Sydney Accelerates Restrictions Easing, Only Applies To Residents Who Have Received The COVID-19 Vaccine

Illustration of Sydney International Airport, Australia. (Wikimedia Commons/Kgbo)

JAKARTA - Australia's largest city, Sydney will lift more COVID-19 restrictions for its vaccinated residents ahead of schedule next week, while delaying promised freedoms for unvaccinated Sydneysiders as officials aim to increase inoculations.

People who have been vaccinated in the port city of about 5 million will be allowed an unlimited number of guests in their homes from November 8.

Pubs and clubs will also be able to accommodate more guests and reopen dance floors, in changes originally planned to take effect on December 1.

In contrast, unvaccinated people, who are currently barred from entry to restaurants, non-critical retail stores, bars, gyms, and other recreational facilities, will remain under stricter restrictions until December 15, or when the COVID-19 vaccination rate New South Wales' 19 state doubles account for 95 percent.

"We've always wanted to open up in a measured way and push vaccination rates," State Prime Minister Dominic Perrottet told reporters in Sydney.

About 88 percent of the state's population aged 16 and over have been fully vaccinated, but the rate of first-dose vaccination has slowed and is only approaching 94 percent.

Australia on Monday lifted a ban on its residents flying overseas after more than 18 months, allowing quarantine-free entry for international travelers who have received full doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

However, the changes initially only affected Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra, with other states and territories targeting different reopening schedules.

Australia remained largely virus-free for most of the year until a third wave in late June, driven by the Delta variant, triggered further lockdowns.

To date, Kangaroo Country has recorded a total of around 173,000 cases and 1,756 deaths, with around 82 percent of infections attributed to the Delta variant wave, since the pandemic began.

New South Wales reported 173 cases on Tuesday, up from 135 the day before, while Victoria recorded 989 cases, the lowest rise in more than a month. The Australian Capital Territory recorded eight new cases. Other states and territories are COVID-free or have very few cases.