There are a number of key changes to the “Re-opening NSW Roadmap”, which will see fully vaccinated adults enjoying more freedoms from next Monday 11 October.
WHERE AND HOW TO GET YOUR COVID-19 VACCINATION
The changes to the 70% roadmap will allow:
- up to 10 visitors (not counting children 12 and under) to a home (previously five)
- the cap lifted on outdoor gatherings to 30 people (previously 20)
- the cap increased 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
On the Monday after NSW clears the 80% double vaccination rate more restrictions will be relaxed, including:
- up to 20 visitors (excluding children 12 and under) to a home (previously 10)
- up to 50 people will be allowed to gather outdoors (previously 20)
- Up to 3,000 people will be allowed to attend controlled and ticketed outdoor events (previously 500)
- nightclubs will be permitted to reopen for seated drinking only (no dancing)
- masks will no longer be required in office buildings.
All roadmap freedoms at 70 and 80 per cent will continue to be for fully vaccinated people only.
SCHOOL UPDATE
All school students will now return to on site learning with a range of COVID-safe measures in place by October 25, with the second and third stages of the return to school plan now combined. 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.
Support and guidance for businesses and workplaces: www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/businesses-and-employment/covid-safe-business
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NEW PUBLIC HEALTH ADVICE FOR NSW REOPENING
New public health advice sets out how NSW will continue to tackle COVID-19 as the state begins to reopen when it reaches the 70 per cent double dose vaccination target.
Some of the key public health advice for the general community will be:
- Everyone, vaccinated and not vaccinated, is urged to get tested if you have any symptoms of COVID-19 and immediately self-isolate until a negative result is received.
- Whether you are vaccinated or not vaccinated, if you test positive for COVID-19 you must self-isolate for 14 days.
- Close contacts in the community will include household members of positive cases and close social contacts of positive cases, such as partners and friends, who you spent time in close proximity with, even if fully vaccinated. Anyone may also be assessed as a being a close contact following a risk assessment, including at workplaces, high-risk settings, such as healthcare and aged care, and other specific settings such as schools and child care centres, or where an outbreak has been identified.
- If you are a close contact of a positive case and vaccinated, you must get tested and self-isolate for seven days. On day six after exposure, you must get tested again. If a negative result is received and you are well, you can end isolation after day seven. For the following seven days you must work from home where practicable, not attend hospitality settings, and not attend a high-risk settings even if it is your place of work.
- If you are a close contact of a positive case and not vaccinated you must get tested and immediately self-isolate for 14 days. On day 12, you should get tested again. If a negative result is received, you can end isolation after day 14.
- The Service NSW QR code check-in system will remain in place in the general community. This system will be used to notify people who were in the same venue as a positive case. People will be asked to monitor for symptoms and get tested if they become unwell. Other settings, including schools, workplaces and high-risk settings, such as healthcare and aged care, will have specific risk assessment approaches.
- People aged 16 years and over will only be allowed entry into some venues or settings if fully vaccinated, along with people with exemptions. In some venues, children under 16 will have to be accompanied by a fully vaccinated member of their household to enter. This includes hospitality venues, non-critical retail stores, personal services, sporting, recreation and entertainment facilities and events. Critical retail such as supermarkets and pharmacies will still be accessible to those not fully vaccinated. There are several options to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or exemption.
Some of the key public health advice for the business community will be:
- If a staff member tests positive, whether they are vaccinated or not vaccinated, they must self-isolate for 14 days and follow the advice from NSW Health. Businesses will refer to their COVID-19 Safety Plan and risk assessment approach for further instructions on notifying other staff.
- Businesses must inform NSW Health if three or more employees test positive for COVID-19 in a seven-day period.
- NSW Health guidelines will enable businesses to assess workplace risk if a COVID-19 case is identified and confirm actions to be taken.
- Businesses can reduce the risk of closure or staff going into isolation by implementing rigorous COVID-19 Safety Plans. Other proactive steps businesses can take include ensuring staff are vaccinated and implementing regular onsite testing programs for workers.
With respect to vaccination compliance and obligations:
- Businesses will be responsible for taking reasonable measures to stop unvaccinated people entering premises. For example, having prominent signs stating requirements, Service NSW QR codes, staff checking vaccination status upon entry and only accepting valid forms of evidence of vaccination.
- Authorised officers will monitor businesses re-opening, particularly those that have vaccination requirements, for example hospitality, retail, gyms, and personal services (e.g. hair, beauty).
- Penalties may apply for individuals and businesses who don’t comply. On the spot fines of $1,000 may apply to individuals for not complying, or for using fraudulent evidence of vaccination or check-in. On the spot fines of $5,000 may apply to businesses for not complying with the Public Health Order vaccination requirements. Further penalties may apply for significant breaches.
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Stage 1 – 70% (~11 October 2021)
Gatherings in the home and public spaces:
- Up to 10 visitors will be allowed in a home where all adults are vaccinated (not including children 12 and under) (previously 5)
- Up to 30 people can gather in outdoor settings (previously 20)
Venues including hospitality, retail stores and gyms
- Hospitality venues can reopen subject to 1 person per 4 square metres inside and 1 person per 2 square metres outside, with standing while drinking permitted outside,
- Retail stores can reopen under the 1 person per 4 square metres rule (unvaccinated people will continue to only be able to access critical retail),
- Personal services (such as hairdressers, spa, nail, beauty, waxing, tattoo and massage) can open with 1 person per 4 square metres, capped at 5 clients per premises,
- Gyms and indoor recreation facilities can open under the 1 person per 4 square metres rule and can offer classes for up to 20 people,
- Sporting facilities including swimming pools can reopen
- Indoor pools will also be re-opened for swimming lessons, squad training, lap swimming, and rehab activities
Travel
- Travel between regional areas will be permitted,
- Caravan parks and camping grounds can open,
- Carpooling will be permitted.
Weddings, funerals and places of worship
- Up to 100 guests can attend weddings, with dancing permitted, and eating and drinking only while seated (previously 50)
- Up to 100 guests can attend funerals, with eating and drinking while seated (previously 50)
- Churches and places of worship to open subject to 1 person per 4 square metres, with no singing.
Stadiums, theatres and major outdoor recreation facilities
- Major recreation outdoor facilities including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can reopen with 1 person per 4 square metres, capped at 5000 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 1 person per 4 square metres, or 75% fixed seated capacity.
Masks
- Masks will remain mandatory for all indoor public venues, including public transport, front-of-house hospitality, retail and business premises, on planes, and at airports,
- Only hospitality staff will be required to wear a mask when outdoors,
- Children aged under 12 will not need to wear a mask indoors.
Gatherings in the home and outdoor public spaces
- Up to 20 visitors will be allowed in a home (not including children 12 and under) (previously 10)
- Up to 50 people can continue to gather in unregulated outdoor settings (previously 20)
- Up to 200 people can attend COVID Safe events
- Up to 3,000 people will be allowed to attend controlled and ticketed outdoor events (previously 500)
- Community sport permitted
- Those who are not fully vaccinated may only gather outdoors in groups of 2 people.
Venues including hospitality, retail stores and gyms
- Retail stores can operate at one person per 4 sqm (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, tattoo and massage) can operate with one person per 4 sqm (uncapped)
- Hospitality venues can operate with one person per 4 sqm inside and one person per 2 sqm outside, with the requirement to be seated while drinking indoors removed. Group bookings will be limited to 20 people. Those who are not fully vaccinated can only access hospitality settings for takeaway
- Gyms and indoor recreation facilities can operate with one person per 4sqm, capped at 20 people per class
- nightclubs will be permitted to reopen for seated drinking only (no dancing)
Major outdoor recreation facilities
- Major recreation outdoor facilities including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can operate with one person per 4 sqm, capped at 5,000 people (or by exemption). Entertainment, information and education facilities
- Entertainment facilities (including cinemas, theatres, music halls) can operate with one person per 4 sqm 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 sqm
- Amusement centres and nightclubs will remain closed.
Working from home
- Employers must continue to allow employees to work from home, if reasonably practicable
- Employers must require employees who are not fully vaccinated to work from home, if reasonably practicable.
- Return to school with COVID Safe measures on 25 October (as previously announced).
Weddings, funerals and places of worship
- One person per 4sqm (uncapped) for weddings with dancing permitted and eating and drinking allowed while standing. Those who are not fully vaccinated may only attend weddings with a maximum of 5 guests (no receptions)
- One person per 4 sqm (uncapped) for funerals. Those who are not fully vaccinated may only attend funerals with a maximum of 10 people
- Churches and places of worship can continue to open with one person per 4 sqm, with no singing. Those who are not fully vaccinated will be allowed.
Travel
- Unrestricted trips between Greater Sydney and Regional NSW will be permitted
- Caravan parks and camping grounds can operate, including for those who are not fully vaccinated
- Carpooling is permitted. Those who are not fully vaccinated can only carpool with their household.
Masks
- masks will no longer be required in office buildings
- masks will remain mandatory for all other indoor premises and settings, except children under 12
- Only hospitality staff will be required to wear a mask while outdoors
Stage 3 – 1 December 2021 (estimated 90+%)
(The following settings will apply to all NSW citizens, regardless of their vaccination status)
Gatherings in the home and outdoor 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,
- Community sport permitted for all 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 2 square metres,
- Information and education facilities (including libraries, museums and galleries) can operate with one person per 2 square metres,
- Amusements centres and nightclubs can open with one person per 4 square metres.
Working from home
- Working from home will be at employer-‘s discretion.
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,
- Quarantine settings for vaccinated arrivals will be altered. A cap on unvaccinated travellers may remain.
Masks
- Masks wearing will be mandatory while travelling on public transport, on planes and at airports, and for front-of-house hospitality workers,
- Mask wearing is not required when outdoors.