New South Wales has set benchmarks for reopening and loosening current COVID-19 restrictions: when 70 percent of eligible residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and when 80 percent have received both doses.
“There’s still more work to do to push those vaccination rates higher and everyone must continue to follow the lockdown rules until we reach that 70 per cent double dose target,” said Premier Gladys Berejiklian, “when further restrictions can be eased for those who are fully vaccinated.”
Here's what food businesses need to know about the changes to restriction once vaccination the following vaccination targets are met.
At 70 percent vaccinated
After the state passes the 70 percent vaccination target, restrictions will be lifted from the following Monday. Only fully vaccinated people or those with medical exemptions will have access to many services and businesses under the Reopening NSW roadmap. Here are the new rules, in brief:
- Hospitality venues will be able to reopen as long as they follow the rule of one person per four square metres indoors, or one person per two square metres outdoors. Standing while drinking will be permitted.
- Retail stores will be able to reopen, following the capacity limit of one person per four square metres. Unvaccinated people will still only be able to access essential retail.
- Sporting facilities will be able to reopen.
- Large recreation facilities such as stadiums, zoos and theme parks will be able to reopen for up to 5,000 people, following the one-person-per-four-square-metres rule. Up to 500 people will be able to attend ticketed, seated outdoor events. Cinemas, theatres, concert halls and other indoor entertainment venues will be permitted to reopen at one person per four square metres, or 75 percent of the venue’s seated capacity.
- Up to 50 people will be permitted to attend weddings and funerals, but eating and drinking are only permitted while seated.
- Face masks will still be required for all indoor public venues, except for children under the age of 12. Hospitality staff will be required to wear a mask when outdoors.
- Businesses and venues will need to encourage people practise physical distancing, which means keeping one-and-a-half metres away from anyone they do not live with.
- A COVID-19 safety plan for your industry must be in place, with a copy available to show at the authorities’ request.
- Check-in rules will depend on the industry sector. People entering businesses, venues and events in NSW may need to check in. Businesses may need to manually collect details for anyone who does not have the Service NSW app installed on their mobile phone.
- Hospitality venues including pubs, clubs, restaurants and cafes will be required to use the Service NSW check-in system. An NSW Government QR code is required of most businesses.
At 80 percent vaccinated
When 80 percent of NSW residents are fully vaccinated, further restrictions will be lifted and also include changes around international travel, community sport and major events. More details about this stage will be released at a later date.