Sydney easing restrictions ahead of schedule

Sydney announced plans to lift COVID-19 restrictions for vaccinated residents ahead of schedule.

Australian officials are set to allow vaccinated people to host unlimited numbers of guests in their homes and will allow restaurants and clubs to reopen at higher capacities as soon as Nov. 8. The nation’s largest city had originally planned to lift the restrictions on Dec. 1, Reuters reported.

People who are unvaccinated, however, will remain under restrictions meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus until Dec. 15 or until the vaccine rate in the state of New South Wales reaches 95 percent, the news service noted.

Currently, about 88 percent of people in the state who are 16 years or older have reportedly received two doses of a coronavirus vaccine, and the percentage of people who have received their first shot is approaching 94 percent.

“We have always wanted to open up in a measured way and incentivize vaccination rates,” state Premier Dominic Perrottet told Reuters.

On Monday, Australia moved to lift restrictions on travel, allowing residents to fly overseas after nearly 18 months and allowing vaccinated travelers the option of quarantine-free entry into the country.