Premier Gladys Berejiklian eases mask wearing in Sydney from Friday and allows for more guests to attend weddings and funerals
Coronavirus restrictions have been relaxed in Sydney, with masks no longer mandatory in shops from Friday.
Residents must still wear a mask on public transport and places of worship.
Up to 30 visitors will be allowed to enter a home and up to 50 people can gather outside.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has flagged an easing of Covid-19 restrictions in NSW by the end of the week
Ms Berejiklian indicated that masks would remain mandatory on public transport as the government encouraged workers to return to the office
Masks are currently compulsory indoors in Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong, while just five visitors are allowed in homes and a maximum of 30 people can gather outside
Australia has not recorded a case of coronavirus in the community since January 17 when six cases were reported in Western Sydney, linked to the Berala BWS cluster.
Australia has not recorded a case of coronavirus in the community since January 17 when six cases were reported in Western Sydney, linked to the Berala BWS cluster.
NSW Health remains concerned about low testing numbers after just 7819 tests were done in the latest 24-hour period.
‘Although NSW has had nine days without a diagnosed locally acquired case of Covid-19, the virus may still be circulating in the community and now is not the time to drop our guard,’ NSW Health said in a statement on Tuesday.
NSW Health is also urging people in southwest Sydney to monitor for Covid-19 symptoms after virus fragments were detected at the Liverpool waste treatment plant.
Meanwhile, Australians have been warned coronavirus vaccines will not trigger wholesale changes to restrictions when the rollout ramps up in coming months.
Acting Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd is tempering expectations that jabs will lead to life returning to pre-pandemic settings after the Pfizer vaccine was approved for use in Australia.
Meanwhile, Australians have been warned coronavirus vaccines will not trigger wholesale changes to restrictions when the rollout ramps up in coming months
On January 20 Ms Berejiklian that mask wearing on public transport and shops would likely continue for some time
The two major unknowns are whether coronavirus vaccines prevent transmission of the virus and if booster shots will be needed each year, similar to the flu.
‘That just reinforces for us how important it’s going to be – even though we might get the vaccine rolling out across Australia – that people still adhere to the public health measures,’ Professor Kidd told ABC radio on Tuesday.
Social distancing, hygiene measures and other rules, as well as international travel restrictions, are likely to remain throughout the year.
Australia has enough doses of the Pfizer vaccine, which recorded a 95 per cent efficacy rate in late-stage trials, for about five million people.
Source link