"Major relief": Dom outlines massive changes to NSW roadmap
Just days after being appointed as NSW premier, Dominic Perrottet has made major changes to the state's roadmap to freedom after over 100 days in lockdown.
The big changes include an increase in the number of people allowed to gather together outside and a doubling in the household visitor cap, as NSW prepared for "freedom day" on Monday.
Many NSW school children will be able to return to the classroom earlier than expected, as face-to-face learning will resume on October 25th.
Students in Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 12 students will still return on October 18th, as students in year 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 10 will return a week earlier than expected, joining years 2, 6 and 11 on October 25th.
"That's great for kids. It's a major relief for parents and their sanity and I think this is an important decision today and I want to thank all the teachers who are are there getting vaccinated to ensure that we can open our schools as safely as possible," Mr Perrottet said.
Restrictions for gatherings will also be more relaxed than Gladys Berejiklian's plans, with up to 10 visitors, not counting children 12 and under, will be allowed to a in homes, instead of five.
The cap on outdoor gathering has been raised from 20 to 30 people, while funerals and weddings are able to have 100 guests rather than 50.
Indoor swimming pools were originality remaining closed until December 1st, but will now be open for swimming lessons, squad training, lap swimming, and rehab activities.
Deputy Premier Stuart Ayres has announced workers in regional areas can return to their job from Monday if they have had at least one vaccine dose.
"This has been done because in some areas it was difficult to be able to get vaccines."
This will include regional areas outside the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Shellharbour and Wollongong.
Other changes have been made for when the state reaches the 80 percent double dose mark, which Mr Perrottet predicted would be "in a couple of weeks".
Once this milestone is reached, people will be able to have up to 20 visitors in their home (excluding children aged 12 and under), while up to 50 people will be allowed to gather outdoors.
Masks will no longer be required in office buildings, and up to 3,000 people will be allowed to attend controlled and ticketed outdoor events.
In addition to this, nightclubs will reopen for seated drinking only, as Mr Perrottet wished to offer some normality for young people.
"Young people have done it pretty tough during this period of time," he said.
"This is, for many, the best years of their life, at 18, 19, and they haven't been go out, go clubbing and doing that.
"I want to thank them. And we'll get those clubs open as quickly as possible."
Mr Perrottet had already confirmed no extra changes will be made ahead of "freedom day" on Monday, when pubs, restaurants and shops will open, along with an easing of other restrictions.
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