Double-dosed Australians could soon get their ticket to freedom as National Cabinet prepares to iron out the details of a new proposal that would allow the fully vaccinated access to restaurants, planes, sporting venues and bars.
The Covid vaccine passport system is currently being drawn up and is likely to be introduced when the nation reaches 70 per cent vaccination coverage, which is projected to be some time in October.
National Cabinet ahead of Friday's meeting is considering what exemptions would be afforded to those who have received the jab, but it is predicted cafes, bars, restaurants, stadium sports events and interstate flights will be among the first things.
But while there's hope for millions of long-suffering Australians in the midst of lockdown, a worrying new list of Covid exposure sites have been released late on Tuesday including ten busy supermarkets in regional NSW.
It is believed a uniformed Covid passport app will be adopted by all States and Territories when it is eventually introduced (pictured, a woman checking in at Sydney's Pitt Street Mall)
The fully vaccinated could soon have access to restaurants, planes, sporting venues and bars. Pictured: a Sydneysider shops in Bondi on Tuesday)
Four Woolworths stores in Wellington, Orange, Dubbo's Orana Mall and Dubbo's Delroy Park were visited by a positive case, sending hundreds of staff and shoppers into lockdown.
It is the same story for those who visited Coles in Winmalee, Wyong, Broken Hill and Dubbo, with anyone who attended during the times flagged by NSW Health considered a close contact and urged to immediately get tested and self isolated for 14 days.
There are fears outbreaks across regional NSW and in the outback will hit communities particularly hard, with low vaccination rates and a more vulnerable population.
Shoppers and staff at Carlos Supa IGA and Aldi in Dubbo were also hit with urgent public health alerts.
As part of the Federal Government's four-phase reopening plan drawn up by the Doherty Institute, the National Cabinet is also looking to fast-track vaccinations for children aged 12 and over.
Coles in Dubbo was one of four Coles stores exposed to the virus in regional NSW that was announced on Tuesday night
Carlos SUPA IGA in Gilgandra was one of ten supermarkets issued with a public health alerts
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation has already provided interim advice suggesting they will give the green light for 1.2 million kids aged 12 to 15 to get the Pfizer and Moderna jabs.
This would pave the way for high schools to reopen with an ambitious plan to have most students fully vaccinated before the Christmas holiday break.
Embattled NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is desperate to see her Covid-ravaged state lifted out of lockdown with Sydneysiders in the midst of their ninth consecutive week of stay-at-home orders.
'My message to everybody is, if you want to get back to normal, please get vaccinated,' the Premier said.
'It's your choice if you don't but … if you want to do certain things in the future vaccination will be key as part of that process.'
The state leader said NSW is in the process of developing an app that would allow double-dosed residents to scan-in to venues, automatically recognising their vaccination status.
It is believed a uniformed Covid passport app will be adopted by all States and Territories when it is eventually introduced.
10 NEW SUPERMARKETS EXPOSED TO COVID
Anyone who attended the following venues at the times listed must immediately get tested and self isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result.
Broken Hill: Coles, Friday 20 August - 10:25am to 11:25am
Dubbo: Aldi, Sunday 22 August - 8:45am to 9am, Sunday 15 August - 2pm to 2:20pm, Saturday 14 August - 3:50pm to 4:20pm, Saturday 14 August - 12:50pm to 1:10pm, Thursday 12 August - 2pm to 3pm, Saturday 7 August - 11:30am to 12:30pm
Dubbo: Coles at Dubbo Square, Wednesday 18 August - 3:20pm to 4:05pm, Tuesday 17 August - 7pm to 8pm, Monday 16 August - 10:40am to 10:55am, Friday 13 August - 7:15pm to 7:45pm, Thursday 12 August - 8:20am to 8:30am, Thursday 12 August - 10am to 10:20am, Wednesday 11 August - 11:50am to 12:25pm
Dubbo: Woolworths in Delroy Park Shopping Centre, Saturday 21 August - 5:50pm to 6:10pm, Friday 20 August - 11:15am to 11:40am, Thursday 19 August - 10:35am to 10:40am, Tuesday 17 August - 6:00pm to 6:30pm, Tuesday 17 August - 12:30pm to 12:40pm, Monday 16 August - 5:05pm to 5:10pm, Monday 16 August - 4:40pm to 4:50pm, Monday 16 August - 2:10pm to 2:25pm, Monday 16 August - 1:00pm to 1:10pm, Sunday 15 August - 8am to 9am, Sunday 15 August - 4:30pm to 4:50pm, Sunday 15 August - 12:55pm to 7pm, Sunday 15 August - 12:20pm to 12:55pm, Sunday 15 August - 10:30am to 10:40am, Saturday 14 August - 9am to 9:30am, Saturday 14 August - 4:30pm to 6pm, Wednesday 11 August - 5pm to 7pm, Wednesday 11 August - 3:30pm to 4:30pm, Wednesday 11 August - 12:25pm to 1:10pm, Wednesday 11 August - 11:30am to 11:45am, Wednesday 11 August - 10am to 10:10am, Tuesday 10 August - 5pm to 6pm
Dubbo: Woolworths in Orana Mall Shopping Centre, Friday 20 August - 10:30am to 12:30pm, Thursday 19 August - 11am to 11:10am, Wednesday 18 August - 12:30pm to 1pm, Tuesday 17 August - 3:25pm to 3:45pm, Tuesday 17 August - 2pm to 3pm, Tuesday 17 August - 10:30am to 12:30pm, Saturday 14 August - 3:10pm to 4pm, Saturday 14 August - 11:40am to 11:55am, Friday 13 August - 11:30am to 11:50am, Friday 13 August - 10am to 10:35am, Thursday 12 August - 6pm to 7:20pm, Thursday 12 August - 11:15am to 12:30pm, Wednesday 11 August - 9:15am to 10:15am, Wednesday 11 August - 12:30pm to 1pm, Tuesday 10 August - 2:30pm to 3pm, Monday 9 August - 7:45pm to 8:15pm, Monday 9 August - 3pm to 3:15pm, Monday 9 August - 11:25am to 1pm, Saturday 7 August - 10:20am to 10:45am
Carlos: Supa IGA, Tuesday 17 August - 11:15am to 11:40am, Monday 16 August - 11:20am to 11:40am, Friday 13 August - 11:05am to 11:10am
Orange: Woolworths, Friday 20 August - 4:30pm to 5:50pm, Saturday 14 August - 3:40pm to 4:35pm, Thursday 12 August - 4:30pm to 4:50pm, Wednesday 11 August - 4pm to 4:15pm
Wellington: Woolworths, Monday 23 August - 9:00am to 9:15am, Sunday 22 August - 9:30am to 9:50am, Friday 20 August - 2:55pm to 3:30pm, Thursday 19 August - 2:15pm to 2:45pm, Thursday 19 August - 11:00am to 11:30am, Wednesday 18 August - 2:00pm to 2:20pm, Tuesday 17 August - 3:50pm to 4:20pm, Sunday 15 August - 11:25am to 11:40am
Winmalee: Coles, Sunday 15 August, 3:35pm to 4:10pm
Wyong: Coles, Saturday 21 August - 7:05am to 7:30am, Friday 20 August - 9:05pm to 9:15pm
The Covid vaccine passport system is currently being drawn up and would be introduced when the nation reaches 70 per cent vaccination coverage which is expected to be some time in October (pictured, Sydneysiders brave the rain on Tuesday)
But the issue of reopening and moving into phase two of the National Cabinet plan has been met with scepticism by some states including Western Australia and Queensland as infection rates continue to surge to about 800 cases a day.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said 'the goalposts have changed,' since the National Cabinet agreed to pursue the Doherty Institute road map on July 30.
WA Premier Mr McGowan also said he would not hesitate to introduce targeted lockdowns if numbers continue to sure even at 80 per cent vaccination rates.
'Just because the NSW government has made a mess of it doesn't mean the rest of us should suffer,' he said.
'My view is we should do everything we can to stay in the state we are currently in, and at the same time vaccinate like hell.'
Scott Morrison (pictured on Tuesday) slammed rouge states in a joint Coalition party room meeting, arguing continued lockdowns would do more harm than good
National Cabinet ahead of Friday's meeting is considering what exemptions would be afforded to those who have received the jab, but it is predicted cafes, bars, restaurants, stadium sports events and interstate flights will be among the first things (pictured, a police car patrols Merrylands in Sydney under Covid curfew)
Scott Morrison slammed the pair in a joint Coalition party room meeting on Tuesday arguing lockdown would do more harm than good, The Australian reported.
'The idea of Covid zero, that's not the issue once you get to 70 and 80 per cent,' he said.
'Any state and territory that thinks that somehow they can protect themselves from Covid with the Delta strain forever, that's just absurd.
'New Zealand can't do that. They were following an elimination strategy. They're in lockdown.'
Ms Palaszczuk later took her own swipe at the Prime Minister saying Queenslanders have not yet given up on Covid-zero.
'Have a look out in Queensland at the moment. You can go to work, you can go to school, you can go and watch sport, you can play community sport, you can go to a restaurant. We haven't given up,' Ms Palaszczuk said.
Queensland has threatened to renege on the national re-opening plan. Pictured: Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk
The row comes as Ms Berejiklian vowed to reveal the 'one new freedom' double-jabbed Sydneysiders would enjoy from September within the next two days.
In a TV interview on Tuesday night, the premier revealed Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant had 'signed off' on 'major new freedom for the fully vaccinated with the details set to be unveiled later this week.
Delta-ravaged NSW recorded a further 753 infections on Tuesday, with Sydneysiders battling through their ninth consecutive week under stay-at-home orders.
Ms Berejiklian in the past few days has spoken bluntly about how the state's only chance to get out of lockdown is to achieve a vaccination rate above 70 per cent - as outlined in the Doherty Institute roadmap.
Sydney is experiencing its ninth solid week of lockdown, but there is hope in sight with vaccination rates ramping up (pictured, Sydneysiders on Tuesday)
While the target is not expected to be reached until October, the Premier promised double-dosed residents would be given one extra freedoms when NSW completes six million jabs.
That target was hit on Tuesday, one week earlier than than scheduled, after a huge vaccination drive, particularly in south-west Sydney where daily Covid cases are in their hundreds.
Many political insiders have tipped the fully-vaccinated will finally be able to get a hair cut after months in lockdown, others have suggest it may be the reopening of beauty and nail salons.
But the Premier says she's not yet ready to reveal what the 'major new freedom' will be with further details still be ironed out.
What are the four phases of opening up?
A. Vaccinate, prepare and pilot (from July 14)
Arrival caps cut in half to 3,035 a week; early, stringent and short lockdowns if outbreaks occur; trials of seven-day home quarantine for vaccinated arrivals in South Australia; medicare vaccination certificates available on apps like apple wallet
B. Post vaccination phase (when 70 per cent are jabbed, expected late this year)
Lockdowns 'less likely but possible'; vaccinated people face reduced restrictions; caps for unvaccinated arrivals increased; a larger cap for vaccinated arrivals with 'reduced quarantine requirements'; capped entry for students and economic visa holders
C. Consolidation phase (when 80 per cent are jabbed, time not announced)
Lifting all restrictions for outbound travel for vaccinated travellers; no caps for vaccinated arrivals; increased caps for students and visa holders; more travel bubbles being set up with countries such as Singapore; booster shots rolled out
D. Final phase (percentage or time not announced)
Uncapped arrivals for vaccinated people without any quarantine and uncapped arrivals for unvaccinated people with testing before departure and on arrival
