THE majority of the New England North West will be released from lockdown on Saturday, NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro has confirmed.
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Narrabri local government area will remain under lockdown orders following a positive case of COVID-19 being recorded overnight.
The Mid North Coast, North Coast and Riverina districts will also be released from lockdown, but the Hunter, Central Coast, Illawarra and western NSW will remain under stay-at-home orders.
NSW recorded 1405 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 and six COVID deaths on Thursday.
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Mr Barilaro said the decision was based on NSW Health advice, and communities which stay in lockdown would continue to be monitored on a regular basis.
"My strong advice to everyone in regional NSW is to get vaccinated as soon as you can," he added.
"Our communities need to continue to get vaccinated so that when NSW reaches 70 and 80 per cent, restrictions can ease significantly."
All of regional NSW has been in lockdown since August 15 following the latest Delta outbreak leaving Sydney.
Stay-at-home orders will remain in place in the following LGAs: Bathurst, Bega, Blayney, Bogan, Bourke Brewarrina, Broken Hill, Cabonne, Central Coast, Central Darling, Cessnock, Dubbo, Dungog, Eurobodalla, Forbes, Gilgandra, Goulburn, Mulwaree, Kiama, Lake Macquarie, Lithgow, Maitland, Mid-Coast Mid-Western, Muswellbrook, Narrabri, Narromine, Newcastle, Orange, Parkes, Port Stephens, Queanbeyan-Palerang, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Singleton, Snowy Monaro, Upper Hunter, Walgett and Wingecarribee.
The deputy premier also announced freedoms for local government areas set to leave lockdown including:
Gatherings in the home and public spaces:
Up to five visitors will be allowed in a home (not including children 12 and under).
Up to 20 people can gather in outdoor settings.
Venues including hospitality, retail stores and gyms:
Hospitality venues can reopen subject to one person per 4sqm inside and one person per 2sqm outside, with standing while drinking permitted outside.
Retail stores can reopen under the one person per 4sqm rule.
Personal services such as hairdressers and nail salons can open with one person per 4sqm, capped at five clients per premises.
Gyms and indoor recreation facilities can open under the one person per 4sqm rule and can offer classes for up to 20 people.
Sporting facilities including swimming pools can reopen.
Schools:
Schools will re-open with Level 3 COVIDSafe measures in place.
Stadiums, theatres and major outdoor recreation facilities:
Major recreation outdoor facilities including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can reopen with one person per 4sqm, capped at 5,000 people.
Up to 500 people can attend ticketed and seated outdoor events.
Indoor entertainment and information facilities including cinemas, theatres, music halls, museums and galleries can reopen with one person per 4sqm or 75 per cent fixed seated capacity.
Weddings, funerals and places of worship:
Up to 50 guests can attend weddings, with dancing permitted and eating and drinking only while seated.
Up to 50 guests can attend funerals, with eating and drinking while seated.
Churches and places of worship to open subject to one person per 4sqm rule, with no singing.
Travel:
Caravan parks and camping grounds can open.
Carpooling will be permitted.
Masks:
Masks will remain mandatory for all indoor public venues, including public transport, front-of-house hospitality, retail and business premises, on planes and at airports.
Only hospitality staff will be required to wear a mask when outdoors.
Children aged under 12 will not need to wear a mask indoors.
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