Holidays hang the balance as Dominic Perrottet mulls DELAYING a critical new freedom due to lagging vaccination rates after lockdown
- Freedom of travel is supposed to kick in when Covid jab rates reach 80%
- But with that figure likely to be reached this weekend holidays may be delayed
- That's because vaccinations in many popular holiday destinations are lagging
Sydneysiders desperate to leave the city after four months of lockdown may have their holidays delayed due to lower vaccination rates in regional NSW.
The Government's roadmap to freedom says regional travel can restart the Monday after the state hits the 80 per cent vaccination threshold.
Due to fast vaccine take-up this threshold is likely to be reached this weekend, triggering the next batch of freedoms a week earlier than expected.
Sydneysiders desperate to leave the city after four months of lockdown may have their holidays delayed due to lower vaccination rates in regional NSW. Pictured: Byron Bay in Northern NSW
In the town of Cessnock - gateway to the Hunter Valley's stunning wine region (pictured) - just 58.4 per cent of residents aged 16 and over are fully vaccinated
But Premier Dominic Perrottet said holidays may have to be pushed back to allow regional areas more time to get their vaccination rates up as high as Sydney.
'There have been issues raised. We haven't made any decisions yet. We don't make decisions in a knee-jerk reaction,' he told reporters on Wednesday.
'We make decisions in consultation with our health and economic teams as part of that sub-committee. That meeting is tomorrow.'
Mr Perrottet said the Government will tell residents on Friday when regional travel will be allowed amid speculation it will be pushed back until October 25.
'We will consider those issues tomorrow in relation to the road map. It has come up because of the significant increase in the vaccination rate and that is a great thing,' he said.
'We want to open up as quickly and safely as possible. That is exactly what we are doing. We have that meeting tomorrow. We'll have those discussions and we look forward to seeing you on Friday.'
There is speculation regional travel will not restart until October 25. Pictured: Huskisson on the NSW South Coast
Deputy Premier Paul Toole hinted that regional holidays would be delayed.
'We spoke about regional travel a week ago and we said we are several weeks away from people travelling into the regions,' he said.
'People have already got their cars packed. They want to as soon as they can get out into regional NSW.
'But we also need to make sure that when it is discussed tomorrow we are protecting regional NSW. We need to make sure that regional NSW is safe.'
At the forefront of concerns are popular travel destinations like Byron Bay and the Hunter Valley vineyards where jab rates are lagging.
While NSW has achieved 75 per cent coverage, the Byron Shire in Northern NSW sits at just 47 per cent.
In the town of Cessnock - gateway to the Hunter Valley's stunning wine region - just 58.4 per cent of residents aged 16 and over are fully vaccinated.
Coffs Harbour and Kempsey on the north and mid-north coast are also at 58 per cent, while Inverell in the Northern Tablelands and Junee in the Riverina have only managed 57 per cent coverage.
While NSW has achieved 75 per cent coverage, the Byron Shire in Northern NSW sits at just 47 per cent. Pictured: Wategos Beach at Byron Bay
But while holidays may be off the agenda for now, a raft of new freedoms are set to introduced very soon.
The state's double-dose vaccination rate jumped by 1.26 per cent overnight to 75.23 per cent.
The increase means the state will likely hit the 80 per cent full vaccination rate before Sunday - triggering the next round of restriction easing a week early that scheduled.
NSW's roadmap out of lockdown allows up to 20 fully-vaccinated residents to gather in homes and participate in community sport at an 80 per cent double-jab rate.
Up to 3,000 spectators will also be allowed to gather for ticketed outdoor events and nightclubs can re-open without dancing.
Revised roadmap to freedom: All the changes for fully vaccinated NSW residents after hitting 70% jab target
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet's revised freedom plan will kick off on Monday, October 11
Gatherings in the home and public spaces
· Up to ten visitors will be allowed in a home where all adults are vaccinated (not including children 12 and under).
· Up to 30 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 per cent fixed seated capacity.
· Indoor swimming pools open for lessons, squad training, lap swimming and rehab activities only
Weddings, funerals and places of worship
· Up to 100 guests can attend weddings, with dancing permitted and eating and drinking only while seated.
· Up to 100 guests can attend funerals, with eating and drinking while seated.
· For those not fully vaccinated lower caps of 5 and ten apply for weddings and funerals.
· Churches and places of worship to open subject to one person per 4sqm rule, with performers exempt from ban on singing.
· Ten person cap on choirs in places of worship and at religious services, with all performers to be fully vaccinated
Travel
· The 5km radius will be dropped but Sydneysiders can only travel within greater Sydney - including the Central Coast, Wollongong and Blue Mountains.
· Caravan parks and camping grounds can open.
· Carpooling will be permitted.
Non-vaccinated young people aged under 16 will be able to access all outdoor settings but will only be able to visit indoor venues with members of their household.
Employers must continue to allow employees to work from home if the employee is able to do so.
There will be revised guidance on isolation for close and casual contacts who are fully vaccinated, with details to be provided closer to the reopening date.
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.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiaGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmRhaWx5bWFpbC5jby51ay9uZXdzL2FydGljbGUtMTAwODYzMzUvSG9saWRheXMtaGFuZy1iYWxhbmNlLU5TVy1SZWdpb25hbC10cmF2ZWwtZGVsYXllZC5odG1s0gFsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGFpbHltYWlsLmNvLnVrL25ld3MvYXJ0aWNsZS0xMDA4NjMzNS9hbXAvSG9saWRheXMtaGFuZy1iYWxhbmNlLU5TVy1SZWdpb25hbC10cmF2ZWwtZGVsYXllZC5odG1s?oc=5
2021-10-13 02:40:05Z
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