THE SQUIZ
NSW has become the first state to hit the target of getting 70% of residents aged 16yo and over fully vaccinated against COVID, Premier Dominic Perrottet (that’ll take some getting used to…) confirmed on his socials late yesterday. That will trigger the easing of restrictions across the state from next Monday. It comes as NSW yesterday recorded its lowest number of new COVID cases in 7 weeks: 594 new local cases and 10 deaths.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
First and foremost, Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains and Wollongong will end a 114-day lockdown. Come Monday, shops will reopen, as will restaurants and bars. Masks won’t need to be worn outside, and gyms will be good to go. Up to 5 visitors will be allowed to visit/check your home for signs of weird lockdown behaviour. And hairdressers better get a wrist brace – they are about to be hammered. And things get even better at 80% in a couple of weeks. Things are also getting better on the health front for NSW, with higher vaccination rates flattening the curve of new cases and hospitalisations. Note: Perrottet has flagged some changes to the roadmap that he wouldn’t be drawn on – but he has scrapped NSW’s daily 11am press conference.

AND WHERE IS THE REST OF OZ AT? 
The good news for leaders and officials is that the vaccination rate across Oz has picked up, and experts are hopeful it will continue to be strong in the coming weeks. At our current pace of administering more than a million 2nd doses a week, it’s expected that 70% of Australians aged 16yo and over will be fully vaccinated by the end of this month. Nationally, 80% of Aussies are at least one shot down, and almost 60% are fully vaccinated. The next jurisdiction to hit 70% fully vaxxed will be the ACT – that will happen today or tomorrow. Queensland and WA are last on the tally with 49.5% of their residents double jabbed. Now, to dust off the National Plan…