Bathurst MP Paul Toole has indicated the Central West region could very well be about to experience its final fortnight of lockdown.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Speaking to the Western Advocate on Friday, Mr Toole said the state government is seriously looking at the second Monday in October as the day where NSW will start to emerge from lockdown, with the state 59.2 per cent fully vaccinated as of Sunday morning.
"We are looking at October 11 as the day we'll start to see NSW opening up again, and to have that level of confidence that a large percentage of the population will be vaccinated is important," he said.
"Whether it's young or elderly people, I want to make sure our community is safe and they've had every opportunity to get vaccinated in the meantime."
Although 70 per cent fully vaccinated is the 'soft reopening' figure for NSW, there are fears many communities will reopen before hitting that mark themselves, with Bathurst 46 per cent fully vaccinated as of September 19; at that same point, NSW was 52.6 per cent fully vaccinated.
Western NSW Local Health District chief executive officer Scott McLachlan said it's important for members of the community who are either unvaccinated or one dose in to accept any vaccination opportunity available.
"Look for every opportunity, whether it be a GP, pharmacy, Aboriginal medical service or a respiratory clinic, and all information is on the WNSWLHD website," Mr McLachlan said.
NSW Police Western Region commander Assistant Commissioner Brett Greentree said Bathurst "has been going really well" with COVID-safe compliance over the past week.
"There's been minimal infringements, and local police tell me they're pretty pleased with community conduct," Assistant Commissioner Greentree said.