Published
Mon, Oct 25, 2021, 16:30
- The Australian territories of Victoria and New South Wales have published roadmaps out of lockdown.
Clubbing could return in Melbourne and Sydney on November 24th and December 1st respectively.
On October 11th, as New South Wales reached a vaccination rate of 70 percent, Sydney came out of a 107-day lockdown. The relaxing of restrictions in NSW will happen in three phases, with the full opening expected to come in from December 1st, when clubs will reopen. Masks will still be required for public transport and front-of-house hospitality staff. While outdoor gatherings, weddings, theatres and galleries will be allowed to operate with no capacity limits from December 1st, nightclubs must operate at a density of one person per four square metres.
Last weekend, Melbourne emerged from one of the most stringent lockdowns in the world—a total of 262 days. The easing of restrictions was permitted after Victoria's vaccination rate reached 70 percent for over-16s. The stay-at-home order and curfew has been lifted, with outdoor entertainment premises now allowed to host up to 50 fully vaccinated people.
From October 29th, if the vaccination rate has reached 80 percent, seated indoor entertainment can resume with a maximum capacity of 1,000 people. Outdoor dance floors will be permitted, while nightclubs will have to operate a seated service for maximum 500 people.
All restrictions will lift on November 24th—if 90 percent of over-16s are vaccinated. There will be no capacity limits, though masks will be encouraged in areas where it's difficult to socially distance.
According to Reuters, over 70 percent of Australians are now fully vaccinated and nearly 90 percent of people have received their first dose. Under some of the toughest and longest restrictions in the world, Australia has had comparatively low Covid-19 cases and related deaths, with the current death toll standing at 1,648.
Read NSW's official roadmap here and Victoria's here.