People fully vaccinated against COVID will soon be able to enjoy time outdoors with more friends, but regional NSW - now including Shellharbour - is facing at least another two weeks under lockdown.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
From September 13, people who have received two doses of the vaccine and live outside the areas of concern can meet with up to four other people within their own local government area or five kilometres of their home.
This can include children, but all adults must have had both shots.
In areas of concern, households with all adults fully vaccinated can go outside for an hour of recreation, on top of the existing hour allowed for exercise.
For weeks, Premier Gladys Berejiklian has promised extra freedoms for fully vaccinated people once six million doses were given across NSW, a milestone the state reached earlier this week.
"We are so grateful for every person who comes forward to get vaccinated because the more jabs we get into arms, the sooner we can lift restrictions," Ms Berejiklian said.
"We appreciate the community's patience in the lead up to 13 September, this additional time will allow the recent surge of vaccines to take effect."
Once 70 per cent of people are fully vaccinated, the government says "a range of family, industry, community and economic restrictions" will lift for those with both doses.
Restrictions will further ease at 80 per cent vaccination.
"NSW is calling on industry and citizens to get ready for when we are 70 per cent double vaccinated, that's when things will start to open," Ms Berejiklian said.
She said the roadmap would become publicly available in a couple of weeks.
Ms Berejiklian also said work was underway on an app that would allow people to carry proof of vaccination and sign into venues.
Proof of vaccination is currently available online through myGov, on the Express Plus Medicare app, the vaccination provider, or the Australian Immunisation Register on 1800 653 809.
It was also announced on Thursday that the regional lockdown that was originally scheduled to end this Saturday would go on for another two weeks.
Ms Berejiklian said there had been a stabilisation of cases across regional NSW except for the western part of the state, which remained an area of concern.
"Given that acute situation in western NSW and Dubbo in particular, the regional lockdown will be extended to all of regional NSW until at least.. midnight Friday the 10th of September," Ms Berejiklian said yesterday.
She said it was appreciated that many areas had no cases or had never cases, but the health advice was to extend the lockdown everywhere as a precaution.
Wollongong and Greater Sydney's lockdown is set to last until at least the end of September.
Another announcement will come on Friday, with the premier to reveal the government's plans for schools and the safe return to classroom learning.
The Illawarra Mercury news app is now officially live on both iOS and Android devices. It is available for download in the Apple Store and Google Play.
Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
