Vaccinated hospitality workers will not have to wear masks on the job from December 15 and QR check-ins will vanish at many businesses under changes to the NSW reopening schedule announced on Thursday.
Masks will be required only on public transport and planes, at airports, and for indoors front-of-house hospitality staff who are not fully vaccinated.
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Density limits of one person per two square metres in pubs, cafes and many other businesses will be scrapped and COVID safety plans will be optional for businesses.
QR check-ins will be needed only at high-risk venues, including hospitals, aged and disability care facilities, gyms, places of worship, funerals or memorial services, hairdressers, beauty salons, pubs, small bars, registered clubs and nightclubs.
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Proof of vaccination will no longer be required by Public Health Order for most activities, but businesses can still require proof at their own discretion.
Proof of vaccination and QR codes will still be required for indoor music festivals with more than 1000 people.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the easing of restrictions was possible because 92 per cent of people aged 16 and over were double vaccinated.
"The easing of these restrictions will allow people to get out and enjoy summer, providing a boost for some of our hardest industries as we do everything we can to ensure we keep people safe as we learn to live with COVID."
The government announced this month that unvaccinated people would not be able to join in economic and social activity until December or the state reached 95 per cent double vaccination.
The pace of the vaccination rollout has slowed considerably in recent weeks, and it is highly unlikely NSW will reach 95 per cent by Christmas, if at all.
The said it would continue to review the roadmap settings and make changes based on case numbers and vaccination rates.
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Michael Parris
Michael Parris reports on politics for the Newcastle Herald. He started at the Herald in 1994 after working in the ABC Newcastle newsroom. Michael spent much of his career as a sub-editor before moving into political reporting in 2017. He was a finalist in the Sports Australia national media awards for his reporting about a male-only tennis club in Newcastle. He has reported on the 2019 NSW and federal elections, state and federal budgets and local politics. He has also written extensively about the COVID-19 pandemic with a special focus on data analysis and the effects of lockdowns on the Hunter community.
Michael Parris reports on politics for the Newcastle Herald. He started at the Herald in 1994 after working in the ABC Newcastle newsroom. Michael spent much of his career as a sub-editor before moving into political reporting in 2017. He was a finalist in the Sports Australia national media awards for his reporting about a male-only tennis club in Newcastle. He has reported on the 2019 NSW and federal elections, state and federal budgets and local politics. He has also written extensively about the COVID-19 pandemic with a special focus on data analysis and the effects of lockdowns on the Hunter community.
