Lockdown 1

Everything You Can Do Once NSW Hits 80% Vaccinated

The NSW Government has outlined our new ‘Roadmap to Freedom’, detailing the pathway out of lockdown and the transition to normality. For most New South Wales residents, the 80% double dose figure has been the golden number that is set to unlock the state and see familiar activities back on the cards. But just what can you do once NSW hits 80% vaccinated?

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New sydney restrictions

The Roadmap to Freedom

In mid-September, NSW Premier Gladys Berejilkian unveiled a three-stage roadmap that promised to provide new freedoms in line with vaccination targets. Under the current trajectory, the state is expected to reach the 80% double-dose vaccination milestone before the end of October. The figure had originally been slated as 70%, however, Premier Berejiklian revised the target.

What You Can Do

As outlined in the Roadmap to Freedom, some activities that have previously been out of reach will be allowed once NSW hits 80% fully vaccinated. At this stage, fully vaccinated residents will be able to travel anywhere freely in New South Wales and stand up and drink at a pub. Unvaccinated people will be able to attend places of worship and some other activities. Here is what you can do in NSW once the 80% fully vaccinated milestone is achieved:

Activity At 80% From December 1
Travel Unrestricted trips between Greater Sydney and Regional NSW Domestic travel, altered quarantine setting for international arrivals
Visitors Up to 10 people in a home (excluding children <12) No limit
Gatherings Up to 20 people in outdoor settings No limit
Masks Mandatory for all indoor premises and settings On public transport, on planes and at airports, for front-of-house hospitality workers
Events Up to 200 people at COVIDSafe events, up to 500 people at controlled, ticketed events COVID Safe plan required for outdoor events with more than 1,000 people
Community Sport Permitted Permitted
Retail One person per 4 sqm. (Non-vaccinated people can access non-critical retail via click-and-collect only) One person per 2 sqm
Personal Services One person per 4 sqm One person per 2 sqm
Hospitality One person per 4 sqm inside and one person per 2 sqm outside, seated consumption, up to 20 people per booking One person per 2 sqm
Gyms & Indoor Recreation One person per 4 sqm, capped at 20 people per class One person per 2 sqm
Major Outdoor Recreation One person per 4 sqm, capped at 5000 people One person per 2 sqm
Entertainment One person per 4 sqm or 75 per cent fixed seated capacity (whichever is larger) One person per 2 sqm
Nightclubs Closed One person per 4 sqm
Weddings One person per 4sqm (uncapped) with dancing permitted and eating and drinking allowed while standing One person per 2 sqm
Funerals One person per 4sqm (uncapped) One person per 2 sqm

Lockdown

When Will the Restrictions Be Lifted?

As outlined by the NSW Premier, certain restrictions will be lifted once the state hits the 80% double dose vaccination target. The state is expected to reach the 70% double dose mark on October 11, with Premier Berejiklian announcing she expects the 80% mark to be reached around October 24. At that point, authorities will announce the new freedoms will be enacted, expected to arrive on the Monday following the 80% target. Four or five weeks after the 80% mark is hit, Ms Berejiklian expects NSW will reach 90% double dose.

Further to that, the NSW Government has also revealed that as of December 1, additional freedoms will be granted. These will include all venues moving to the two-square-metre rule, indoor pools and nightclubs reopening and masks no longer required indoors at offices. Most importantly, unvaccinated people will have greater freedoms at this mark.

“If you are not vaccinated you will have to wait at least four or five weeks after we’ve already hit the 80 per cent double dose rate in order to participate in things that the rest of us can participate in,” Premier Berejiklian said in a statement.

What About Non-Vaccinated People?

As stipulated in the Roadmap to Freedom, unvaccinated people in NSW are set to receive the same freedoms that vaccinated people will, albeit a little later. From December 1, unvaccinated people will be able to do the following activities in NSW:

  • Go to the pub or a restaurant
  • Travel within NSW
  • Visit their family – There will be no limit on the number of people allowed in a home.

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General FAQs

When are pubs reopening in NSW?

According to the NSW Government, pubs and restaurants will reopen to the public once the 80 per cent double dose vaccination target has been met. This is expected to happen before the end of October.

When will regional travel start in NSW?

According to the NSW Government, if you are fully-vaccinated you will be able to travel anywhere in NSW once the 80 per cent double dose vaccination target has been met. This is expected to happen before the end of October. For unvaccinated people, this will be allowed from December 1.

Will masks be mandatory once lockdown is over?

Once the 80 per cent double dose vaccination target has been met and new freedoms are enacted, masks will still be mandatory or all indoor premises and settings. From December 1, masks will be mandatory on public transport, on planes and at airports, for front-of-house hospitality workers.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Nick Hall

Nick Hall is the Editor-in-Chief of Man of Many and an accomplished journalist. He completed a Bachelor of Creative Industries at the Queensland University of Technology, with a double major in Journalism and Music. Prior to working at Man of Many, Nick spent two years as a journalist with Inside Franchise Business, focusing on small business, finance and legal reporting. In 2021, Nick was named B&T's Best of the Best Journalist of the Year. With an extensive background in the media industry, Nick specialises in feature writing, fashion, lifestyle and entertainment content. A qualified barber and men's stylist, Nick also holds a Cert III in Barbering from the Queensland Hairdressing Academy.