmap for easing restrictions at the 80 per cent double dose target revealing a brighter future for the community. (nsw.gov.au)
- NSW’s roadmap explained: What you can and can’t do once the state hits 80 and 90 per cent fully vaccinated – New South Wales residents will be able to travel freely and unvaccinated residents will be granted new free… (9news.com.au)
- NSW Covid roadmap explained: what can residents do when state reaches 80% double-dose vaccination and beyond? – Here’s what we know about the next two stages of reopening in New South Wales (theguardian.com)
- COUNTDOWN TO FREEDOM: When Sydneysiders can return to the pubs – A much-anticipated three-phase plan out of lockdown has been unveiled by the NSW premier. (7news.com.au)
- EXPLAINED: NSW’s three stage plan to freedom – NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has unveiled what life will look like after the state reaches its 80 per cent double-dose vaccination milestone. (skynews.com.au)
- NSW freedom roadmap: Here’ details of what you can do from 11 October, 1 December and in between – Australia Today – 80 per cent roadmap will also remove the limit of fully vaccinated guests for weddings and funerals, and remove customer caps for personal services such as hairdressers (theaustraliatoday.com.au)
- Flaws in the NSW government’s Roadmap to Freedom – The NSW Roadmap to Freedom for the fully vaccinated has a serious discrepancy regarding weddings and funerals To quote relevant sections from the media release Hospitality venues can reopen subject… (specialevents.com.au)
