Barton Deakin Brief: NSW Three-Stage Roadmap To Recovery

Overview

The NSW Government’s three-stage roadmap to recovery to return to a new COVID-normal is contingent upon the vaccination thresholds outlined by the Doherty Institute. The first two stages will initiate when 70% and 80% of NSW’s population aged 16 years and above are double-vaccinated, respectively, with a third stage set for the 1^st of December 2021.

According to the NSW Government’s modelling, the NSW population 16 years and older is expected to reach 70% double-vaccination around 8th October with relaxations occurring the first Monday afterwards on the 11th of October and 80% approximately one or two weeks later.

Unvaccinated adults are subject to stay-at-home orders until the 1^st of December 2021.

Stage One, 70% Coverage (expected by 11^th of October 2021)

Stay-at-home orders for adults who have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will be lifted. The following guidelines will apply to fully vaccinated and medically exempted residents:

Indoor/outdoor gatherings

• Up to 5 visitors in a home where all adults are vaccinated, with up to 20 people outdoors

Venues – hospitality, retail stores and gyms

• Hospitality venues can reopen subject to 1 person per 4sqm inside and 1 person per 2sqm outside, with standing while drinking permitted outside
• Retail stores and personal services can reopen under 1 person per 4 sqm, with a cap of 5 clients for personal services
• Gyms and indoor facilities can reopen under 1 person per 4sqm, with classes of 20
• Sporting facilities including swimming pools can reopen

Stadiums, theatres and major outdoor recreation facilities

• Major recreation outdoor facilities can reopen under 1 person per 4sqm (capped at 5,000), with 500 people allowed at ticketed and seated outdoor events
• Indoor entertainment facilities at 1 person per 4sqm or 75% seated capacity

Masks

• Masks will remain mandatory for all indoor public venues, including public transport, hospitality, retail and business premises, on places and at airports
• Only hospitality staff will be required to wear a mask when outdoors

Weddings, funerals, places of worship

• Up to 50 guests can attend weddings and funerals, with eating/drinking only while seated
• Dancing will be permitted at weddings

Non-vaccinated under-16 year olds will be able to access all outdoor settings and only indoor venues with members of their household.

Stage Two, 80% Coverage (expected by 25^th of October 2021)

The following freedoms will apply to fully vaccinated and medically exempted residents:

Indoor/outdoor gatherings

• Up to 10 visitors will be allowed in a home, not including children aged 12 and under
• Up to 20 people can gather in outdoor settings
• Up to 200 people can attend COVID-Safe events, with 500 at ticketed/seated events
• Community sport will be permitted

Venues – hospitality, retail stores and gyms

• All venues will operate with 1 person per 4sqm indoors, 1 person per 2sqm outdoors
• Group bookings for hospitality venues will be limited to 20 people
• Customer caps for personal services such as hairdressers will be removed
• Gym classes will be capped at 20 people per class
• Those who are not fully vaccinated will only have access to non-critical retail through click-and-collect and can only access hospitality settings for takeaway

Major outdoor recreation facilities

• Stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can operate with 1 person per 4sqm, capped at 5,000 people

Entertainment, information and education facilities

• Entertainment facilities can operate with 1 person per 4sqm, or 75% seated capacity
• Amusement centres and nightclubs will remain closed

Travel

• Unrestricted trips between Greater Sydney and Regional NSW will be permitted
• Carpooling is permitted, unvaccinated carpooling permitted within their household

Masks

• Masks will remain mandatory for all indoor premises and settings, with only hospitality staff required to wear a mask outdoors

Weddings, funerals, places of worship

• 1 person per 4spm (uncapped) for weddings, funerals and places of worship
• Dancing at weddings and eating/drinking while standing will be allowed
• Unvaccinated citizens will be allowed to attend weddings with a maximum of 5 guests, funerals with a maximum of 10 people and all places of worship.
• Singing will be prohibited at places of worship

Schools will return with COVID-safe measures on the 25^{th of} October, as previously announced.

Stage Three, 1^st December 2021

The following settings will apply to all NSW citizens, regardless of their vaccination status:

Indoor/outdoor gatherings

• No limit to the number of visitors to a home
• Density will shift to one person per 2sqm for indoor and outdoor settings
• No limit on the number of people who can attend outdoor gatherings
• COVID Safe plan required for outdoor events with more than 1,000 people
• Community sport permitted for all people

Venues – hospitality, retail stores and gyms

• Retail stores and all professional services can operate at 1 person per 2sqm
• Hospitality venues can operate with 1 person per 2sqm inside and outside, with no seating required for eating and drinking
• Gyms and recreation facilities can operate (uncapped) with 1 person per 2sqm

Entertainment, information and education facilities

• Entertainment facilities can operate with 1 person per 2sqm
• Amusement centres and nightclubs can open with 1 person per 4sqm

Weddings, funerals, places of worship

• 1 person per 2sqm for weddings, funerals and places of worship
• No restrictions for dancing, eating and drinking at weddings
• Singing will be permitted at places of worship

Travel

• No restrictions on domestic travel, including Greater Sydney and Regional NSW
• Carpooling permitted
• Quarantine settings for vaccinated arrivals will be altered, with a possible cap on unvaccinated travellers

Masks

• Masks will be mandatory on public transport, planes and at airports, and for front-of-house hospitality workers. Mask wearing is not required when outdoors

Additional Information

You can access the Premier’s Roadmap to Recovery Media Release here.

You can access the NSW Government’s Roadmap to Recovery factsheet here.

For more information, contact Anthony Benscher on +61 438 439 431, Andrew Humpherson on +61 419 241 587, Nicholas Rigby on +61 468 913 175 or Julia Kokic on +61 405 955 887

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