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 a “roadmap to freedom” unveiled by the New South Wales government yesterday and hailed by the accommodation industry.
The roadmap is subject to further fine-tuning and health advice if circumstances change drastically or if cases within a designated area remain too high, a statement said.
It will sharply divide those who have not been vaccinated from those who are fully vaccinated, a stance in line with that increasingly pursued by other jurisdictions globally, as well as by airlines, tour operators and prominent companies.
While NSW reels under the pandemic, with new cases of the Covid Delta variant running at over 1400 a day and the numbers likely to increase, Premier Gladys Berejiklian says residents of NSW are well on the way to hitting the 70% double dose vaccination milestone which will allow the state to open up for those who have received both doses of a Covid-19 vaccine.
“I cannot stress enough how important it is for people to get vaccinated – if you have not had both doses of the vaccine by the time we hit the 70% milestone, you will not be able to take advantage of these freedoms,” Berejiklian said.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the NSW Government had worked with industry to design the roadmap.
“Our roadmap outlines the freedoms that twice vaccinated people will enjoy once we reach 70% double dose which means a meal with loved ones or a drink with friends is just around the corner,” Barilaro said.
Estimates predict NSW will reach 70% double-dose vaccination (of over-16s) by about 19 October, although the date will recede if the vaccination rate slows. Ironically, mid-October is also when hospital admissions for Covid in NSW are projected to peak.
NSW recorded 1542 new locally acquired cases of Covid-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday night, 9 September. There are 1156 people currently in NSW hospitals suffering the effects of the disease, including 207 people in intensive care, 89 of whom are on ventilators.
Service NSW is developing an update to its QR check-in app that will display vaccination status when a user checks into a non-essential business, such as a pub or restaurant. Only fully vaccinated people will be allowed entry, though details are still being worked out. Software experts say the vaccination certificates currently in use are far too easy to forge and require additional security features like a digital signature (as used in the EU’s vaccine passports).
The Accommodation Association thanked the NSW Government “especially given the important lead-in timeframe which will allow hotels and motels to properly prepare”.
NSW country summer scene. Marulan Meats, Marulan, Southern Tablelands, NSW. Photo: © Peter Needham
The association said the NSW roadmap and the “very clear communication of the threshold trigger of 70% double vaccinated” plus the framework under which reopening would be delayed or restrictions reimposed, was exactly what the Association had been asking for on behalf of members and their teams.
“Our sector is one of the hardest hit and the fact that we now have a roadmap to reopening in NSW with clarity on what’s involved and when we are all able to start living and operating a bit more normally is very welcome,” Accommodation Association chief executive Dean Long said.
“Hotels and motels can’t just throw open their doors and open their rooms on the day restrictions lift. They need time to prepare, to bring back the team, to provision up and to put all the necessary systems in place to deliver the best and safest experience for guests and for staff.
“Getting back to a more normal life as soon as possible and as safely is possible is in all our interests so please get fully vaccinated as soon as possible and encourage those around you to do the same so that we hit that magic 70% threshold as soon as possible.”
Only fully vaccinated people and those with medical exemptions will have access to the freedoms allowed under the Reopening NSW roadmap.
The freedoms for vaccinated adults will come into effect on the Monday after NSW hits the 70% double dose target and include:
Gatherings in the home and public spaces
- Up to five visitors will be allowed in a home where all adults are vaccinated (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 (unvaccinated people will continue to only be able to access critical retail).
- 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.
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% fixed seated capacity.
For further details, see the Health NSW website here.
Written by Peter Needham
.jpg){kind=tracking}