NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has confirmed travel from Greater Sydney to regional NSW is officially on hold until November 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under the \u201cRoadmap to Recovery\u201d, Greater Sydney residents were to be able to travel into regional NSW at 80% fully vaccinated, but that has been placed on hold for the time being. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Perrottet cited the vaccination rates in regional NSW as one of the factors behind the decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have made a decision today – and I know for many it will be unpopular, but as Premier I believe it is the right decision, and that is to defer regional travel from Sydney – from Greater Sydney – until November one. The reason we have made that decision is best on vaccination rates in front of us,\u201d Mr Perrottet said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cImportantly as well, this is a confidence game, that was our success last year – instilling consumer confidence, business confidence, and when you look at the figures, we have seen competence in Sydney grow during this time, but regional New South Wales is in negative territory.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, Mr Perrottet did confirm that the State’s rapid rate of second dose vaccinations means that next Monday, October 18 is firming as the day that the Reopening NSW Roadmap’s 80 per cent settings will come into effect for those who are fully vaccinated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Community sport will resume, more friends and family will be reunited, and there will no longer be a cap on guests at weddings and funerals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Masks will also no longer be required in offices, and drinking while standing and dancing will be permitted indoors and outdoors at hospitality venues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
From November 1, bookings for hospitality venues will no longer be capped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The NSW Government will remove quarantine requirements and caps for overseas arrivals starting from November 1, who the Commonwealth Government recognises as fully vaccinated with a TGA-approved vaccine, helping Australians stranded abroad get home before the end of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Further advice about testing requirements for arrivals will be provided in the coming days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fully vaccinated travellers already in quarantine will also complete their quarantine requirements on November 1, even if it is less than 14-days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Overseas arrivals who are not fully vaccinated will be capped at 210 people per week,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
and will be required to undergo mandatory 14-days hotel quarantine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Perrottet said he wants NSW to be the state to welcome people back. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFrom November 1st, those people returning Australians and tourists who want to come back, who want to visit Australia and coming to Sydney, hotel quarantine will be a thing of the past,\u201d Mr Perrottet said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe will require, working with the Commonwealth government, that people coming into here, you\u2019ll need to do a PCR test before you board the flight stop you will need to show proof of your double vaccination,\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor double vaccinated people around the world, Sydney, New South Wales is open for business. We want people back. We are leading the nation out of the pandemic,\u201d Mr Perrottet said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the time of writing, 91.4% of the eligible NSW population has received their first dose of the vaccine, while 77.8% are fully vaccinated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As of Tuesday, October 12, 93.0% of the eligible population in the Central Coast Local Government Area (LGA) has received their first dose, while 72.6% of the eligible population are fully vaccinated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is a similar picture in the neighbouring Lake Macquarie LGA, with 95.0% of the eligible population in Lake Macquarie LGA already receiving their first dose, while 68.9% of the LGA are fully vaccinated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The full NSW Roadmap To Recovery can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Listen via the Star 104.5 Player, download it now via the <\/em>App Store<\/em><\/a> or <\/em>Google Play<\/em><\/a> and take Star 104.5 wherever you go.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n WATCH: Wake up with a laugh and join <\/em><\/strong>Rabbit & Sarah for Breakfast<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, weekdays, 6am-9am.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n