Illawarra residents who choose to remain unvaccinated will find out when they'll be able to participate in "greater activity" this week, while uncertainty looms around when regional travel will be allowed.
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NSW recorded 961 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm Saturday night, 75 of those from the Illawarra and Shoalhaven Local Health District. Sadly nine people with COVID-19 died in that time frame.
Of the Illawarra Shoalhaven cases, 59 were from Wollongong LGA (14 linked to known cases, 45 under investigation); 10 were from Shellharbour LGA (three linked to known cases, two under investigation); one was from Kiama LGA and under investigation; plus five were from the Shoalhaven (three linked to known cases, two under investigation).
On Sunday morning, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the state was expected to reach a 60 per cent double-dose vaccination rate by Tuesday, while noting the government would this week release its roadmap for easing restrictions.
"The NSW Government is very close to finalising our roadmap for 80 per cent double dose but also the roadmap as to when unvaccinated people will be able to start participating in greater activity, and we'll be releasing that this week," she said.
Later in the media conference, Ms Berejiklian added it may be around when the state reached 90 per cent of double doses that the unvaccinated will have full freedoms.
When asked by journalists whether the government had changed their plans as to when to allow travel around the state Ms Berejiklian would not confirm if that would be at 80 per cent double dose or at 70 per cent like originally stated.
"We're looking at when that would likely occur," she said.
"It may very well be at 80 per cent ... we want to make our opening as safe as possible and give businesses as much certainty as possible. We also have to accept we have a number of cases on the Central Coast and Illawarra and be wary of that.
"But one thing we are certain of is we want all Greater Sydney to be able to have access to the regions at the same time, and therefore we need to pick the best time for that to occur."
However, Ms Berejiklian did signal travel around the state would be possible some time in November.
Destination Wollongong general manager Mark Sleigh said tourism and hospitality businesses would be feeling frustrated the goal posts have moved for intrastate travel.
"It would be very disappointing it it wasn't 70 per cent because that's what has been alluded to, but whatever it is, let's just get to the detail and give businesses a chance to plan," Mr Sleigh said.
"These people are desperate. The main thing is we get surety sooner rather than later and that surety is not the night before people are expected to reopen."
He said there were still so many questions the government hadn't answered like would businesses be allowed to employ unvaccinated or partially vaccinated staff.
"Why not announce it on [Monday] for World Tourism Day, give the whole industry what they need, give them the surety and let's get back to business," he said.
Of the total number of COVID cases to 8pm Sunday, three new cases were acquired overseas, and 16 previously reported cases have been excluded following further investigation.
There are currently 1,146 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 222 people in intensive care, 117 of whom require ventilation.
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