Sydneysiders could soon learn what freedoms they will be given once 80 per cent full vaccination is reached.
The NSW Government will hold a crisis cabinet meeting today to finalise the specifics on the next steps for when the 70 per cent milestone is reached around October 11 and the 80 per cent target soon after.
While things like ongoing testing, social distancing and mask-wearing will likely continue for some time, a date for overseas travel and the easing of border restrictions are expected to be some of the bigger freedoms discussed.
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Infectious disease expert Professor Robert Booy said he believes once the 80 per cent threshold is reached state-wide, the next steps will happen quite quickly.
"It won't be 'Freedom Day', there will be a whole bunch of things that we need to keep going like testing, social distancing and masks but we will be able to go to shops and cinemas and we will have passports," Professor Booy told Today.
"The opening up will be relatively rapid.
"First doses are already above 80 per cent in many parts of NSW.
"That second dose will follow through three to six weeks later."
Professor Booy said the process for getting the second dose would likely speed up once everyone required had received that first dose and the state government would then be able to assess the next step after that.
"We will get more freedoms and more access to the things that we want to do and start to have overseas travel and passports to the outback, which many people are hoping to do first before they do overseas travel," he said.
"A lot of privileges will follow on from being double vaccinated."
Other things the crisis cabinet is expected to talk about today will be stadium sporting events, children and community sports, wedding and funeral guests and how many visitors will be permitted at your home – something many in NSW are eager to know in the lead up towards Christmas.
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One piece of good news Sydneysiders have received after months of disappointment is that the NSW Government has overruled Sydney City Council's decision to scrap the New Years Eve fireworks, with the state government now saying they will go ahead and organise the 9pm celebrations themselves.
Yesterday, NSW recorded 1063 new local cases of coronavirus and six more deaths.
While these figures are slightly lower than they have been earlier this week, health officials are reminding people to come forward for testing and continue to get vaccinated to reach the 80 per cent threshold as soon as possible.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the state had so far reached the 83.6 per cent mark for first vaccination doses for the eligible population, with second doses at 55.5 per cent.
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