Geoff Helisma
The Maclean Bowling club has issued a media release advising that it “has decided only fully vaccinated patrons will be admitted until January 31”.
The NSW Government says that it “will be optional for businesses” to the continue with their covid safety plans when the state’s 95 per cent fully vaccinated threshold is reached (or December 15, whichever comes first).
“The board will further consider their decision regarding what happens after January 31 at board meetings between now and then,” the club’s secretary manager, Mark Williams, said.
The media release states, “The club’s board of directors made this decision primarily to ensure the health and safety of staff and customers under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) and under general law.
“The decision is based on the Doherty Modelling Report prepared for the National Cabinet stating that people fully vaccinated with AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines have an overall reduction in transmission of 79 per cent and 93 per cent, respectively.
“Those who are not fully vaccinated have a higher risk of transmitting the coronavirus to staff and patrons.
“Given the overwhelming research supporting these findings, precluding patrons who are not fully vaccinated will reduce the likelihood that fully vaccinated club staff and patrons will be exposed to the coronavirus, or contracting COVID-19.
“Whilst Maclean Bowling Club has implemented other controls to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission, as outlined in the club’s COVID-19 safety plan, which can be viewed on the club’s website www.macleanbowls.com, the level of mitigation from excluding those who are not fully vaccinated cannot be achieved through other available controls.”
Meanwhile, the NSW Government will ease restrictions when the state reaches 95 per cent double vaccination, or on December 15, whichever happens first.
In general terms there will be “no density limits for all settings” and compulsory covid safety plans “will be optional for businesses”.
Originally, the NSW covid roadmap had stated that the December 1 covid rule settings would “apply to all NSW citizens, regardless of their vaccination status”, however, that was changed.
Currently, extra restrictions still apply to ‘not fully-vaccinated’ people; for example, “if you are not fully vaccinated you cannot visit a hospitality venue except for take away”, the NSW government’s covid 19, stay safe webpage states, nor can you attend entertainment and recreation facilities or outdoor events.
“If you are not fully vaccinated your employer must require you to work from home unless it is not reasonably practicable to do so,” is another restriction still in place for unvaccinated people.
“If you work as an aged care worker, education and care worker, healthcare worker, airport worker, disability and early childhood care worker, quarantine worker [or a] transport provider,” the website states, “requirements to be fully vaccinated before performing your job continue to apply.”
Nevertheless, easing of restrictions, whichever comes first – reaching 95 per cent double vaccination or December 15 – comes with a disclaimer of sorts: “The roadmap may be fine-tuned as NSW Health monitors the COVID-19 situation over the coming weeks,” the website stated on Friday December 3 (last updated on November 25).
“Local government areas may be subject to different rules and restrictions in line with public health orders.”