New South Wales residents can now welcome even more guests into their homes, after Covid restrictions were further eased for fully vaccinated people in the state.
From Monday, with the state’s double-dose vaccination coverage set to pass 90% for people aged 16 and over, the density rule dictating gathering limits increased to one person per 2 sq metres, up from one person per 4 sq metres, for indoor settings.
Here are all the new changes that take effect on 8 November.
Visitors
There is now no limit on the number of visitors to a home, which had previously been capped.
However, visitors must be fully vaccinated, and be visiting a household where everyone over 16 is fully vaccinated.
Retail, hospitality and nightclubs
Retail stores, gyms and personal services businesses can all operate without caps, as these settings also move to the new density rule.
For pubs, bars and restaurants, in addition to moving to the one person per 2 sq metres density rules, limits on the number of people per booking at a hospitality venue have been scrapped entirely.
Patrons can consume alcohol indoors or outdoors while standing or sitting, while singing and dancing is permitted indoors or outdoors, including at nightclubs.
Entertainment
People will also be able to gather in greater numbers outdoors, with a new limit of 1,000. Events with more than 1,000 people will require a Covid-safe plan.
Entertainment venues such as stadiums, cinemas, theatres and theme parks can now operate at 100% seated capacity.
Community sport is also now permitted for all fully vaccinated residents.
Schools
Music classes and assemblies can now resume at schools, with all year groups having returned for face to face learning.
Excursions will also be allowed, with all teachers now required to be fully vaccinated.
Travel
Travelling between Sydney and regional NSW was allowed from the beginning of November, on the same day that quarantine for fully vaccinated international arrivals was scrapped.
Weddings, funerals and places of worship
Weddings can have an unlimited number of guests, in line with the new density rule of one person per 2 sq metres. Dancing is permitted and eating and drinking are allowed while standing. The same gathering rules apply for funerals.
Churches and places of worship can operate with one person per 2 sq metres, with singing allowed. Unvaccinated worshippers are permitted.
What about unvaccinated people in NSW?
Unvaccinated residents will still be under stay-at-home orders and excluded from the above settings (except for places of worship and small funerals) until 15 December, or when the state reaches 95% double-dose vaccination coverage – whichever occurs first.
At this point, the mask mandate will largely be scrapped, although masks will still be mandatory while travelling on public transport, on planes and at airports, and for front-of-house hospitality workers.