
NSW COVID restrictions to ease.
After recording a 10th consecutive day without a locally acquired COVID-19 case, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced restrictions will be eased in the Greater Sydney area.
From 12.01am AEDT on Friday, residents in Greater Sydney will be able to welcome 30 visitors to their home.
Likewise, outdoor gatherings can be up to 50 people.
There will also be major changes to weddings and funerals. From Friday, the new limit will be one person per four-square metres, with up to 300 people allowed to attend. Places of worship will also be allowed to have one person per four-square metres with no maximum cap.
BREAKING Restrictions lifting in NSW from 12:01am Friday. 30 in a home, outdoor up to 50ppl, 300 for weddings/funerals. 1 per 4sq m for religious services. Masks needed on public transport/places of worship, but recommended only in retail. @7NewsSydney
— Alex Hart (@alexhart7) January 27, 2021
As for masks, Berejiklian announced that masks will remain mandatory on public transport, at places of worship, at beauty and hair salons, and in gaming rooms.
However, masks will be simply recommended for retail and hospitality venues.
The NSW Premier shared that Greater Sydney residents can expect a further easing of restrictions in two weeks' time if there are no further community cases detected.
If so, it's likely that all restrictions will revert to the two-square metre rule.
UK surpasses 100,000 coronavirus deaths.
More than 100,000 people in the UK have died within 28 days of a positive COVID-19 test, official data indicates, a grim new milestone as the government battles to speed up vaccination delivery and keep variants of the virus at bay.
The UK has the fifth highest toll globally and reported a further 1631 deaths and 20,089 cases on Tuesday, according to government figures.
The 100,162 deaths are more than the country's civilian toll in World War II and twice the number killed in the 1940-41 Blitz bombing campaign.