Griffith residents are set for another month of prolonged COVID-19 restrictions as Omicron infections in the community and statewide continue to multiply.
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Current health restrictions will now continue through to February 28 in an effort to better protect the community as many book in for their booster shots, in what should be on the top of everyone's to do list.
Hospitality venues including pubs, clubs, restaurants and cafes must continue to follow the one person per two square metre rule indoors.
Masks will still be required in all indoor settings and strongly encouraged where maintaining a safe distance from others is difficult.
QR codes continue to be compulsory at a range of local premises and businesses, with no singing or dancing allowed at any hospitality venues, entertainment facilities, nightclubs, indoor music festivals and indoor major recreation facilities with the exception for weddings, performers, instructors and students.
Hospital restrictions on elective surgery however will only continue as scheduled until mid February.
"We want that non-urgent elective surgery back as quickly as possible. We've set out a date of mid-February and that's our commitment to maintain that date," Premier Dominic Perrottet said.
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Premier Perrottet noted that rolling over these measures would continue to protect the community and our health system.
"We have always said we will respond to what is in front of us and tailor our approach as required and that is exactly what we are doing," Mr Perrottet said.
"We are transitioning to living with COVID and we will need to continually update our approach to ensure we are keeping people safe and protecting our health system."
The news comes in the wake of the back to school COVID safe plan, one that has left many questions unanswered.
There is hope however, with NSW Minister for Health Brad Hazzard confirming with Australian Community Media the regions will be prioritised in the roll out of Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) to schools around the state.
"I spoke with the Education Minister [Sarah Mitchell] yesterday and she said they are already sending [RATs] out to regional areas," Mr Hazzard said.
"They prioritise regional areas and regional schools. Sydney will come second."
Currently, more than 95 percent of residents in the Griffith Local Government Area are fully vaccinated, a welcome sign that the transition to COVID normal may arrive sooner than we think.
If you have yet to book in for you third dose vaccine booster shot you can do so via www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/vaccination/get-vaccinated.
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