Restrictions for fully vaccinated residents of New South Wales eased further from Monday 8 November.
There are now no limits on the number of visitors to your home, or limits for hospitality venues and major recreation and entertainment facilities.
Travel restrictions between greater Sydney and regional NSW, as well as the end of quarantine for international arrivals, were eased from the beginning of November.
However the date that unvaccinated residents can rejoin society has been pushed back further, to when the state hits a 95% double dose rate, or December 15, whichever comes sooner.
Here is everything you need to know about the plan.
What changed on 1 November?
From 1 November, caps on bookings for hospitality venues were lifted.
Travel between Greater Sydney and regional NSW also resumed. Intrastate travel was initially slated for 80% vaccination targets, but was delayed to allow time for regional NSW vaccination rates to increase.
Quarantine requirements were also removed as well as caps for overseas arrivals, provided they are fully vaccinated with a TGA-approved, Commonwealth recognised vaccine and receive a Covid-19 test prior to flying.
Overseas arrivals who are not fully vaccinated are capped at 210 people per week, and will be required to complete 14 days quarantine.
What changed from 8 November?
On Monday 8 November, the following settings applied to fully vaccinated residents.
Gatherings in the home and outdoor public spaces
No limit on the number of visitors to a home.
Density will shift to one person per 2 sq m for indoor and outdoor settings.
No limit on the number of people who can attend informal outdoor gatherings.
Covid-safe plan required for outdoor events with more than 1,000 people.
Community sport permitted for all people.
Venues including hospitality, retail stores and gyms
Retail stores can operate at one person per 2 sq m.
Personal services such as hairdressers, spa, nail, beauty, waxing, tattoo and massage can operate with one person per 2 sq m.
Hospitality venues can operate with one person per 2 sq m inside and outside, with no seating required for eating and drinking.
Gyms and indoor recreation facilities, including indoor pools, can operate with one person per 2 sq m (uncapped).
Intimate services can open with one person per 4 sq m.
Major outdoor recreation facilities
Major recreation outdoor facilities including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can operate with one person per 2 sq m.
Entertainment, information and education facilities
Entertainment facilities (including cinemas, theatres, music halls) can operate with one person per 2 sq m.
Information and education facilities (including libraries, museums and galleries) can operate with one person per 2 sq m.
Amusement centres and nightclubs can open with one person per 4 sq m.
Working from home
Working from home will be at the employer’s discretion.
Education
All year groups continue with face-to-face learning.
Weddings, funerals and places of worship
One person per 2 sqm for weddings with dancing permitted and eating and drinking allowed while standing.
One person per 2 sq m for funerals.
Churches and places of worship can operate with one person per 2 sq m, with singing permitted.
Travel
Domestic travel, including trips between greater Sydney and regional NSW.
International travel is permitted, with fully vaccinated travellers able to enter Sydney without quarantining provided they complete Covid-19 tests.
Caravan parks and camping grounds can operate.
Carpooling is permitted.
Quarantine settings for vaccinated arrivals will be altered. A cap on unvaccinated travellers may remain.
Masks
Mask-wearing will be mandatory while travelling on public transport, on planes and at airports, and for front-of-house hospitality workers.
Mask wearing is not required when outdoors.
What about unvaccinated people in NSW?
Unvaccinated residents will still be under stay-at-home orders and excluded from the above settings until 15 December, or when the state reaches 95% double-dose vaccination coverage – whichever occurs first.
At this point, the mask mandate will be scrapped.
Will overseas travel and quarantine change?
Quarantine for vaccinated arrivals was lifted from 1 November. Caps were also be lifted for vaccinated travellers.
Unvaccinated international arrivals still have to complete 14 days quarantine.
Due to the unprecedented and ongoing nature of the coronavirus outbreak, this article is being regularly updated to ensure that it reflects the current situation at the date of publication. Any significant corrections made to this or previous versions of the article will be footnoted in line with Guardian editorial policy.
