Due to the unexpected speed of the COVID-19 vaccination roll out in the Australian state of New South Wales, the local Government has brought forward the relaxation of restrictions on entertainment facilities with fixed seating such as stadiums, theatres and cinemas.
The restrictions for fully vaccinated Australians were set to ease on December 1, but have now been brought forward to next week on November 8.
Stadiums, theatres and cinemas will be able to operate a 100% capacity as they have fixed seating. However, at attractions such as theme parks and zoos, visitors will be subjected to a two square metre density limit.
The freedoms are only available for fully vaccinated people, including those that have medical exemptions and children under the age of 16. Those that are not fully vaccinated must abide by pre-roadmap restrictions until NSW reaches its 95% double vaccination target, or December 15.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said: “Everybody has done an incredible job to ensure NSW can ease restrictions in a safe and considered way earlier than planned. We are on track to reach 90% double vaccination weeks ahead of schedule and this is a testament to everybody across NSW and especially our health workers.
“There is still a long way to go but the NSW Government is standing with the community and continuing to do everything that we can, including booster shots, to keep people safe as we open up.”
Nightclubs, which are currently open in the state for drinking in only, will witness the return of dancing. Dance floors will be allowed to open up for the fully vaccinated.
Minister for Jobs, investment, Tourism and Western Sydney, Stuart Ayres, said: “We are inching closer and closer to returning to many of our pre-pandemic activities, and this latest easing of restrictions will be welcome news for hundreds of businesses ready to re-open, expand their operations, and welcome back more customers.”
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