Business Illawarra plans to mark the day NSW reaches a double vaccination rate of 70 per cent as #backtobusiness day.
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Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Monday revealed NSW would start reopening at a 70 per cent double vaccination rate, a milestone expected to be reached on October 11.
The 80 per cent rate would be hit about two weeks later, at which point a number of greater freedoms would come into place.
These included allowing the fully vaccinated to have up to 10 people visit their home, participate in community sport, and access hospitality venues. All premises would operate at one person per 4sqm indoors, and 1 person per 2sqm outdoors.
Business Illawarra executive director Adam Zarth described Monday's confirmation of a three-phase reopening of NSW as a positive step that would provide much-needed certainty.
"Businesses will be able to operate under a 'one person per 4sqm' rule, with certain caps in place on numbers, depending on the type of industry and whether customers are gathering inside or outdoors," he said.
"It will also see a number of major milestones, include the option of returning to the office for those who've been fully vaccinated."
Originally travel between Greater Sydney and the regions was meant to open when the 70 per cent rate was hit, but that has now been moved into the 80 per cent opening.
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro said at 70 per cent, people living in Shellharbour and Wollongong would be able to travel to each other's local government area and to and from Sydney.
Destination Wollongong general manager Mark Sleigh said this would mean Wollongong hotels, restaurants and coffee shops would be busy again by mid-October.
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