The ultimate ease of COVID-19 restrictions for regional NSW upon reaching a statewide 70 per cent vaccination rate is set for Monday, October 11.
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The day is being referred to as Freedom Day, but as it quickly approaches, Western NSW Local Health District Chief Executive Officer Scott McLachlan is urging residents to be proactive in maintaining safety measures.
"What we've seen in recent days and weeks is that lockdowns have been incredibly effective in helping us stop the spread in communities," Mr McLachlan said.
"We know it has been a critical part in helping to slow the spread of COVID-19.
"I think [that] will change, whether it's the 11th or a date around that, when further restrictions ease when we hit that 70 per cent vaccination rate, that day is coming.
"We know that there is going to be further spread of COVID-19 in Western NSW, we will see people moving around the region, and in coming weeks after that, more people coming into the region from greater Sydney and elsewhere.
"Now, that is going to be a crucial time for us to maintain the things that are going to keep us safe from this.
"As we head towards the 70 per cent milestone we know things will change.
"We know people will start moving around regional NSW and we want to try and get on top of the COVID-19 spread across the region as quickly as possibly.
"We know vaccination has provided the perfect opportunity and a window to what a fully vaccinated community might mean and look like, but, we're certainly not there yet. It's not over.
"We know that COVID is still creeping around many of our communities across the region, so as we approach the ease of restrictions we're really heading into a risky period, and particularly with school returning."
Mr McLachan is urging mums, dads, aunties and uncles to be vigilant of the risks surrounding the spread of COVID-19 between school kids as students prepare to return to face-to-face learning.
"Please be really aware of any signs and symptoms that may develop in kids across the region," he said.
"We know that schools have been a really high-risk environment where kids have had a lot of contact with others. There has been spread across the region in recent weeks and months with a lot of our cases being school-aged kids. Please get them tested. "
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