NSW COVID-19 restrictions are changing for vaccinated and unvaccinated people today — this is what you need to know

14 Dec 2021

ABC News

NSW COVID19 restrictions are changing for vaccinated and unvaccinated people today this is what you need to know

A raft of COVID-19 restrictions are being eased in NSW today, and, for the first time since June, unvaccinated people are being given significant freedoms too.

More COVID-19 restrictions in NSW are being eased today, and, for the first time since June, unvaccinated people are being given significant freedoms too.

It's been about 21 months since NSW was first plunged into lockdown in response to the global spread of COVID-19.

The state was again subjected to stay-at-home orders at the end of June this year in response to a Delta outbreak.

Catch up on the main COVID-19 news from December 14 with a look back at our blog

But high vaccination rates have now allowed Australia's most populous state to restore many freedoms not seen since March last year, despite rising COVID-19 cases and the emergence of the Omicron strain.

Here's what is changing today.

What has changed today?

A number of changes come into effect today for people in NSW, regardless of vaccination status.

From today there is no limit to the number of people allowed in your home, at outdoor public gatherings and at hospitality venues.

Masks, while still strongly encouraged where social distancing isn't possible, have been dropped as a requirement in most indoor settings including in shops.

There is also good news for people who have had trouble booking appointments for personal services, such as hairdressers and beauty salons.

From today, businesses like these will have no density limits.

The 20-person cap for exercise and dance classes has been lifted and there are no density limits for gyms, indoor recreations and sporting facilities.

Community sports events with over 1,000 attendees will no longer require a COVID-19 safety plan.

There are no longer any travel restrictions for people in Greater Sydney or in regional NSW and carpooling is now permitted for unvaccinated people.

What restrictions still apply?

Masks will still be required on public transport and planes, at airports and for indoor front-of-house hospitality staff who are not fully vaccinated.

Check-ins with QR codes will still be required for hospitals, aged and disability care facilities, gyms, places of worship, funeral or memorial services, personal services, sex services, pubs, small bars and registered clubs, nightclubs and strip clubs.

Music festivals will be able to reopen with a 20,000 person limit and proof of vaccination will still be required for indoor music festivals with over 1,000 people and cruises with over 100 passengers.

International travellers who are not fully vaccinated will still need to quarantine for 14 days on arrival.

International travel restrictions introduced in response to the emergence of the Omicron COVID-19 variant will also apply.

Anyone who has been in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini and Malawi 14 days before arriving in NSW must go into hotel quarantine for 14 days, irrespective of their vaccination status.

What's changed for the unvaccinated?

Those who have not been vaccinated have been living under strict COVID rules while the rest of the state enjoyed greater freedoms since October.

Unvaccinated people will now have the same freedoms as vaccinated people.

The unvaccinated were supposed to receive additional freedoms on December 1, but the NSW government last month delayed this by two weeks and effectively kept them in lockdown.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard yesterday urged people who still were not vaccinated to stop being "selfish" and get the jab.

How much of NSW is vaccinated?

Across NSW, 94.8 per cent of people aged 16 and over have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 93.2 per cent are fully vaccinated.

It took just 12 days for NSW to go from 70 per cent to 80 per cent fully vaccinated, and 23 days to get from 80 per cent to 90 per cent.

In contrast, it has taken 30 days to get from 90 per cent to 93 per cent of the population fully vaccinated.

Mr Hazzard said his main fear was people not understanding the importance of getting a booster shot with the number of COVID cases rising.

"For heaven's sake, go and get your booster," he said.