October 19, 2021
People in New South Wales can now enjoy more eased restrictions for fully vaccinated individuals now that the state has reached its 80 percent full vaccination target.
The following public health measures must be followed by businesses and services:
- All staff and customers must wear masks in indoor public settings, but only required for front-of-house hospitality staff in outdoor settings.
- Businesses must continue to check proof of vaccination before allowing entry.
- Staff and customers must participate in COVID Safe check-ins.
- Businesses must operate at a density limit of one person per four square metres indoors and one person per two square metres outdoors.
Additional requirements for specific industries include:
Restaurants and hospitality venues
- Hospitality venues such as restaurants can operate following density limits for up to 20 people per booking.
- People who are not fully vaccinated are only allowed to use take-away services.
- Starting November 1, there will no longer be a cap for hospitality venue bookings.
- Only performers are permitted to sing indoors.
- Dancing is allowed both indoors and outdoors, excluding nightclubs.
- People may be seated or standing while drinking indoors and outdoors.
Event and entertainment facilities
- Stadiums, race courses, theme parks and other major recreation facilities are allowed to operate following density limits for up to 5,000 people, or by exemption.
- Cinemas, theatres and other entertainment venues are allowed to operate following density limits or 75 percent fixed seated capacity.
- Outdoor gatherings following COVID Safety Plans are allowed to host up to 200 people.
- Controlled outdoor public gatherings that have implemented measures such as fencing off the area or seated tickets are allowed for up to 3,000 people following density limits.
- Nightclubs are allowed to reopen with seated drinking only, no dancing permitted.
Wedding and funeral services
- Wedding ceremonies are permitted with density limits applied. There is no longer a person limit for fully vaccinated individuals. There is a 5-person limit for people who are not fully vaccinated.
- Wedding receptions are permitted with density limits applied. There is no longer a person limit for fully vaccinated individuals. Wedding receptions are not permitted for individuals who are not fully vaccinated.
- Funerals are permitted with density limits applied. There is no longer a person limit for fully vaccinated individuals, and eating and drinking are permitted while standing. There is a 10-person limit for people who are not fully vaccinated.
Restrictions in New South Wales are expected to ease further from December 1, 2021, which can be fine tuned as NSW Health monitors the COVID-19 cases in the state.
