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Crisis cabinet to unveil the next phase of NSW’s road map to living with Covid

Catie McLeodNCA NewsWire
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro says the rules around the resumption of regional travel could change. NCA NewsWire/Nikki Short
Camera IconNSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro says the rules around the resumption of regional travel could change. NCA NewsWire/Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia

Unvaccinated NSW residents are expected to remain barred from Covid-19 freedoms when the state hits its 80 per cent double-dose target.

NSW crisis cabinet met on Friday evening to discuss the next phrase of its roadmap to lifting restrictions, which will be unveiled next week.

The new freedoms are likely to include increasing the caps on weddings, funerals, hospitality venues and home visitors, as well as a return to community sport.

Only fully vaccinated people and those with medical exemptions will be allowed to take part.

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Major events will also see bigger crowds, while limits on returned international travellers are also due to be lifted.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has promised the state will begin reopening the Monday after the state has vaccinated 70 per cent of residents over the age of 16, with a probable date of October 11.

On current projections, NSW could cross the 80 per cent threshold as soon as October 16.

The government is also understood to be considering delaying the resumption of regional travel, which was supposed to get the green light at the 70 per cent target.

Several regional MPs this week wrote to Ms Berejiklian and Deputy Premier John Barilaro asking them to stop Sydneysiders from travelling to areas with lower vaccination rates.

COVID PRESSER
Camera IconNSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro says the rules around the resumption of regional travel could change. NCA NewsWire/Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia

Mr Barilaro said earlier on Friday that rules around regional travel could change.

“If we need to amend the settings to protect vulnerable regional communities and those communities with lower vaccination rates, we will assess closer to the time, in accordance with NSW Health advice,” he told NCA NewsWire.

NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the unvaccinated should enjoy the same freedoms as the rest of society once everyone had the opportunity to get inoculated.

“My view is – and the government will go to those deliberations – once every single person in this state has had the opportunity to be vaccinated with two doses then we should open up for everyone,” he told 2GB radio.

“I want to see more unity and not have a two-tiered society here … It’s not the government’s role to provide freedom. People by default in this country are free.”

Originally published as Crisis cabinet to unveil the next phase of NSW’s road map to living with Covid

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