Gladys Berejiklian is under mounting pressure to ease Covid lockdown restrictions across NSW before hitting her 70 per cent vaccination target.
Local MPs are among a growing chorus of voices citing lockdown fatigue and deteriorating mental health as reasons to begin easing restrictions early.
They're hopeful the premier will expand the 5km exercise limit and allow more than five fully vaccinated people to meet outdoors for a picnic come September 13.
The proposal would mean families can more easily gather outdoors - where cases of Covid transmission are virtually non-existent - in time for the school holidays.
Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello, who holds a seat in the state's crisis cabinet and helped to champion the necessity of a singles bubble, said all avenues were being explored.
The proposal would mean families can more easily gather outdoors - where cases of Covid transmission are virtually non-existent - in time for the school holidays
'The premier has rightly recognised the need to get mental health right,' he told the Sydney Morning Herald.
'Mental health is a critical component and the government is constantly looking at the changing circumstances, and we'll adjust our settings accordingly.'
This may include easing some of the restrictions before that 70 per cent milestone vaccine target is reached.
More than 20.6 million doses of vaccine have been administered across Australia since the pandemic began.
In NSW, 40.3 per cent of the eligible population are fully vaccinated, while 72.7 per cent have received their first jab.
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian is under mounting pressure to ease Covid lockdown restrictions before hitting her 70 per cent vaccination target
They're hopeful the premier will expand the 5km exercise limit and allow more than five fully vaccinated people to meet outdoors for a picnic come September 13
One possibility repeatedly addressed by Liberal MPs who hold seats across Sydney was to ease the five-person limit on picnics and outdoor recreation come September 13.
From that date, outdoor gatherings for up to five fully vaccinated people are permitted, but there is mounting pressure for children to be excluded from this limit.
As it stands, it would be difficult for any family comprising more than one child to include grandparents or other loved ones.
'That's something that needs to be put on the table,' MP for Oatley in south Sydney Mark Coure said.
'If we had that increased or at least looked at, I think that would be very beneficial.'
Health Minister Brad Hazzard assured the public any restrictions that are no longer necessary would be lifted as soon as Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant gave the green light
Health Minister Brad Hazzard assured the public any restrictions that are no longer necessary would be lifted as soon as chief health officer Kerry Chant gave the green light.
'While we are enthusiastic and keen to see more freedoms back, we do have to rely on the health advice,' he said during Saturday's press conference after announcing a new daily record of 1,533 Covid cases.
'At the moment it is not the perfect time, perhaps, to be expecting too many changes because we are today at another high, a very high level of cases.
'Hopefully in the next few weeks we will see some changes, but if you haven't been vaccinated, get out and get vaccinated.'
As it stands, it would be difficult for any family comprising more than one child to include grandparents or other loved ones
