Overview
Had two COVID-19 vaccinations? Been enjoying life out of lockdown, and all the eased rules that've been in place for double-jabbed Sydneysiders since mid-October? Then the past few weeks have probably felt like a dream compared to the almost four months under stay-at-home conditions immediately before it. And, come Monday, November 8, things for double-vaxxed New South Wales residents are going to get even better.
Under NSW's existing roadmap out of lockdown, the state's restrictions were set to ease again when summer hit. But today, Tuesday, November 2, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has announced that that next stage of relaxed rules is being brought forward by almost a month — but only for the double-vaccinated.
So, if you've rolled up your sleeves twice already, you'll soon be able to do more things in more places with more people. Feel like dancing to celebrate the news? That'll be permitted again, actually.
For the double-vaxxed, there'll also be no more limits on at-home gatherings — or on outdoor gatherings up to 1000 people.
And in venues, for the double-jabbed, density caps will move to one person per two-square-metres both inside and outdoors. That'll apply everywhere, including restaurants, bars, pubs and cafes, as well as theme parks, zoos, aquariums, stadiums, showgrounds and other major recreation facilities. And, it'll also cover entertainment and information facilities such as cinemas, theatres, musical halls, concert halls, dance halls, drive-in cinemas, art galleries and museums.
Indoor pools can reopen for all purposes for double-vaxxed patrons as well.
We're bringing forward our reopening roadmap for the double-vaccinated.
From next Monday, it means more friends and family at home, more capacity for hospitality venues, more people at events - more enjoying what makes NSW great. pic.twitter.com/qM1DD4aQMv
— Dom Perrottet (@Dom_Perrottet) November 2, 2021
"I want to thank everybody across New South Wales for the effort they have made in getting vaccinated," said the Premier, revealing the news. "We said from the outset that this was the key to be able, for our state to open up safely — and an extraordinary effort from every person across New South Wales has today allowed us to bring a number of changes forward from the roadmap from December 1, initially set out."
Perrottet's announcement comes after NSW's most recent set of eased restrictions were also brought forward and kicked in earlier, and after the state reopened for regional travel just yesterday, Monday, November 1.
But the Premier also advised today that the plan for unvaccinated NSW residents is changing. Relaxed conditions were initially set to kick in for the unvaxxed on Wednesday, December 1; however, they've now pushed back to either Wednesday, December 15 or when the state hits the 95-percent double-jabbed mark, whichever comes first.
The current rules around masks will still apply to everyone as well — double-vaxxed and unvaccinated — until that same December date, too.
Today's announcement comes as revealed that 173 new COVID-19 cases were recorded in the 24 hours to 8pm on Monday, November 1.
For more information about New South Wales' reopening roadmap, head to the NSW Government website. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website.
Top image: Parker Blain.