The NSW Government’s “staged and flexible” approach to easing COVID-19 restrictions will see settings change from the beginning of Friday, February 18.
The following adjustments will come into play overnight (Feb 17 to 18).
Density limits have been completely dropped (previously one person per 2sqm for hospitality venues).
QR check-ins will only be required for nightclubs, and for all music festivals with more than 1,000 people.
Hospitals, aged and disability facilities may use their existing systems for recording visitors.
Singing and dancing will be permitted at all venues, except music festivals (where singing and dancing can recommence from February 25).
The recommendation to work from home will change and be returned to the employer’s discretion.
Hotel quarantine for unvaccinated returning travellers will be reduced from 14 to seven days from 21 February.
Then from Friday, February 25, further adjustments will be made.
Masks will only be needed on public transport, planes, and indoors at airports, hospitals, aged and disability care facilities, corrections facilities and indoor music festivals with more than 1,000 people.
Masks are encouraged for indoor settings where you can’t maintain a safe distance from others and for customer-facing retail staff.
Each State Government agency will review where it may be appropriate for public-facing staff to wear masks and will implement as necessary.
The 20,000 person cap on music festivals will be removed, with singing and dancing permitted.
Vaccination requirements will remain for indoor music festivals over 1,000 people, with attendees required to have at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
A staged return of non-urgent elective surgery across all NSW public hospitals has commenced and will be increased through February to March.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the NSW Government was continuing to adopt a flexible and measured approach to protect the community and our health system.
“We don’t want restrictions in place for any longer than necessary and with hospitalisation and ICU rates trending downwards now is the right time to make sensible changes,” Perrottet said.
“As we continue to move forward out of the pandemic we are ensuring that we keep people safe and people in jobs so life can return to normal as quickly and safely as possible.”
“Our frontline health staff have done an incredible job protecting the community and we need everyone to step up and do the right thing and get their booster shots to help keep themselves, their family and the community safe.”
Source:
Media release, Feb 17
NSW Government