As the city's COVID-19 restrictions were lifted due to rising vaccination rates, thousands of children returned to school in Sydney on Monday, ending months of home learning.
After the state of New South Wales, which includes Sydney, attained an 80% double-dose inoculation rate among individuals aged 16 and up over the weekend, face coverings are no longer required in offices, and bigger groups are to be allowed in homes and outdoors.
Among australia's main cities, the latest relaxation is part of a shift in attitude toward living with the virus, as experts have warned that there are likely to be more cases of COVID-19.
"This is not over," stressed state Premier Dominic Perrottet on Monday, asking residents to follow the remaining health regulations. "It's going to be a lengthy voyage."
As a result of loosened curbs, shops, gyms, and pubs are now able to admit more vaccinated customers, and nightclubs can sell alcohol to seated customers, as well as removing the limit on wedding guests. All must, however, still comply with social distancing protocols.
The return to school Monday has been staggered, with the youngest and oldest - those in kindergarten, year 1 and year 12 - returning first, followed by the remainder of the students the following week.
The 265 new cases in New South Wales were the lowest single-day increase in 10 weeks, falling below September's peak of nearly 1,600.
Victoria, a neighboring state, reported 1,902 new infections, up from 1,837 the day before. Melbourne, the country's capital, is on course to lift the lockdown on Friday, with full immunization levels approaching 70%.
Since March 2020, the city has been under tight stay-at-home restrictions for approximately nine months, according to Australian media.
Authorities in northeastern Queensland, which is free of COVID-19, have announced that fully vaccinated residents from Sydney and Melbourne would be able to travel without a quarantine starting December 17, when the state's entire vaccination rate is projected to reach 80%.
Australia's exposure to the coronavirus has been quite minimal, with 145,000 illnesses and 1,542 deaths.
"That is fantastic news for families to be reunited for Christmas," said Annastacia Palaszczuk, the state's prime minister.
