Deputy Premier John Barilaro has confirmed that any unvaccinated residents of regions which emerged from lockdown will lose their freedoms once the state hits its vaccination milestone of 70 per cent.
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Freedoms enjoyed by low risk regions from Saturday mirror those that will apply to the fully vaccinated state-wide once a double vaccination rate of 70 per cent is hit, a date expected to fall in mid-October.
At a regional press conference, Mr Barilaro confirmed once the 70 per cent milestone is hit, residents in low-risk regions who are not vaccinated will lose the freedoms they gained.
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"They will lose freedoms," Mr Barilaro said. "The message is clear, because you get some freedoms... you could lose them if you're not vaccinated. That is something I know is harsh, but it's the reality we live in.
"We will never beat COVID until we get to 70, 80, 90 per cent vaccination."
He also warned the relaxing of restrictions is "fragile" and any positive case of COVID-19 will result in an immediate 14 day lockdown.
Sewage detection and exposure sites will be used as criteria to measure the risk of an area, but will not have the same snap lockdown effect as an active COVID case, Mr Barilaro confirmed.
Mr Barilaro confirmed that essential workers passing though the region such as truck drivers are not subject to the relaxed rules and must abide by stay at home orders in place in their own LGA.
"Authorised workers travelling through are mostly coming out of a lockdown area and still have a level of restrictions on them," Mr Barilaro said. "The idea they can come to a [low risk] area and go have a beer at the local pub is not permissible.
"Is it possible? Yes of course, [but] you rely on people to do the right thing and trust them to do the right thing."
He encouraged communities to stay vigilant and report anyone they think is doing the wrong thing.
"People need to be vigilant, I know in regional communities if you're a stranger in town and they don't think you should be at the pub they'd be the first to take a photo and dob you in," he said.
He added the state government they seek higher police presence and vigilance when it comes to workers in transit through the region.
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