There was some great news early this week with further details on NSW’s roadmap for easing restrictions for fully vaccinated people.
We know stay-at-home orders will be lifted for fully vaccinated adults when NSW reaches the 70 percent double dose vaccination target (Stage 1), which is expected from 11 October. From the Monday after NSW hits the 80 percent target (end of October), restrictions will be eased for those who are fully vaccinated:
- Up to 10 visitors will be allowed in a home (not including those 12 and under),
- Community sports will be permitted,
- Retail stores can operate at one person per 4 square metre (those who are not fully vaccinated will continue to only have access to non-critical retail via click-and-collect),
- Personal services such as hairdressers, spa, nail, beauty, waxing and tattoo can operate with one person per 4 square metre, with no 5 person cap,
- Unrestricted trips between Greater Sydney and Regional NSW will be permitted.
This will be in addition to restrictions eased from 11 October:
- Hospitality venues can operate with one person per 4 square metre inside and one person per 2 square metre outside,
- Gyms and indoor recreation facilities (excluding indoor pools) can operate with one person per 4 square metre, capped at 20 people per class,
- Major recreation outdoor facilities including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can operate with one person per 4 square metre, capped at 5,000 people,
- Entertainment facilities (including cinemas, theatres, music halls) can operate with one person per 4 square metre or 75 percent fixed seated capacity (whichever is larger),
- Information and education facilities (including libraries, galleries and museums) can operate with one person per 4 square metre,
- Masks will remain mandatory for all indoor premises and settings, except for children under 12,
- Only hospitality staff will be required to wear a mask while outdoors.
Read more: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/freedoms-for-fully-vaccinated-people
From 1 December stay-at-home orders will be lifted for everyone.
This is great news, giving certainty to our communities about the way forward.
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Last week saw the much awaited opening of the Western Cancer Centre here in Dubbo, bringing life-saving services much closer to home for people in regional and remote areas of Western NSW.
The Western Cancer Centre Dubbo includes 16 chemotherapy spaces, doubling the capacity, as well as new consultation room and wellness space to provide support and well-being services to patients and their families. And, for the first time, Dubbo Hospital will have a PET CT scanner for advanced diagnostic services and radiation therapy.
The Western Cancer Centre will allow cancer patients to stay closer to their loved ones during treatment, providing the quality care and support that regional people need and deserve.
I’m really proud we’ve been able to deliver this once-in-a-generation health infrastructure project for Western NSW, which will provide the latest treatment and diagnostic services, and new health services for the region.