Wodonga and other Victorian border communities will be looking across the border with additional envy when NSW accelerates from months of COVID-19 restrictions in about a fortnight.
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Fully vaccinated NSW residents will have their first taste of genuine freedoms including pubs, restaurants, gyms and hairdressers reopening with density limits before another swathe of restrictions are eased, including the return of community sport a fortnight later when the 80 per cent double dose target is reached.
Unvaccinated people won't be afforded the same freedoms until December 1.
Victoria has outlined a far more conservative roadmap to COVID normal with pubs, cafes and restaurants the hardest hit with only 10 people permitted indoors and the number of people allowed outside going from 20 to 30 at midnight.
"What it means is that Victorians will flock en masse to NSW to do as they please rather than live under restrictions," Business Wodonga chief executive Graham Jenkin said.
"It's already the reality."
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NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro said fully vaccinated people of his state were about to rewarded for months of restrictions and lockdowns.
"In two weeks time vaccinated people will have a level of freedom where you will almost be at 75 to 80 per cent of the normal freedoms we have, but unvaccinated people won't have any freedoms until December 1," he said.
"It's either two weeks time or two months time.
"This isn't just about October, November, this is about learning to live with COVID.
"COVID will be with us for years to come, booster shots will become part of the norm, just like the flu shot."
Mr Barilaro said the onus was also on employers to ensure workers were also double jabbed.
Masks won't be required to be worn indoors or outdoors from December 1 with the exception of public transport, on planes and at airports and some hospitality workers.
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