A booster dose, using the Pfizer vaccine, is now available to those aged 18 and over which health authorities say will help maintain a high level of protection against COVID.
As the day dawned on Monday, November 1, a sense of relief and excitement was buzzing around the Central Coast because finally, after more than four months of COVID lockdown, fully-vaccinated residents are free to travel anywhere in NSW.
Bookings for hospitality venues are no longer capped and fully vaccinated travellers from overseas can enter NSW without having to quarantine, subject to Commonwealth border restrictions.
However, people who are not vaccinated or had only one dose are, at this stage, still restricted until December 15 to travel, participate in sport, recreation and hospitality venues.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said November could not start in a more positive way, with families and friends reuniting after so long apart.
“Families and friends across NSW can now get together as well as look forward to welcoming back home Australians who have been overseas trying to get home for so long.
“High vaccination rates have allowed us to reopen in a safe and considered way,” the Premier said.
Vaccination rates on the Coast have now reached 90 per cent double vaccinated and 95 per cent have had their first dose.
Parliamentary Secretary for Central Coast, Adam Crouch, thanked everyone for all they’d done so far to get to this point.
“Our vaccination rates are incredible and by doing the right thing we’re seeing less COVID cases reported daily across the Central Coast,” he said.
“It’s great to be able to get back to what we love.”
Recent numbers of new COVID cases on the Coast have consistently remained in single-digit numbers and there was only one new case reported on Monday, with no new exposure sites.
Residents across the state will still need to comply with COVID check-ins and provide proof of vaccination to staff in most settings.
All people aged over 12 are required to wear a mask indoors.
Central Coast Local Health District is urging everyone to remain vigilant for COVID symptoms and to be tested for even the mildest of symptoms.
The booster should be taken six months after the second dose of any of the COVID vaccines.
Sue Murray