The time frame between 70% double dose vaccinations and 80% proved shorter than anticipated as Premier Dominic Perrottet says Stage 2 of the roadmap to reopen NSW can start on Monday (October 18).

NSW Health said today the amount of fully vaccinated people in NSW is 77.8% and the Premier said 80% will be reached on Saturday if not tomorrow.

This is a bittersweet announcement by the Premier for business owners in Lismore and the Northern Rivers.

There is no cap on the amount of people who can enter a business as long as they keep to the 1 person per 4sqm rule for indoor venues and 1 person per 2sqm for outdoor venues.

Our local pubs will have the amber liquid flowing as stand-up drinking is reintroduced as well as seated. Karaoke will have to take a back seat still as the only singing indoors is from the performer. What happens when the performer plays Khe Sanh?

Weddings and funerals also have a no cap limit (density rules apply) with weddings allowed to dance and both can eat and drink while standing.

The great news for sports lovers is that Community Sport is back! After a sad and tragic end to the football season, summer sports can get underway on time.

You will be allowed to have up to 20 people in your home and up to 50 people at an outdoor gathering.

Masks no longer need to be worn at outdoor settings (except for hospitality staff) or in office buildings, unless you are not fully vaccinated then you do have to continue to wear your mask. Masks are still required in all indoor settings and QR Code check-in is required.

While the announcements are a big step forward for businesses increasing trade and make back some lost money, are there enough fully vaccinated people in Lismore and the Northern Rivers to make Stage 2 effective?

We will receive new figures from NSW Health on Monday but as it stands Lismore sits at 53% double dosed for COVID-19 as of October 10. If the 5% increase trend continues we can say 58% by Monday. Ballina is 63.3%, Richmond Valley 54.9% while Byron is 47.1%.

The lower number of fully vaccinated people in rural areas of NSW has seen the Premier delay travel to regional NSW for those in Greater Sydney, Wollongong, the Blue Mountains and Central Coast until November 1.

In a boost to local businesses the NSW Government will defer the second taper of the JobSaver program until October 31. Eligible regional businesses will receive 30 per cent of weekly payroll, before tapering payments to the scheduled 15 per cent from November 1.

Deputy Premier Paul Toole said the tough decision had been made to delay travel between Regional NSW and Greater Sydney, with the NSW Government extending the JobSaver program for regional businesses. By 1 November, it’s expected more than 77 per cent of regional LGAs will be fully vaccinated.

“Everyone has done a brilliant job of getting vaccinated and rates are rising fast; however we have looked at the health modelling and listened to feedback from regional communities who want more time to get their double dose vaccination rates up as high as possible before they welcome back visitors,” Mr Toole said.

“We know businesses in regional NSW were getting ready to welcome people back, but it’s important we get this right so that we can have greater confidence the vaccines will do their job – and that when we re-open travel to the regions, they can remain open and that businesses have continued support in the meantime. We thank people for their patience.”

Read the 80% fully vaccinated restrictions here.