NSW Premier Dominic Perrotet (CTTO)
NSW Premier Dominic Perrotet has announced that the wearing of mask has been discontinued for shops, hospitality, places of worship and other indoor venues, effective from February 25, 2022 . The exemptions include public transport, airplanes and indoors at airports, hospitals, aged and disability care facilities, corrections facilities, and indoor music festivals with more than 1,000 people.
The group that welcomed this move the most was the people in NSW Education sector. COVID Smart settings in NSW education, primarily in schools, have been revised with the aim of giving children “the first taste of normal school life” since the pandemic began two years ago. Core safety measures, including enhanced clearing and maximising natural ventilation will remain in line with health advice.
The initial changes, to be put in place Monday 28 February, will include easing in cohort requirements and activity restrictions, which will allow students to engage across class and year groups, and allowing of more visitors on school grounds, including parents.
School camps and assemblies will also be allowed, and students and teachers in high schools will no longer need to wear masks.
These will be followed by changes, due to begin 7 March 2022, where primary school teachers and those working in early childhood will no longer be required to to wear a mask.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the changes would make a “real difference” to the lives of children especially in the state.
“For many of our younger children, some have lost a quarter of their entire face-to-face learning time,” he said.
“Some said it was unsafe to put kids back in the classroom (this year), but the government did the right thing here, we were completely focused.
“I do want to thank our teachers, and our parents. They have ensured a very seamless transition back to school.”
The figures of cases and rates of vaccination as of today is shown below:
In the meantime, the attention of the government is focussed on what is happening in Ukraine. Australia, together with its allies, are putting sanctions against Russia for the invasion of Ukraine.
For more information on COVID-19 restrictions and latest development, check the NSW Health website.