The freedoms you can now enjoy with the Inner West reopening today

By DANIEL LO SURDO

With today being the first Monday since NSW hit 70 per cent double vaccination rate, the Inner West – and the rest of the state – will start to enjoy further freedoms as we pass the first milestone on the COVID-19 reopening roadmap. 

What can you do from today? 

Travel: People living in the Inner West LGA who are fully vaccinated will now be allowed to travel to any other LGA in Greater Sydney, including the Central Coast, the Blue Mountains, Shellharbour and Wollongong, with the five-kilometre and LGA boundary removed. You can’t, however, travel outside of Greater Sydney yet. LGAs of concern no longer exists, meaning that all those fully vaccinated in Greater Sydney have no travel limits throughout the city. 

Gather: If you’re fully vaccinated, you can now welcome 10 other fully vaccinated visitors into your home (and any children under 12). Outdoor gatherings in public spaces permit 30 people to congregate at any one time, with a maximum of two unvaccinated people who are not fully vaccinated allowed to partake. 

Swim: An amendment to public health orders last month saw the reopening of public pools across Greater Sydney for local residents to enjoy. From today, gyms, fitness classes and retail will reopen, and aquatic centre memberships will be reactivated. To re-enter an Inner West aquatic centre, bookings are required and can be made five days in advance. Learn to Swim classes and the Creche will reopen next Monday. 

Eat and Drink: Inner West hospitality venues will be allowed to reopen as part of the easing of freedoms today. All drinking indoors must be seated, while dancing will only be permitted outside (except at weddings). Density limits for up to 20 fully vaccinated people per booking will apply.

Libraries: Ashfield, Balmain, Leichhardt, Marrickville, Dulwich Hill, Haberfield, Stanmore and St Peters Libraries will all reopen today. Library programs and events will continue online, but plan to recommence face-to-face shortly. 

Community centres: Hannaford and Annandale Community Centres will reopen today, with regular opening times resumed. 

Parking Fines: It can’t all be roses and sunshine. Parking meters in retail and commercial centres will be turned on and parking patrols will recommence today. A transition period will be in place, however, whereby warnings will be issued for metered or timed parking breaches. Parking patrol will recommence in residential zones next Monday.  

Wearing Masks: Under the new freedoms, masks will not have to be worn outside but are required in all indoor settings. Patrons eating or drinking indoors will not be required to wear their masks, however, NSW Health does recommend limiting eating or drinking within enclosed areas and applying a clean mask after eating. 

New freedoms will only apply to fully vaccinated adults, with those either partially or not vaccinated forced to wait until they are either fully vaccinated or until restrictions ease further in the coming months.