Officials are working on a October 18 date to end hated lockdowns in New South Wales, as another busy regional Woolworths is put on alert for Covid after being exposed nine times over a matter of days.
If vaccination rates stay stable and consistent, the state is expected to hit a 70 per cent double-jabbed rate around that time, with experts saying that would be enough to end lockdown, regardless of case numbers.
Gladys Berejiklian has rallied industries, including pubs and restaurants, to prepare for the mid-October date, which is seven weeks away.
But in the meantime, health officials are still concerned about the virus circulating in the community, with just 33 per cent of people fully-vaccinated and regional areas particularly at risk.
Petrol stations, takeaways and supermarkets are the latest venues of concern after the state hit a record 1,029 locally acquired Covid-19 cases on Thursday – the first time an Australian state or territory has surpassed 1,000 daily cases.
Health officials identified eight new venues of concern in regional areas following the announcement of a lockdown extension for regional NSW until at least September 10.
Greater freedoms are on their way for vaccinated residents in NSW with the government earmarking a date of October 18 for the state’s reopening (pictured, masked Sydneysiders in lockdown)
A Woolworths in Wellington (pictured) was exposed to Covid nine times from August 15 to August 23
An Officeworks and a Domino’s pizza store in Dubbo were among the list, after 25 cases of the virus were detected in the area on Thursday.
More casual contact venues were also identified at a petrol station and a Coles in Wellington after a Woolworths in the central-western town issued nine Covid-19 alerts from August 15 to August 23.
All shoppers who visited the exposure sites at the listed times must get tested and self-isolate until they receive a negative result.
Health bosses are now only publicly listing exposure sites outside of Greater Sydney, as they claim they pose a ‘greater risk’ to the regional communities.
While Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant warned the virus outbreak hadn’t fully reached its peak on Thursday, the NSW government is discussing a reopening date of October 18, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant (pictured, right, with Gladys Berejiklian on Thursday) is working towards an October 18 reopening for the state
Eight new venues of concern were identified including an Officeworks in Dubbo (pictured), with the town recording 25 infections on Thursday
A Dubbo Domino’s takeaway shop (pictured) is also listed as Covid-19 exposure site after being visited by a positive case
The premier revealed she was already working with industry leaders to prepare plans to reopen mid-October.
‘We’re calling upon industry and citizens to get ready for when we hit that 70 per cent double dose. We are already starting to work with industry stakeholders on how we can go back to safely open up,’ she said on Thursday.
‘Get fully vaccinated, you still have time to make sure that when you start opening up, you have those options to live a freer life.’
In preparation of the state’s easing of restrictions once vaccination rates reach 70 per cent around mid-October, discussions of small-scale trials in industries such as hairdressing are also set to begin in the coming weeks.
Some select industries where both customer and staff are fully-vaccinated are may be asked to operate as a ‘litmus test’ for reopening, including as a precursor to pubs and restaurants, which could open with capacity limits in a matter of months.
Greater freedoms for vaccinated Australians will also be granted in the coming weeks as the state plans its roadmap out of the relentless lockdown.
Outdoor gatherings of up to five immunised people living outside of LGAs of concern are permitted from September 13, including an extra hour of outdoor recreational activity for vaccinated residents in hotspots.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian granted Sydneysiders some freedom from September 13 allowing outdoor gatherings of up to five people who are fully vaccinated (pictured, residents exercising during Sydney’s lockdown)
More than 80 per cent of Thursday’s new cases were found in west and south-west Sydney (pictured, shoppers in Ashfield in the city’s inner-west)
While the government admitted a jump to 80 per cent vaccination rate was difficult, they were confident 70 per cent is a more realistic target.
Ms Berejiklian said she was committed to giving people freedom despite sky-rocketing case numbers.
‘We’re a government that assesses the risk but also assesses our wish to live with this virus,’ she said.
‘We know that people coming together is what people miss the most.’
‘From the various options we looked at, that was the option that met the mental health needs and wellbeing of our community, but also provided the lowest-risk setting.’
Residents taking advantage of the new rules will need to carry proof they are fully-vaccinated at all times.
The greater freedoms were announced on Thursday which included an extra hour of recreational activity for fully vaccinated residents in hotspot LGAs (pictured, locked-down residents enjoying takeaway coffee)
The new freedoms come after NSW hit Ms Berejiklian’s target of getting six million jabs in arms by the end of August a week early.
She said the state is on track to fully vaccinate 70 per cent of its population by as early as mid-October – triggering further freedoms for the fully vaccinated.
At 70 per cent fully-jabbed, officials said family, industry, community and economic restrictions will be lifted for those who are fully vaccinated.
Once the state hits a 80 per cent coverage level, restrictions will be further eased for businesses, the wider-community and the economy.
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said she was confident easing restrictions in the state was safe even when cases were still rising at record rates.
Residents taking advantage of the new rules will need to carry proof they are fully-vaccinated at all times (pictured, shoppers in Merrylands)
More than 80 per cent of Thursday’s new cases were found in west and south-west Sydney.
There are now 698 Covid-19 patients across NSW with the virus – the vast majority of whom Dr Chant said were not vaccinated against the virus.
‘What we’re doing is incentivising vaccination because to avail yourself of this [lockdown] you have to be vaccinated,’ she said.
‘In the local areas of concern, we’ve taken the precaution that is just open to the household group.
‘It’s a thank you to the community and rewarding them in a way that is safe. These are baby steps.’
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured on Thursday) said she was committed to giving people freedom in the coming months