NSW extends current restrictions to 28 February

As COVID hospitalisation rates approach 3,000 in NSW, the state's government has decided to extend current restrictions by a month to 28 February as a "measured response" as students return to school and authorities look to restart non-urgent elective surgery as soon as possible.

Measures that will continue include the following:

• Hospitality venues, including pubs, clubs, restaurants and cafes, and nightclubs must follow the one person per two square metre rule indoors;
• Masks are required in all indoor settings (except residences). Masks are strongly encouraged where you cannot maintain a safe distance from others;
• QR code check-ins are compulsory at certain premises, including hospitality venues and retail shops;
• Singing and dancing is not permitted in hospitality venues, entertainment facilities, nightclubs, indoor music festivals and indoor major recreation facilities (except for weddings, performers, instructors and students). 
• With more than 209,000 reported active COVID cases in NSW, and this figure likely underestimates the true spread due to the unavailability of rapid antigen tests, Premier Dominic Perrottet says rolling  over these measures would continue to protect the community and health system. 

“The gap between your second jab and your booster is now just three months, so don’t waste time – the sooner we all get our boosters the sooner we will overcome this Omicron wave,” Hazzard says.

“The NSW community has put in an extraordinary effort to get the first two doses of the COVID vaccine, making us one of the most vaccinated populations worldwide. It’s now extremely important to back it in with your booster to lift your protection against the highly transmissible Omicron strain.”

“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,” Perrottet says.

“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. 

“It is vital people continue to come forward and get their booster shots to help keep themselves, their family and the community safe.”

Minister for Health Brad Hazzard says there is plenty of availability and supply of boosters in the NSW Health vaccination clinics, so those eligible for their booster shot should book as soon as possible.

People aged 18 years and older can receive their booster dose at three months after receiving their second dose of any of the COVID-19 vaccines.

According to NSW Health, 93.9 per cent of the population aged 16 and over have received two vaccine doses, while more than a third have had three doses.

18,512 new cases were reported in the 24 hours to 8pm last night and 29 lives lost, with 183 patients currently in the intensive care unit (ICU) with the virus.

Updated at 10:28am AEDT on 25 January 2022.