Good News, COVID-19 Restrictions In New South Wales Will Be Lifted Gradually Until December 1

The Prime Minister of the State of New South Wales Gladys Berejiklian. (Twitter/@GladysB)

JAKARTA - Australian authorities announced plans to gradually open Sydney's lockdown, rolling out a two-tier system in which citizens who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 have more freedom than those who have not.

Movement restrictions across New South Wales, Australia's most populous state and home to Sydney will be phased out between October 11 and December 1 as vaccination targets increase by 70 percent, 80 percent, and 90 percent.

However, people who have not received the full COVID-19 vaccine will not be allowed to join in new activities, such as community sports, eating out, and shopping until December 1.

"It's very important to note that unlike most cases in the world if you are not vaccinated, you have to wait at least four or five weeks, to participate in things that all of us can follow," New South Wales State Prime Minister Gladys Berejiklian said in a televised briefing, citing Reuters 27 September.

"The message is, if you want to be able to dine with friends and welcome people into your home, you have to be vaccinated," said PM Berejiklian.

However, PM Berejiklian did not specify how the activity blocking by those who were not vaccinated would be enforced.

Sydney, along with Melbourne and Canberra, have been in lockdown for several weeks, with the three cities bearing the brunt of the third wave of COVID-19 infections that has brought the national number of cases to nearly 100.000, with about 68 percent of cases recorded since mid-June this year.

With 1.245 deaths, the national death rate, however, has slowed due to higher vaccination rates among the most vulnerable.

The Delta variant that triggered the outbreak has created a divide between state and territory leaders, with some leading virus-free parts of the state indicating they will oppose the federal government's plans to reopen internal borders, once the adult population reaches the 70-80 percent vaccination rate expected to be. reached the end of October.

In New South Wales, where about 60 percent of people aged 16 and over have received the full COVID-19 vaccine, restaurants, pubs, retail stores, gyms, and indoor recreational facilities will be allowed to reopen on October 11, a few days later. after the state is estimated to reach 70 percent vaccination, with capacity limits.

Once 80 percent vaccination is achieved, it is hoped that a few weeks later, statewide travel will be allowed. Limits on people attending funerals and weddings are lifted while maintaining social distancing, and the number of vaccinated people allowed to gather at home will double to 10.

Starting December 1, there will be no restrictions on in-home gatherings and informal gatherings outdoors. Capacity limits will continue at indoor venues, but masks will no longer be required. Businesses will be allowed to enforce their own rules requiring customers to be vaccinated after this date.

Separately, in neighboring Victoria, Prime Minister Daniel Andrews refused to commit to a date that would ensure all citizens in his state, including those who were not vaccinated, would have significant freedom before Christmas.

"I would say to people, just wait five weeks and you will have all the freedom," he said.

"No, that's not a guarantee at all here. We haven't made that decision yet," continued Andrews.

New South Wales, Victoria, and Canberra reported a total of more than 1.500 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, most of them almost evenly between Sydney and Melbourne. However, the daily number has tracked lower in recent weeks.

Victoria is expected to ease some restrictions from next Wednesday when the state's first-dose vaccination rate is expected to hit more than 80 percent. Meanwhile, New South Wales on Monday allowed construction sites to return to full capacity and outdoor swimming pools to reopen under social distancing rules.

Australian carrier Qantas Airways, which has declared its intention to require travelers to be fully vaccinated, said following Monday's announcement it would advance the reopening date for travel between Sydney and Melbourne to November 5 from all December 1.