Tomorrow is Wednesday 15 December 2021, the day that NSW returns to a life as close to pre-COVID as it has been in a long time.

Unvaccinated people have the same restrictions as vaccinated people, proof of vaccination is no longer required at many venues, density limits no longer apply so cafes and restaurants can return to full capacity, face masks no longer need to be worn at many indoor venues and QR check-in is a thing of the past for cafes, restaurants and retail shops but will be needed for high-contact premises.

Some premises may make it a condition of entry that you are fully vaccinated or wear a face mask, that is a decision for that business and should be respected.

NSW Health strongly advises people get fully vaccinated and wear a face mask where they cannot socially distance.

We explain each the new rules in more detail. This information is taken from the NSW Government website.

Masks

Masks are strongly encouraged in settings where you cannot socially distance.

If you are over the age of 12, you must still wear a face mask: 

• at a public transport waiting area 
• while on public transport 
• at airports and on aircraft when the aircraft is flying above NSW
• for indoors front-of-house hospitality staff who are not fully vaccinated.

Masks are no longer required in outdoor settings.

COVID-19 Safe Check-in

COVID-19 Safe QR check-ins are only required at:

• pubs, small bars and registered clubs
• hairdressers, spas, nail, beauty, waxing, and tanning salons, tattoo parlours and massage parlours 
• gyms (except dance, yoga, pilates, gymnastics, and martial arts studios)
• hospitals (except patients of hospitals or hospitals with an electronic entry recording system that records sufficient information that can be used for contact tracing)
• residential care facilities or hostels (except in relation to the residents)
• places of public worship
• funeral, memorials and gatherings afterwards
• nightclubs
• strip clubs, sex on premises venues, sex services premises
• indoor music festivals with more than 1000 people.

If you are entering a premises where check-in is required, you must

• check-in with the Service.NSW app
• provide your details to the occupier of the premises.

Vaccination evidence

Most premises in NSW are now open to everyone, regardless of whether you are fully vaccinated or not. You no longer need to show evidence that you are fully vaccinated at most premises. However, you still need to show evidence that you are fully vaccinated if you attend:

• a music festival with more than 1000 people
• at airports
• if you work in certain industries.

Visiting family and friends

You are not required to be fully vaccinated to have people visit your home or visit people at their home.

However, if you are visiting an aged care facility or disability home, there may be rules that apply to you.

Check with the operator of the facility.

Sport, exercise and outdoor gatherings

Anyone can participate in sport, exercise, and outdoor gatherings. You are not required to be fully vaccinated or carry vaccination evidence.

COVID-19 Safe Check-in is not required (except at gyms).

Face masks are not required.

Gyms and indoor recreation facilities can operate with no person or capacity limits in place, including group fitness classes.

COVID-19 Safe Check-in is still required at gyms using the Service.NSW app, but this does not apply to dance, yoga, pilates, gymnastics or martial arts studios.

Indoor swimming pools are open for all purposes.

Community sports, including matches, competitions and training, can take place for all staff, spectators and participants.

Anyone can participate in an outdoor public gathering, such as a barbeque or picnic.

Libraries, museums and galleries

Information and education facilities, including art galleries, museums and libraries are open. Anyone can visit an information and education facility. 

You are not required to be fully vaccinated or carry vaccination evidence.

COVID-19 Safe check-in is not required.

Face masks are not required.

Shopping and personal services

Anyone can visit retail or business premises. 

You are not required to be fully vaccinated or carry vaccination evidence.

COVID-19 Safe Check-in is not required (except at personal services businesses).

Face masks are not required.

Personal services

COVID-19 Safe Check-in is required using the Service.NSW app at hairdressers, spas, nail salons, beauty salons, waxing salons, tanning salons, tattoo and massage parlours.

Restaurants and hospitality

Restaurants, cafes and hospitality venues in NSW are open.

Anyone can visit a restaurant, café, and hospitality venue. 

You are not required to be fully vaccinated or carry vaccination evidence.

COVID-19 Safe Check-in is not required (except at pubs, small bars, registered clubs).

Face masks are not required.

There are no restrictions on the number of people allowed at these venues.

Drinking indoors and outdoors may be seated or standing and singing and dancing can take place.

Examples of hospitality premises include casinos, restaurants, cafes, function centres, food courts, take away food and drink premises, kiosks, micro-breweries or small distilleries, cellar doors, pubs, registered clubs, small bars and nightclubs.

Construction and renovations

Construction and renovations across NSW can continue. 

Anyone can enter a construction site. 

You are not required to be fully vaccinated or carry vaccination evidence.

COVID-19 Safe Check-in is not required.

Face masks are not required.

Work

Employers can allow staff to work from home at their discretion.

There are no restrictions about travelling for work in NSW.

Events and entertainment

Anyone can visit an entertainment facility or indoor and outdoor recreation facilities. 

You are not required to be fully vaccinated or carry vaccination evidence.

COVID-19 Safe Check-in is not required.

Face masks are not required.

Entertainment facilities include cinemas, theatres, musical halls, concert halls, dance halls, drive-in cinemas and play centres. 

Indoor and outdoor recreation facilities include stadiums, theme parks, zoos, aquariums, and showgrounds.

Indoor music festivals

Rules apply to indoor music festivals with over 1000 people in attendance. An indoor music festival is:

• a music-focused or dance-focused event
• performances by a series of persons or groups that are live or pre-recorded,
• the persons or groups provide musical or live entertainment
• held indoors, within a defined area
• is a ticketed event.

Music festivals do not include events that:

• use a single stage
• are proposed to be held over a period of less than 5 hours
• have not more than 2 headlining performers
• not more than 4 performers in total.

You need to check in with the Service.NSW app to indoor music festivals with more than 1000 people.

If you are fully vaccinated you can attend:

• an indoor music festival with more than 1000 people in attendance
• an outdoor music festival with up to 20,000 people in attendance

If you are not fully vaccinated you can attend:

• an indoor music festival with less than 1000 people in attendance
• an outdoor music festival with up to 20,000 people in attendance.

Organisers of an indoor music festival may request you provide vaccination evidence before entering the venue.

Weddings, funerals and religious ceremonies

Anyone can attend a wedding, funeral or place of worship. 

You are not required to be fully vaccinated or carry vaccination evidence.

COVID-19 Safe Check-in is not required (except at funerals, memorial services, or gatherings afterwards).

Face masks are not required.

Density limits no longer apply to weddings, funerals or memorials. 

Dancing and standing while drinking are permitted.

Travel and transport

You are able to travel anywhere within NSW. 

If you have recently arrived from overseas, follow the rules for international arrivals.

You can travel in a vehicle with people you do not live with. 

You can travel in a vessel with people you do not live with. 

Holidays and holiday homes

There are no restrictions on travelling between Greater Sydney and regional and rural NSW for holiday or recreational visits within NSW.

Holiday homes and short-term accommodation can be used by anyone.

There are no capacity limits for holiday homes and short-term accommodation.

You are still required to get tested if you feel unwell, wear a mask to protect others and stay at home until you get a negative result.