NSW hospitality venues are estimated to open their doors again from mid-October to fully vaccinated customers.
Restaurants, pubs and cafes will welcome guests for dine-in for the first time since June.
Venues will have to stick to a 4sqm rule inside and a 2sqm rule outside, with drinking while standing also permitted outdoors.
The freedom plan was approved by the Crisis Cabinet last night as the state inches closer to reaching 70 per cent double vaccinations.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed restrictions will ease once the target is achieved, but an official opening date has not been announced.
“The roadmap is at 70 per cent double dose and at 80 per cent there will be more,” said Premier Berejiklian.
“There isn’t a specific date; we will get to 70 per cent double dose when people get their second dose.
“These freedoms will come into place the Monday after that occurs; we don’t want to put a specific date on that, it’s really about how quickly people get vaccinated.”
The current rate for fully vaccinated people in NSW currently sits at 42.7 per cent, with the target of 70 per cent slated to be reached in mid-October.
An economic recovery plan will be announced in early October and an official reopening date for venues in New South Wales will be announced as the 70 per cent double-dose target grows closer.
However, some parts of regional NSW deemed low risk will see restrictions eased on Saturday.
Hospitality venues can reopen according to the one person per 4sqm rule inside and one person per 2sqm outside.
Meanwhile, regional Victoria (except Greater Shepparton) will come out of hard lockdown today at midnight.
Image Credit: City of Sydney Facebook
