NSW Covid Freedom Day restrictions revealed as Gladys Berejiklian announces roadmap

Australian passports will be linked to vaccine certificates, Qantas will refuse to fly unvaccinated passengers overseas, home quarantine will be introduced and road trips will be back on.   

A picture is emerging of how travel will look for Australians as NSW announces its road map out of lockdown and the federal government hints at the future. 

Domestic travel will return in New South Wales once the state hits its 70 per cent double vaxxed target, Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced on Thursday. 

Ms Berejiklian is hopeful travel between states will resume when 80 per cent of the nation is double dosed. 

The Premier said she believes international travel will resume after that 80 per cent target is hit, in line with the national plan.  

However, overseas travel is ultimately a matter for the federal government – which has banned outward international flights until at least Dec. 17 and has only just begun to sketch out the path forward. 

International travel isn’t expected to resume until after Australia hits its 80 per cent double dosed vaccination target – but a picture is starting to emerge of what it will look like 

In a pre-recorded speech on Wednesday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison indicated Australians stuck overseas will be able to return and quarantine at home later this year.

‘We are looking forward to welcoming many people back home soon. We can get there this year,’ Mr Morrison said.  

It is believed expats may be permitted to home quarantine if they are fully vaccinated with a jab approved by the country’s medical regulator.

Those include AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson but excludes other popular vaccines around the world including Sinovac and Sputnik. 

A 50 person home quarantine trial is underway in South Australia using a contenious facial recognition and location technology under which people have to film themselves in their quarantine quarters on 15 minutes notice.

While it had been criticised as intrusion on privacy, that plan is expected to be adopted nationally.

The federal government has cleared a plan for Covid vaccine passports for launch.

International immunisation passports will be rolled out in October. Details remain vague. 

Immunisation information is expected to be automatically be linked to Australian passports for people entering the country.

QR codes are likely to play a role for those travelling overseas. 

Qantas confirm they will ban all unvaccinated passengers from travelling on international flights as the airline hopes to commence flying Aussies abroad from December

Qantas confirm they will ban all unvaccinated passengers from travelling on international flights as the airline hopes to commence flying Aussies abroad from December

Airlines are hoping to resume international travel from November at the earliest, with people stranded in Australia free to return home to places including London

Airlines are hoping to resume international travel from November at the earliest, with people stranded in Australia free to return home to places including London

A spokesman for Stuart Robert, the cabinet minister in charge of digital and data policy, said further details will be released soon.

‘The Morrison government continues to work towards vaccine assurance standards that will be one element of enabling vaccinated Australians to move and travel more freely,’ he said on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the national carrier, Qantas, confirmed it will ban all unvaccinated passengers from travelling on international flights as the airline hopes to carry Aussies abroad from December. 

The company’s CEO Alan Joyce said on Thursday the mandate would be to protect passengers, as vaccination reduces the likelihood of transmitting and spreading the virus.

‘Qantas will have a policy that internationally we’ll only be carrying vaccinated passengers,’ Mr Joyce said.

NSW reveals new restrictions for pubs, restaurants and gyms and what you’ll need to do to get a haircut as Gladys Berejiklian confirms roadmap out of lockdown for the fully vaccinated after the state records 1,405 new Covid-19 cases  

New South Wales has revealed its roadmap for ‘Freedom Day’ once 70 per cent of the adult population is vaccinated with pubs, restaurants, shops, gyms and swimming pools opening up.

But the freedoms will be for the vaccinated only, masks will remain commonplace across New South Wales, employers will still be required to let staff work from home and fully vaxxed people may still be subjected to local area lockdowns.  

Ms Berejiklian and her Treasurer Dominic Perrottet on Wednesday announced that punishing restrictions will finally be lifted the Monday after the state hits the 70 per cent double dose target. 

It is the first real roadmap out of lockdown that Australia has seen, with the country’s two biggest states and the ACT under the thumb of harsh restrictions.  

There is no fixed date for ‘Freedom Day’ set in stone, despite reports this week singling out October 14 or 18 as likely.

Ms Berejiklian said the QR code system for businesses will be able to screen whether customers are vaccinated or not.

People who are not vaccinated or unwilling to link their medical histories to a government app will only be able to access ‘critical’ services.

‘If you want to go buy something, you’ll put up your QR code,’ the Premier said. ‘If it’s not a green light saying you will be vaccinated, you won’t be allowed inside.’ 

Meanwhile, domestic travel will open up for New South Wales and Australian expats returning home are expected to be able to home quarantine in the coming months. 

Gatherings in the home  

Under the plan, up to five visitors will be allowed in a home where all adults are vaccinated (not including children 12 and under). 

Up to 20 people will be able to gather in outdoor settings.

Pubs and restaurants 

Pubs and restaurants can reopen subject to the one person per four square metre rule inside, and one person per two square metres outside.

Standing while drinking will be allowed outside.

Shops 

Shops can reopen under the one person per four square metre rule for vaccinated people only.

Unvaccinated people will only be able to access ‘critical retail’, the NSW Premier said.  

Hairdressers and nail salons 

‘Personal services’ will reopen will the one person per four square metre rule, with a limit of five clients per premises.  

Gyms and recreation 

Gyms and indoor recreation centres will be able to reopen under the one person per four square metre rule with classes of up to 20 people. 

Swimming pools can reopen.  

Major events and entertainment 

Outdoor venues including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can reopen with one person per four square metres, capped at 5,000 people.

Up to 500 people will be able to attend ticketed and seated outdoor events. 

Indoor venues including cinemas, theatres, music calls, museums and galleries can reopen with one person per four square metres, or 75 per cent of fixed seating capacity.

Weddings, funerals and places of worship

Up to 50 guests will be allowed to 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 will open subject to one person per 4sqm rule, with no singing. 

Work 

NSW employers must continue to allow staff to work from home if employees are able to do so.

Masks

Masks will remain mandatory for all indoor public venues, including public transport, front-of-house hospitality, retail and business premises, on planes and airports.

Hospitality staff will be required to wear masks outdoors.

Schools and children 

Children aged under 12 won’t need to wear a mask.  

Schools will reopen on October 25.  

Children 

Non-vaccinated young people aged under 16 will be able to access all outdoor settings but will only be able to visit indoor venues with members of their household. 

Isolation

The NSW government will change its advice for close and casual contacts who are fully vaccinated.

However, those rules won’t be clarified until a time closer to the reopening date.

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