The state government has announced new "freedoms" for fully vaccinated residents after New South Wales reached the target of six million vaccinations administered.
That number is the equivalent of 50 per cent first dose vaccine coverage among the state's adult population - those aged 16 and over.
From 13 September, people who have received two doses of the vaccine and live outside the 12 local government areas (LGAs) will be able to gather outside in groups of five, within 5 kilometres from home.
Inside the local government areas of concern, households who are fully vaccinated will be able to gather outside but need to follow existing restrictions around curfews and exercises limits. They may not mingle with people outside of their household.
"In the local government areas of concern ... a household, will now be able to go out for an hour of recreation on top of the hour of exercise," New South Wales Premier, Gladys Berejiklian said.
"So long as the adults in that ... household are all vaccinated and can demonstrate proof of their vaccination, they will be able to have an hour of recreation - that could be sitting in a park with a picnic with their household.
"For the rest of Greater Sydney and for the regions, five people will be able to gather outdoors, so long as the adults are vaccinated.
"So it means that if you have friends or relatives within your LGA or within the 5 km, you will be able to congregate together in an outdoor gathering of five, as opposed to just two from different households."
The NSW government has said the tougher COVID-19 restrictions are needed in the LGAs of concern because 80 per cent of the COVID-19 cases are being recorded in those areas.
Of the 1,029 locally acquired cases reported to 8pm last night, 403 are from western Sydney local health district and 309 are from south-western Sydney health district.
New South Wales Chief Medical Officer Kerry Chant said although "we see the predominance of cases in south-western Sydney and western Sydney ... you cannot be complacent anywhere".
'Freedoms' for LGAs of concern
Matina Frelingos who lives in the Cumberland local government area of concern, which is subject to tighter lock-down measures, has been fully vaccinated since May.
She said the lockdown has had its challenges, but she has been mindful of nurturing her mental health and trying to stay positive.
“I’ve been occupying myself with my own hobbies, trying to exercise as much as I can,” the 24-year-old told SBS News.
"I just keep reminding myself that the more I neglect myself now, the harder it's going to be after [lockdown], for example getting back into exercise.
“We can’t really venture far so it has been endless walks and a lot of cooking as well.”
Currently living with her parents and two older brothers, Ms Frelingos said the experience of being one of five adults living under one roof has its "moments".
Matina Frelingos has been walking as much as she can within her local government are of Cumberland. Outdoor exercise there is restricted to one hour. Source: Supplied
She said the new "freedoms" for her LGA don’t seem like a huge change to her current lockdown circumstances, saying it feels at times as if there is "no escape" from her home environment.
“With the new freedoms for the LGAs of concern, you can go out for recreation for an hour. So let’s say you might have a picnic for no more than hour, within 5 kilometres and with your fully vaccinated household members," she said.
“I saw that and thought: I may as well sit in my backyard and have a picnic with my family."
'A divided city'
Bankstown community leader Basim Alansari says his local government area has been heavily impacted by the lockdown but the community has also been resilient.
"I think [the eased restrictions] are still better than not having anything at all, especially for mental health and wellbeing," he told SBS News.
"People are very social in these areas …and I think [the eased restrictions] are a very good incentive to keep people going to get vaccinated - as it shows people it will get them back to the normal life."
Despite this, he says some members in the community feel "frustrated" about the way the lockdowns have been implemented.
"It was unfortunate that the language was singling out Western Sydney a lot," he said.
"Perhaps it's a better approach from the government to say: 'we as a state, we as Greater Sydney are moving forward as one single entity'."
Cumberland councillor Suman Saha agrees and says the lockdowns are currently creating "a divided city".
"Different messaging can cause confusion and the messaging can be lost in translation," he told SBS News.
“From the very beginning, we have been saying clear, consistent and easy-to-follow rules and information will work better [in containing the virus].”
He says the new freedoms for vaccinated people will however offer some reprieve for families within his LGA who live in apartment blocks.
"I think it will be good for them to be able to go outside with their kids and have a picnic," he said.
Australian Medical Association vice-president Dr Chris Moy described the lockdown measures as "a balancing act".
"We do understand the concerns about mental health, which are a real cost of the lockdowns," Dr Moy told SBS News.
"The problem has always been this compromise between economics and mental health."
The total number of vaccines administered in NSW is now 6,280,700. Thirty-three per cent of the adult population in the state is fully vaccinated and 62 per cent have received their first dose.
