NSW records 1405 COVID-19 cases and five deaths as premier unveils path out of lockdown

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said there is no specific date when the associated "freedoms" will come into effect.

"We will get to 70 per cent double-dose when people get their second dose, when people come forward to get vaccinated and these freedoms will come into place the Monday after that occurs," she told reporters on Thursday.

"We don’t want to put a specific date on that." 

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The premier stressed the roadmap is subject to fine-tuning and health advice if circumstances change drastically or if cases within a designated area remain too high. 

“Whilst today, the NSW government is outlining our plan, our road map, for the way forward in NSW, we’re definitely not out of the woods,” she said. 

NSW records 1,405 COVID-19 cases and five deaths as premier unveils path out of lockdown

“We know that case numbers are likely to peak in the next week or so and we also know that our hospital system will be under the greatest stress in October. However, we also know that living with COVID means you have a cautious and staged reopening.

"I also want to stress that at this stage the roadmap [is] that any person who is 70 per cent double-dose vaccinated is able to participate in the freedoms that come forward from that time."

The premier said more than 42.5 per cent of the state's population is now fully vaccinated. 

Freedoms for the fully vaccinated

Only fully vaccinated people and those with medical exemptions will have access to the greater incentives outlined in the state government's roadmap.

They include up to five visitors allowed inside a home where all adults are vaccinated (not including children aged 12 and under), and up to 20 people gathering in outdoor settings. 

Hospitality venues can reopen subject to the four-square-metre rule, as can retail stores. The unvaccinated may only access critical retail outlets such as supermarkets.

Personal services such as hairdressers can reopen with the same four-square-metre rule, as can gyms. Swimming pools can also reopen.

Stadiums can again host events, capped at 5,000 people, and up to 500 people can attend ticketed and seated outdoor events.

Cinemas, theatres, museums and galleries can also reopen, and up to 50 vaccinated guests can attend church services, weddings and funerals.

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NSW Health said the deaths reported in the 24 hours to 8pm on Wednesday include a woman in her 40s from south-western Sydney who died at Liverpool Hospital, a woman in her 70s who died at Ryde Hospital, a woman in her 70s who died at Concord Hospital, a man in his 80s who died at Westmead Hospital and a man in his 80s who died at Nepean Hospital. 

There are currently 1,175 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 202 people in intensive care, 80 of whom require ventilation. 

Lockdowns will from Saturday be lifted for parts of regional NSW deemed low risk, but not for large parts of western NSW. 

With AAP. 

SBS is providing live translations of daily New South Wales and Victoria COVID-19 press conferences in various languages. Click here for more information.

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