Three unvaccinated NSW residents have died from Covid-19 as the state detected a record 1,029 cases overnight and Gladys Berejiklian announced new freedoms for those who have had both doses from September 13.
The NSW premier said 185 cases are linked to known clusters and the source of 844 infections is still under investigation.
From Monday September 13, she announced anyone who is fully vaccinated and lives outside of an area of concern can gather in groups of up to five in their own LGA or within 5km of their home.
Residents living in households where all adults have been vaccinated in one of the 12 LGAs of concern will be allowed outside for another hour outside on top of their one-hour exercise limit.
Daily Mail Australia understands changes to the public health order were signed off on Wednesday following a crisis state cabinet meeting.
A host of restrictions will be eased from Monday to provide locked down Sydneysiders more reasonable excuses to leave their homes
Pedestrians are pictured out and about in Sydney as the city endures its ninth week of lockdown restrictions
Businesses can refuse service to anyone who refuses to get the Covid-19 jab. Pictured is a supermarket at Westfield East Gardens, located in one of the 12 Sydney Covid hotspot LGAs
Funerals services will be permitted in the 12 Sydney Covid-ravaged local government area hotspots under a subclause which allows ‘a gathering for a small funeral or memorial service’ as a valid reason for an outdoor gathering.
There are no details yet on how many can attend but rules elsewhere in the state dictate that funeral services can have up to 10 mourners.
People living on their own can add a second nominated visitor if their original nominated buddy isn’t available.
Those living in hotspot areas will be able leave their homes on compassionate grounds or to meet a friend outdoors for support them through a difficult time.
The real estate industry will be boosted by new rules to allow residents to leave home during lockdown to inspect a property and relocate between properties.
Sydneysiders are in the 10th week of lockdown, which has been extended to the end of September.
Meanwhile, businesses are within their rights to turn away anyone who refuses to get the Covid-19 jab under existing laws, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed.
The easing of restrictions comes after NSW reached six million vaccinations earlier this week. Pictured are Sydneysiders receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine at the Bankstown Sports Club in the city’s south-west
Businesses are within their rights refuse to service anyone who isn’t vaccinated. Pictured is a fishmonger in Sydney’s south-west
Mr Morrison has told federal parliament refusing service is a ‘legitimate thing’ for businesses to do in order to protect their staff and customers, despite warnings from the Australian Human Rights Commission.
Millions of Australians have rolled up their sleeves for the jab on the promise of more freedoms once they’ve had both jabs.
A business can refuse entry or service to anyone as long as they don’t breach anti-discrimination laws based on race, age, gender or disability under existing laws and have the backing of the prime minister to do so.
‘That’s a legitimate thing for them to do,’ Mr Morrison told Parliament on Wednesday.
‘They’re doing that to protect their own workers, to protect their other clients.
‘It’s got nothing to do with ideology, or these issues around liberty,
‘We all believe in freedom, but we also believe in people being healthy.
‘And the simple fact is, if you’re not vaccinated you present a greater health risk to yourself, to your family, to your community and others about you.’
However, the Australian Human Rights Commission has urged businesses and service providers should be cautious about imposing a blanket rule requiring vaccination as a condition of entry, or for the delivery or provision of goods, services and facilities.
‘There are medical reasons why a person may not be able to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, or may choose not to in their circumstances, including because of protected attributes such pregnancy or disability,’ the commission states on its website.
‘Additionally, at present, many younger Australians have not been eligible for particular Covid-19 vaccinations at all, or for shorter periods of time than older Australians.’
More half of all Australians aged over-16 have received one vaccine dose while 31.6 per cent are now fully vaccinated.
Australians are flocking to be vaccinated on the promise of more freedoms. Pictured are queues at the Sydney Olympic Park vaccination hub
The National Cabinet will meet on Friday to discuss a proposal to link certain freedoms to a vaccine passport once 70-80 per cent of the population is fully vaccination.
Freedoms could include attending It could be key to going to sporting events, concerts and businesses will have the right to turn away people who aren’t vaccinated.
But Mr Morrison is facing resistance from some of his own MPs, who argue a vaccine passport will create two classes of citizens.