Roadmap to freedom unveiled for the fully vaccinated

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Stay-at-home orders for adults who have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will be lifted from the Monday after NSW passes the 70 per cent double vaccination target, under the roadmap to freedom released today.

The roadmap is subject to further fine-tuning and health advice if circumstances change drastically or if cases within a designated area remain too high.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said we are well on the way to hitting the 70 per cent double dose milestone which will allow the state to open up for those who have received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

“I cannot stress enough how important it is for people to get vaccinated – if you have not had both doses of the vaccine by the time we hit the 70 per cent milestone, you will not be able to take advantage of these freedoms,” Ms Berejiklian said.
 
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the NSW Government has worked with industry to design this road map, which is our biggest incentive to get vaccinated, to reach the 70 per cent target as soon as possible.

“Our roadmap outlines the freedoms that twice vaccinated people will enjoy once we reach 70 per cent double dose which means a meal with loved ones or a drink with friends is just around the corner,” Mr Barilaro said.

Only fully vaccinated people and those with medical exemptions will have access to the freedoms allowed under the Reopening NSW roadmap.

The freedoms for vaccinated adults will come into effect on the Monday after NSW hits the 70 per cent double dose target and include:

Gatherings in the home and public spaces:

  • 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 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 (unvaccinated people will continue to only be able to access critical retail).
  • 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.


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: 

  • Domestic travel, including trips to regional NSW, will be permitted.
  • Caravan parks and camping grounds can open.
  • Carpooling will be permitted.

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.

Employers must continue to allow employees to work from home if the employee is able to do so.

There will be revised guidance on isolation for close and casual contacts who are fully vaccinated, with details to be provided closer to the reopening date.


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.

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the easing of restrictions would come as a huge relief to struggling businesses and workers, who just want to get their lives back on track, safely.

“This roadmap gives us the light at the end of the tunnel we all want and will enable our economy to start firing again, driving our state back to prosperity,” Mr Perrottet said.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the government will continue to be guided by the health advice, and may still require targeted restrictions to deal with outbreaks.

“As we work toward reopening NSW, it is vital people continue to come forward and get vaccinated to help protect the community and reduce transmission of the virus,” Mr Hazzard.

When NSW hits the 80 per cent double dose target, the government intends to open up further freedoms around international travel, community sport, major events and other areas.

www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/roadmap-to-freedom-unveiled-for-fully-vaccinated

 

Sent from my iPhone. Pls excuse my typos.

Face mask rules | NSW Government

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Wearing a face mask is mandatory in some settings. Learn about when you need to wear a face mask, when you can remove it and who is exempt.

On this page

www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules/changes/face-mask-rules

 

COVID UPDATE: From 13 Sept, Groups of 5 People if Double Vaccinated.

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People across NSW who have received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine will be allowed more freedoms next month after NSW hit the target of six million jabs.
 

This is the first step in the roadmap and further freedoms will follow for those who have had the jab when the state hits new vaccination targets of 70 and 80 per cent.

Following consultation with Dr Kerry Chant and her team, as well as the NSW Chief Psychiatrist Dr Murray Wright, the following individual freedoms will be allowed for adults who have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

From 12.01am, Monday, 13 September:

  • For those who live outside the LGAs of concern, outdoor gatherings of up to five people (including children) will be allowed in a person’s LGA or within 5km of home.
  • For those who live in the LGAs of concern, and who have responded to the call out to get vaccinated, households with all adults vaccinated will be able to gather outdoors (including picnics) within the existing rules (for one hour only, outside curfew hours and within 5km of home).

If you are not booked in for a COVID-19 vaccine, please book an appointment as soon possible.

There are several options to receive your ‘proof of COVID-19 vaccination’:

  • Download your COVID-19 digital certificate via the Express Plus Medicaremobile app or your Medicare online account through myGov.
    • You can add your COVID-19 digital certificate to your Apple Wallet or Google Pay.
    • Instructions are available on the Services Australia website.
  • ​​​​If you can’t get proof online, your vaccination provider can print your immunisation history statement for you.
  • Call the Australian Immunisation Register on 1800 653 809 (Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm) and ask for your statement to be sent to you. It can take up to 14 days to arrive in the post.
  • If you’re not eligible for Medicare you can call the Australian Immunisation Register and request your certificate be mailed to you or add your COVID-19 certificate to your digital wallet using the Individual Healthcare Identifiers service (IHI service) through myGov.

Read the latest COVID-19 information.

www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/new-freedoms-for-vaccinated-first-step-on-state-roadmap-out-of-covid

 

Sent from iPad. Pls excuse typos.

Covid Cases- Northern Beaches

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919 locally acquired cases of COVID-19 were announced in NSW to 8.00pm last night (Tuesday, 24 August). 178 of these are currently linked to a known case or cluster and 106 were in isolation throughout their infectious period.

The Northern Beaches has 42 active cases, with two new cases recorded.

  • 2104 (Bayview) 1 new case, linked to a known case
  • 2094 (Fairlight) 1 new case, linked to a known case

Since our last report three cases have been removed from the active case list by NSW Health.

  • 2095 (Manly) 1 case no longer active
  • 2085 (Belrose/Davidson) 2 cases no longer active

Two people in NSW died from COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8.00pm last night, neither was from the Northern Beaches. 132 people in NSW have died from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.

149,252 people were tested for COVID-19 in NSW yesterday. 2,702 of these tests were conducted on the Northern Beaches.

NSW administered 45,073 vaccines in the 24 hours to 8.00pm last night. 33,576 of these were first doses and 11,497 were second doses. A total of 6,143,824 vaccinations have now been administered in NSW.

www.northernbeachesadvocate.com.au/2021/08/25/where-are-the-cases-33/

 

COVID: New Compliance Rules, Mask Required Outdoors except during Exercise

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In response to the evolving Delta outbreak, NSW will extend the current lockdown in Greater Sydney until the end of September, and introduce new rules targeting the local government areas of concern, where the vast majority of new cases are emerging.

NSW Health and Police have worked together to develop a set of additional COVID controls for the state to reduce transmission and ensure compliance.

Additional rules for the LGAs of concern:

From 12.01am Monday, 23 August the following additional rules will apply for residents and businesses in the LGAs of concern:

  • Curfews will be introduced from 9pm to 5am (except for authorised workers, emergencies or medical care) to help reduce the movement of young people;
  • Outdoor exercise is limited to one hour per day;
  • The following retail premises must close except for click and collect: garden centres and plant nurseries, office supplies, hardware and building supplies, landscaping material supplies, rural supplies, and pet supplies (tradespeople are allowed to shop in-store where relevant); and
  • All exams and other education or professional development related activities will move online, not including the HSC. The government will provide further information on its education plan in due course.

The following new restrictions around workplaces and authorised workers from the LGAs of concern will be introduced:

  • Childcare workers and disability support workers who live or work in the LGAs of concern must have their first vaccination dose by 30 August;
  • Authorised workers who work outside their LGA of concern are only permitted to work if rapid antigen testing is implemented at their work-site or they have had their first vaccination dose by 30 August.
  • From Saturday, 28 August, authorised workers from the LGAs of concern  are required to carry a permit from Service NSW declaring that they are an authorised worker and cannot work from home; and
  • From Saturday, 28 August, anyone entering an LGA of concern for the purposes of work must carry a worker permit issued by Service NSW.

From 12.01am Monday, 23 August, workers from the Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland and Fairfield LGAs will no longer have to have been tested for COVID-19 in the previous 72 hours to work outside their LGA.

Special powers will also be given to the NSW Police Force including:

  • Power for the Commissioner of Police to lockdown apartment blocks while health assesses the COVID risk;
  • Power for the Commissioner of Police to declare a residential premise a COVID-risk premise and require all people to present to police during compliance checks;
  • Powers to allow police to direct a person who has been issued with an infringement notice to return to their place of residence; and
  • If a person from outside an LGA of concern is found to be in an LGA of concern without a reasonable excuse, they will be fined $1000 and required to isolate at home for 14 days.

Additional measures for Greater Sydney (including regional NSW until 28 August) 

From 12.01am Monday, 23 August, the following additional rule will also be introduced for Greater Sydney (including regional NSW until 28 August):

  • Mask wearing will be mandatory when outside your home, except when exercising.

There have been a number of cases in Early Childhood Education and Care Services, so parents and carers across the state are strongly encouraged to keep their children at home, unless they need to be at those services.

Read the latest COVID-19 information.

Covid-19 Recovery in Athletes | AskThePro

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What kind of post-viral symptoms can athletes expect following a Covid-19 infection and what are the implications for a return to sport?

As our understanding of Covid-19 has evolved, it has become abundantly apparent that this is a virus that primarily affects the elderly (over 60-70 years of age), and particularly those with underlying serious health conditions, which have been shown to increase the risk of mortality by around 2.5 to 12-fold regardless of age.

By contrast, fit and healthy individuals under the age of 60 years are largely only mildly affected or may not affected at all. For example, the US Center for Disease Control data shows that in the 18-30 age group, the risks associated with Covid-19 are 100 times less than in the 65-75 age group and 600 times less than in the over 85s age group.

POST VIRAL RISKS

Despite the very low risk of serious illness in Covid-19, younger and fitter individuals can of course still contract the illness mildly, and like all viral infections, there exists the risk that post viral effects (‘Long Covid’) may be experienced.

Covid-19Recovery

Source: Sports Performance Bulletin August 2021

Sydney’s COVID-19 restrictions: What you can and cannot do from Monday

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Sydneysiders must do their shopping, exercise and outdoor recreation in their local government area or within five kilometres of their home, under new rules to slow the spread of coronavirus coming into effect on Monday.

NSW entered a snap statewide lockdown at 5pm on Saturday after recording 466 new cases of COVID-19, which continues to spread throughout regional areas. There were 415 new cases of COVID-19 reported on Sunday.

From Monday, residents of Greater Sydney (including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour) are restricted to their local government area for shopping, exercise and outdoor recreation. Those who need to cross into neighbouring local government areas to carry out those essential activities must not travel further than 5km from their home to do so.

Residents in Sydney’s 12 local government areas of concern must still only shop or exercise within five kilometres of home. People in these areas must also wear a mask when they leave home.

Outdoor recreation is no longer an excuse to leave home for residents in those areas, however, they can supervise a child under 12 who is playing or exercising.

The local government areas of concern are Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Strathfield, and some suburbs of Penrith.

Sydneysiders who live outside these local government areas can enter those areas if they have a reasonable excuse, such as caring for a vulnerable person or for a co-parenting arrangement.

They cannot enter those local government areas to shop.

People who live outside the areas of concern can still enter those areas for exercise, so long as they are no further than five kilometres from their home.

 
 https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/sydney-s-covid-19-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do-from-monday-20210815-p58iwf.html

 

New powers, new fines as police crackdown on non-compliance | Northern Beaches Council

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Friday, 30 July 2021

NSW Police will be out monitoring the beaches this weekend.

The increased police presence is part of a Sydney-wide operation that will see thousands of police officers deployed across Greater Sydney from the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, Police Transport Command and general duties to enforce the health orders.

Earlier this week, the NSW government announced enhanced police powers, additional fines and tighter new rules that will spearhead the enforcement response against people who refuse to do the right thing during a global pandemic, including:

• new powers that have been granted to the NSW Police Commissioner to shut down businesses, construction sites and public premises where there is a risk to public health; and

• penalties for not wearing a mask where required increased from $200 to $500.

Northern Beaches Council rangers, together with the Local Area Command will be actively monitoring the beaches and public spaces to ensure everyone is doing the right thing.

Call Crime Stoppers on 1300 333 000

www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/council/news/new-powers-new-fines-police-crackdown-on-non-compliance

MLTC President’s Message

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Hope everyone is staying well during the lockdown!

We are very lucky to play a sport that allows us to be able to exercise during these restrictions. For this to continue it is essential that all players  follow all the health protocols, wear a mask when signing in, arrive on time for your allotted playing time and , limit the time at the court waiting and leave prompting after your game. Can I also encourage all members to contact other members to organise a hit especially during member playing times when courts are available free to all members.

Behind the scenes there has been a lot happening this year.

  • The Accessible toilet has been completed and is proving very useful during the clubhouse closure.
  • The renovation of the bar is nearly complete – it has a new floor, new refrigeration, dishwasher, and an ice machine. Just some shelving to be done.
  • The men’s toilet is in the middle of a partial makeover. A further upgrade is on the drawing boards.
  • We have received a grant for water fountains. A new fountain will be installed on court three

The Committee has decided to move our accounting system over to Xero from MYOB. We  will start using “ In tennis” as our Club management system. This will enable us to streamline our Membership base and improve connectivity to members and more importantly allow better systems that require less manual input.

It has been many years since membership fees have been increased, from September 1 when you will be invoiced there will be a slight increase in fees.

I hope everyone stays strong during these testing times.

Craig Withell
President

Lockdown Extended to Sat 28 August

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Given low vaccination rates, the current stay at home orders will remain in place for another four weeks (until Saturday, 28 August at 12.01am) across Greater Sydney including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour.

This extra time will allow NSW residents to significantly increase the uptake of vaccines in areas most affected by the current outbreak and across the state.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said higher vaccination rates and following the health orders are the only way to guarantee the further easing of restrictions.

“Though the Pfizer supply is insufficient there is plenty of AstraZeneca, and updated federal health advice recommends anyone aged 18 and over in Greater Sydney should access the jab,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“If you are unvaccinated, please organise a jab as soon as you possibly can, especially if you live in an LGA of concern.”

Other restriction changes are as follows:

From midnight tonight (28 July):

  • In line with exercise rules, Greater Sydney residents including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour must limit their shopping to within their Local Government Area (LGA) or, if outside their LGA, within 10km from home, unless the item is not available locally.
  • Given localised case numbers, the Parramatta, Campbelltown and Georges River LGAs will join the five existing LGAs of concern which are subject to an Authorised Workers Order. Only authorised workers in these eight LGAs may leave their LGA for work.

The five previously announced LGAs of concern are Canterbury-Bankstown, Fairfield, Liverpool, Blacktown and Cumberland.

From 12.01am, Saturday, 31 July:

  • Construction in non-occupied settings outside of the LGAs of concern (with no residents on-site) will re-open as planned, subject to a one person per 4sqm rule. These low-risk construction sites must have COVID safe plans in place, compliance will be strictly enforced. Construction cannot resume in the eight LGAs of concern, nor will construction workers be allowed to leave these areas.
  • Trades people, including cleaners who are able to work with zero contact with residents will also be allowed to resume (no more than two people inside and five outside). If contactless arrangements are not possible, work cannot go ahead. This work will not be allowed in the eight LGAs of concern, nor will workers be allowed to leave these areas.
  • A singles bubble will also be introduced, allowing people who live alone to nominate one designated family member or friend to visit for companionship. Restrictions will apply for people in the LGAs of concern.

Changes to surveillance testing (enforceable from Saturday, 31 July):

  • All authorised workers from Canterbury-Bankstown LGA must get tested once every three days in order to leave their LGA for work.
  • People who live in the Fairfield and Cumberland LGAs but work outside these areas as health or aged care workers (including support services for health or aged care, such as cleaners, cooks and security providers) must be tested once every three days in order to be allowed to go to work outside their LGA.
  • These surveillance testing requirements will be enforceable from Saturday, 31 July. However, relevant workers will have from today to get their first test.

Year 12 students are also set to return to face-to-face learning on Monday, 16 August, with the Government finalising plans for the resumption of in-class study under strict COVID protocols.

The NSW Government is also working with industry and the Department of Education to introduce Rapid Antigen Testing to mitigate against outbreaks in workplaces and schools.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro said restrictions in regional NSW will remain unchanged.

“The lockdown in Greater Sydney and every measure and precaution we implement is not only for the residents of Sydney but to protect regional NSW and to prevent the virus reaching our regional communities,” Mr Barilaro said.

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet welcomed the Commonwealth Government’s commitment to provide additional support for those hardest hit during this pandemic.

“Working with our federal counterparts we are providing extra support to ensure the businesses and people who have been hit hardest by this pandemic get the financial assistance they need to get through this crisis and back on the path to recovery,” Mr Perrottet said.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said though the stay-at-home restrictions are difficult for the community this is a critical time if we are to suppress the outbreak.

“The vast majority of the community has been absolutely fantastic to date and have followed the public health advice. Though we are easing some restrictions today we need people to redouble their efforts as we continue to battle the Delta variant in the coming weeks,” Mr Hazzard said.

“We need people to stay at home unless absolutely necessary to leave and the best reason for most people to leave home right now is to get vaccinated. In doing so, you are taking a vital step to protect yourself, your loved ones and the community.”

For the latest information visit COVID-19.

Face mask rules | NSW Government

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When to wear a face mask

There are rules for wearing a fitted face covering (face mask)

You do not need to wear a face mask when you are

  • in your home on your own
  • in your home with other people you live with, except if someone in your household is self-isolating
  • travelling in a vehicle (car) by yourself or with other people you live with.

Public transport

You must wear a face mask in NSW when

  • using public transport, hire vehicles, taxis and rideshare services
  • waiting for public transport at a bus or light rail stop, train station or ferry wharf.

Residential buildings: Greater Sydney

From Tuesday 13 July 2021, in Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour, residents, staff and visitors must wear a fitted face mask in indoors area of common property in residential buildings.

You do not need to wear a mask inside your own apartment.

Find out more about the Greater Sydney rules for wearing a face mask in a residential building.

Non-residential indoor areas

You must wear a fitted face mask when you are in an indoor area of a non-residential premises in NSW.

Examples of the areas where a face mask must be worn are

  • retail or business premises that provide goods or services to members of the public who attend the premises, including
    • supermarkets
    • shopping centres (excluding an indoor recreation facility in a shopping centre)
    • bank branches and post offices
    • hairdressing, nail, beauty, tanning and waxing salons
    • spas, tattoo parlours and massage parlours
    • betting agencies

  • indoor areas on common property of a strata titled, community titled, or company titled building

  • indoor areas of construction sites

  • any part of a licensed premises that is used for the purposes of gaming, and gaming lounges

  • places of public worship being used for public worship or religious services
  • residential aged care facilities
  • indoor areas of schools by all staff and students from Year 7 and above in Greater Sydney (outside Greater Sydney, masks are recommendedindoors for all staff and students from Year 7 and above) – some exemptions apply
  • workplaces
  • gym classes or dance classes
  • COVID-19 Safe outdoor gatherings
  • controlled outdoor gatherings
  • entertainment facilities (such as theatres, cinemas, music and concert halls)
  • major recreation facilities (such as stadiums, showgrounds, theme parks, racecourses, and motor racing tracks)
  • indoor recreation facilities (unless it is strenuous exercise).

You must wear a face mask if you

  • work at a hospitality venue located in NSW and
  • deal directly with members of the public.

Premises that are used for the purpose of providing health services are not retail or business premises.

Airports and commercial domestic flights

Face mask rules apply to airports and commercial domestic flights across NSW. 

You must wear a face mask when

  • indoors at a NSW airport, including the passenger waiting area and
  • during a domestic commercial flight when it is
    • landing or taking off from a NSW airport or
    • flying in NSW airspace.

www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules/face-mask-rules

 

Restrictions to further limit the spread of the COVID-19 Delta strain

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Given the number of infectious cases in the community, the following changes will be made to further limit the spread of the COVID-19 Delta strain.

On the basis of updated health advice, the following changes come into effect across Greater Sydney including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour until 11.59pm on Friday, 30 July:

From 11.59pm on Saturday, 17 July:

  • Retail premises will be required to close (‘click and collect’, takeaway and home delivery can still operate), except the following can remain open:
    • Supermarkets and grocery stores (including butchers, bakeries, fruit and vegetable stores, liquor stores and fishmongers);
    • Stores that predominantly sell health, medical, maternity and infant supplies;
    • Pharmacies and chemists;
    • Petrol stations;
    • Car hire;
    • Banks and financial institutions;
    • Hardware, nurseries and building supplies;
    • Agricultural and rural supplies;
    • Pet supplies;
    • Post offices and newsagents; and
    • Office supplies.
  • In addition to the stay-at-home rules, residents of Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown and Liverpool LGAs cannot leave their LGA for work except for emergency services and healthcare workers (including aged and disability workers). Where those workers do need to leave their LGA for work, they are required to be tested every three days, even if they do not have symptoms;
  • Anyone who leaves the home must have a mask with them at all times. They must be worn when you are working outdoors, in outdoor markets, outdoor shopping strips, and in an outdoor queues waiting for products such as coffee and food; and
  • All carpooling to be stopped unless among members of the same household.

From 12.01am on Monday, 19 July:

  • All construction to be paused; and
  • Non-urgent maintenance, including cleaning services, and repair work on residential premises to be paused.

From 12.01am on Wednesday, 21 July:

  • Employers must allow employees to work from home if the employee is able to do so, failure to do so can result in a fine of up to $10,000.

We are constantly reviewing the health advice and will continue to update the community if any changes are required.

All other restrictions currently in place across Greater Sydney including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour will remain in place.

These decisions have not been made lightly and we understand this is a difficult time for the community and appreciate their ongoing patience.

It is vital people continue to come forward for testing to help us find any COVID-19 cases in the community.

Restrictions in regional NSW remain unchanged.

Read the latest COVID-19 information.

www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/restrictions-to-further-limit-spread-of-covid-19-delta-strain