Millions of fully vaccinated Australians can finally return to work and travel beyond five kilometres after 106 long days in lockdown.
Stay-at-home orders and business closures in NSW ended at 12.01am Monday after the state reached its 70 per cent vaccination milestone of over-16s last week.
Going to the pub, dining out, getting a haircut, seeing a movie at the cinema and heading to the gym are some of the activities fully vaccinated residents can enjoy again under the NSW roadmap.
They can also see vaccinated family and friends with up to 10 visitors allowed for home gatherings and up to 30 outdoors under increased caps.
But many questions about Freedom Day remain with 26.47 per cent of the NSW population aged over 16 still unvaccinated or waiting for their second jab.
Can I take my son/daughter aged under-16 for a haircut/dinner/movie?
Vaccinations for under-12s are not yet approved in Australia. Children can enjoy a meal at a restaurant or cafe, get a much-needed haircut and return to the cinema, as long as they are accompanied by a fully vaccinated adult.
The same rule applies for teens aged 12-16 not yet fully vaccinated.
Under-16s in NSW can gets haircuts, as long as they’re accompanied by a fully vaccinated adult (pictured Alan Buki reopened his Paddington salon at 12.01am Monday)
Can I invite friends and family to my wedding?
Big marriage celebrations are back on where up to 100 fully vaccinated guests can attend a wedding ceremony and reception. Unvaccinated guests are restricted to five and can only attend the ceremony. At receptions, dancing remains off limits while guests must remain seated while drinking and eating.
Can I go back to work?
The end of lockdown will see thousands of hospitality and retail staff return to work for the first time in almost four months.
Many who have stuck working remotely from home in late June can also return to the office, as long as they’ve had both jabs.
Employers must continue to allow employees to work from home if the employee is able to do so.
Unvaccinated workers must continue working from home, where practical.
Workers in regional areas who have received one vaccination dose can return to their workplace and have until November 1 to get their second.
Thousands of retail workers will return to the work for the first time since late June on Monday (pictured a florist in Maroubra)
Can I go on holiday?
The five kilometre limit has been abolished for millions of residents in Sydney and surrounding regions, including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and the Illawarra regions.
Travel in regional NSW beyond these areas remains off limits until October 25.
But Sydneysiders are free to plan a long-waited day trip or weekend away to the Blue Mountains, Central Coast or Wollongong after being cooped at home for the last four months.
Caravan parks and camping grounds can reopen.
Unvaccinated residents must stay within their LGA or five kilometres from home.
Vaccinated regional residents are free to travel other regional areas across the state but Sydney remains off limits.
Can I go shopping?
Non-essential retailers will welcome back shoppers who can prove their vaccination status.
Those not yet fully vaccinated are restricted to essential retail within their LGA or five kilometres from home.
Bush walks in the Blue Mountains are back on the cards for vaccinated Sydneysiders
Where is my vaccine certificate?
Everyone who has had both jabs has been issued a certificate through their Medicare account, which can be accessed online and downloaded to their mobile for easy access.
You will need to show the certificate to prove your vaccination status when attending goods or service providers.
You can access the digital certificate through the myGov or Express Plus Medicare app.
For those less savvy unable to access their digital certificate can get a hard copy version from Services Australia.
Do I need to wear a mask?
Masks are no longer required outdoors but must be still be worn on public transport and all public indoor settings, including shopping centres, 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.
When will community sport return?
Organised community and team sports won’t resume until NSW hits the 80 per cent double dose target, expected to be by October 25.
But outdoor training activities such as boot camps can permitted, as long as groups are a maximum of 20 fully vaccinated participants.
Couples tying the knot can now have up to 100 vaccinated guests at the ceremony and reception (pictured a wedding in Milsons Point)
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