Photo: Discover Richmond Valley
Susanna Freymark
Visitors wanting to come to our region and other areas of country NSW will have to wait until November 1.
Deputy Premier Paul Toole announced the new date this morning.
As Sydney is close to a 80% vaccination target, Premier Dominic Perrottet talked about the state’s plans to fully open up.
Richmond Valley and Kyogle LGAs are sitting close to a 60% vaccination rate, well below 80%.
Anyone who has been in a covid hotspot must complete a NSW Entry Declaration Form before visiting regional areas.
People who live in regional LGAs can travel anywhere in regional NSW but cannot enter Greater Sydney without a reasonable excuse. People cannot leave Greater Sydney except with a reasonable excuse. Holidays and outdoor recreation are not reasonable excuses, but work is.
With the ACT hitting a 99% first dose target, it is no longer considered an area of concern.
Queensland is also no longer considered an affected area and Queensland residents will no longer need to complete a declaration form on entry into NSW.
The Premier said overseas travellers can come to Australia in November.
“Returning Australians will be the first cab off the rank,” Mr Perrottet said.
We want tourist back, he said, but conditions apply.
“They must be tested before they jump on a plane and their full vaccination must be clear.”
From November hotel quarantine will be dispensed with, he said.
Digital vax certificate
From today, residents can integrate their covid digital vaccination certificate into their Service NSW app.
Minister for Digital and Customer Service Victor Dominello said the extra digital service would make life easier for the businesses and customers of NSW.
NSW is the first jurisdiction in Australia to roll out an integrated QR code solution for displaying vaccination status statewide,” Mr Dominello said.
“When someone visits a venue, they’ll be able to show their green check-in tick and vaccination status simultaneously, saving staff and customers time.
The state-wide roll out follows a regional pilot with clubs, aged-care facilities and taxis in Port Macquarie, Tamworth, Wagga Wagga and Lismore.
As the vaccine data sits in the Federal Australian Immunisation Register to integrate the covid digital certificate into the Service NSW app you will need to:
- Ensure your Federal MyGov account is linked to Medicare
- Download the Express Plus Medicare app and sign in with your MyGov account details
- Select ‘Proof of vaccinations’ and then ‘View history’
- Select ‘Share with check in app’ and then ‘Service NSW’
There were already three ways to demonstrate the vaccine certificate. Customers can use the Express Plus Medicare app or the digital wallet on their phone. Customers without a smartphone can print a vaccination certificate from their Medicare account or contact Services Australia for a paper certificate in order to prove their vaccination status.
For more information, visit nsw.gov.au – opens in new tab or call 13 77 88.