Muswellbrook, Singleton, Dungog and the Upper Hunter are among 12 LGAs (Local Government Areas) that will be freed from lockdown at 1pm on Thursday 16 September.

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro shared the news this morning saying they have been deemed low risk and have not recorded any COVID-19 cases for the past 14 days.

However, these LGAs will continue to operate under some restrictions to ensure community safety.

“I encourage everyone in those 12 LGAs, which are coming out of lockdown, to enjoy their freedoms in a responsible and COVIDSafe way,” Mr Barilaro said.

“I urge everyone to get vaccinated as soon as you can, so you can continue to enjoy freedoms when NSW reaches the 70% double dose target.”

The following freedoms are available to all people in regional LGAs where stay-at-home orders have been lifted:

Gatherings in the home and public spaces:

• Up to five visitors will be allowed in a home (not including children 12 and
• under).
• Up to 20 people can gather in outdoor settings.
• Venues including hospitality, retail stores and gyms:
• Hospitality venues can reopen subject to one person per 4sqm inside and one
• person per 2sqm outside, with standing while drinking permitted outside.
• Retail stores can reopen under the one person per 4sqm rule.
• Personal services such as hairdressers and nail salons can open with one
• person per 4sqm, capped at five clients per premises.
• Gyms and indoor recreation facilities can open under the one person per 4sqm
• rule and can offer classes for up to 20 people.
• Sporting facilities including swimming pools can reopen.

Schools:

• Schools will re-open with Level 3 COVIDSafe measures in place.
• Stadiums, theatres and major outdoor recreation facilities:
• Major recreation outdoor facilities including stadiums, racecourses, theme
• parks and zoos can reopen with one person per 4sqm, capped at 5,000 people.
• Up to 500 people can attend ticketed and seated outdoor events.
• Indoor entertainment and information facilities including cinemas, theatres,
• music halls, museums and galleries can reopen with one person per 4sqm or
• 75 per cent fixed seated capacity.

Weddings, funerals and places of worship:

• Up to 50 guests can attend weddings, with dancing permitted and eating and
• drinking only while seated.
• Up to 50 guests can attend funerals, with eating and drinking while seated.
• Churches and places of worship to open subject to one person per 4sqm rule,
• with no singing.

Travel:

• Caravan parks and camping grounds can open.
• Carpooling will be permitted.

Masks:

• Masks will remain mandatory for all indoor public venues, including public
• transport, front-of-house hospitality, retail and business premises, on planes
• and at airports.
• Only hospitality staff will be required to wear a mask when outdoors.
• Children aged under 12 will not need to wear a mask indoors.

Bega, Blayney, Bogan, Cabonne, Forbes, Narrabri, Parkes and Snowy Monaro are the other LGAs leaving lockdown. Meanwhile stay-at-home orders will unfortunately be introduced for the Albury and Lismore LGAs from 6pm today (Thursday) for one week, due to an increased COVID-19 public health risk.

For more information, please visit: nsw.gov.au/covid-19

For our latest COVID-19 news click here.

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