COVID-19 Update: Restrictions Ease in Some NSW LGAs

As of 12:01 am on Saturday, September 11, parts of New South Wales that have had no cases of COVID-19 for 14 days will see many lockdown rules lift.

The NSW government has provided a full list of LGAs where lockdown rules are either lifting or remaining in place.

Eased COVID-19 restrictions for parts of NSW

In LGAs where orders are lifting, the following rules will apply:

• Bars, pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues can reopen, following the density limit of one person per four square metres indoors, or one person per two square metres outdoors. Patrons can stand while drinking outdoors.
• Retail stores can open, while following the one-person-per-four-square-metres rule.
• Weddings can proceed with up to 50 people. Guests must only eat and drink while seated, but dancing is permitted.
• Funerals can allow up to 50 people in attendance, who must remain seated while eating and drinking.
• Large outdoor recreation venues (e.g. stadiums, theme parks, zoos) can reopen following the density limit of one person per four square metres, for up to 5,000 people.
• Outdoor events that are ticketed and seated may host up to 500 people.
• Cinemas, theatres, music halls and similar indoor entertainment venues can reopen with one person per four square metres, or up to 75 percent of the facility’s seated capacity.
• Masks will remain mandatory for all indoor public venues, as well as for staff in front-of-house hospitality and retail premises. Children under the age of 12 do not have to wear masks indoors.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian also revealed the state’s plan for recovery following the pandemic.

The roadmap to freedom, Berejiklian said, will begin the Monday after NSW reaches the target of 70 percent of adults having received both doses of the vaccine. It will mean stay-at-home orders will no longer apply to those fully vaccinated people. When the state hits 80 percent vaccinated, further restrictions having to do with travel, major events and community sport will ease.

“I cannot stress enough how important it is for people to get vaccinated,” said Berejiklian. “If you have not had both doses of the vaccine by the time we hit the 70 per cent milestone, you will not be able to take advantage of these freedoms.”

When the roadmap to freedom begins, the above eased restrictions will apply to the entire state, rather than just certain LGAs.

The Australian Institute of Food Safety (AIFS) closely follows COVID-19 developments as they occur across the country that affect food businesses. We will continue to provide updates as they occur. Contact AIFS for more information.