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Port Macquarie-Hastings, the Camden Haven, Kempsey-Macleay and north to Coffs Harbour on the Mid North Coast will be among regions to emerge from COVID lockdown at 12:01am on Saturday, September 11.
But there are a host of rules. Masks stay on indoors and community sport remains off the table for now.
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Unfortunately to the south of Port Macquarie, residents living in the Mid Coast local government area (LGA), which is part of the Hunter-New England Health District and takes in the regions of Taree, Forster and Gloucester, will remain in lockdown.
One case was reported in the LGA this week (September 7) at Booral near Stroud.
The Mid Coast LGA border to the north ends at Johns River. Residents in the Mid Coast region will continue to follow stay-at-home orders.
It has been described as a "bittersweet day" for the regions with any area presenting active cases missing out on the first steps toward more freedom.
NSW deputy premier John Barilaro said stage one of opening up for many parts of regional and rural NSW comes with a cautionary warning. Presentation of any new cases will mean the lockdown rules will be immediately back in play for a minimum of 14 days in a bid to minimise spread and protect the regions.
Mr Barilaro said regional communities are doing an incredible job following health advice and getting vaccinated which has made the easing of lockdown in some areas possible.
When the state reaches 70 per cent double dose vaccinated, those who have had the jab will have more freedoms.
With today's news came yet another alert for West Kempsey.
Mid North Coast Local Health District is urging locals with even the mildest of symptoms to get tested for COVID-19 following another detection of fragments of the virus in sewage samples taken from the West Kempsey sewage treatment plant on 6 September 2021.
While there are no new confirmed cases of COVID-19 anywhere in the Mid North Coast Local Health District, there are recently recovered cases in the district.
"Today, I can announce that while unfortunately many regional LGAs will remain in lockdown due to COVID case numbers, for other parts of the state, stay-at-home orders will be lifted allowing more freedoms for those communities," Mr Barilaro said.
"This decision is based on NSW Health advice, and the LGAs which remain in lockdown will continue to be monitored and we will update those communities on a regular basis.
"My strong advice to everyone in regional NSW is to get vaccinated as soon as you can. Our communities need to continue to get vaccinated so that when NSW reaches 70 and 80 per cent, restrictions can ease significantly."
The following freedoms will be available to all residents in regional LGAs where stay-at-home orders will be lifted from Saturday, September 11:
Gatherings in the home and public spaces:
- Up to five visitors will be allowed in a home (not including children 12 and under).
- Up to 20 people can gather in outdoor settings.
Venues including hospitality, retail stores and gyms:
- Hospitality venues can reopen subject to one person per 4sqm inside and one person per 2sqm outside, with standing while drinking permitted outside.
- Retail stores can reopen under the one person per 4sqm rule.
- Personal services such as hairdressers and nail salons can open with one person per 4sqm, capped at five clients per premises.
- Gyms and indoor recreation facilities can open under the one person per 4sqm rule and can offer classes for up to 20 people.
- Sporting facilities including swimming pools can reopen.
Schools:
- Schools will re-open with Level 3 COVIDSafe measures in place.
- Stadiums, theatres and major outdoor recreation facilities:
- Major recreation outdoor facilities including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can reopen with one person per 4sqm, capped at 5,000 people.
- Up to 500 people can attend ticketed and seated outdoor events.
- Indoor entertainment and information facilities including cinemas, theatres, music halls, museums and galleries can reopen with one person per 4sqm or 75 per cent fixed seated capacity.
Weddings, funerals and places of worship:
- Up to 50 guests can attend weddings, with dancing permitted and eating and drinking only while seated.
- Up to 50 guests can attend funerals, with eating and drinking while seated.
- Churches and places of worship to open subject to one person per 4sqm rule, with no singing.
Travel:
- Caravan parks and camping grounds can open.
- Carpooling will be permitted.
Masks:
- Masks will remain mandatory for all indoor public venues, including public transport, front-of-house hospitality, retail and business premises, on planes and at airports.
- Only hospitality staff will be required to wear a mask when outdoors.
- Children aged under 12 will not need to wear a mask indoors.
Stay-at-home orders will remain in place in the following LGAs:
- Bathurst
- Bega
- Blayney
- Bogan
- Bourke
- Brewarrina
- Broken Hill
- Cabonne
- Central Coast
- Central Darling
- Cessnock
- Dubbo
- Dungog
- Eurobodalla
- Forbes
- Gilgandra
- Goulburn Mulwarre
- Kiama
- Lake Macquarie
- Lithgow
- Maitland
- Mid-Coast (Taree, Forster, Gloucester, Hawks Nest, Tea Gardens regions)
- Mid-Western
- Muswellbrook
- Narrabri
- Narromine
- Newcastle
- Orange
- Parkes
- Port Stephens
- Queanbeyan-Palerang
- Shellharbour
- Shoalhaven
- Singleton
- Snowy Monaro
- Upper Hunter
- Walgett
- Wingecarribee
Tracey Fairhurst
The Port News has been at the heart of its community for more than 135 years. Your stories matter to us and so does local journalism. If you have a story to share, email tracey.fairhurst@austcommunitymedia.com.au
The Port News has been at the heart of its community for more than 135 years. Your stories matter to us and so does local journalism. If you have a story to share, email tracey.fairhurst@austcommunitymedia.com.au
