Freedom Day has arrived Hallelujah!!!
Seventy per cent of people in NSW aged 16 and over are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, with the state hitting the target this afternoon and Premier Dominic Perrottet describing it as "great news".
The Premier made the announcement on social media.
"Bam. We've hit 70% of over-16s double vaccinated in NSW," Mr Perrottet wrote.
"This is great news and big step closer to a full reopening and a proper summer."
Earlier, the Premier had said NSW was on track to hit the milestone some time today and the state would begin reopening from Monday.
"I am committed to that," he said.
But he said there was an opportunity for some changes to the roadmap which would be discussed at tonight's crisis cabinet.
On his Facebook page, he posted a picture of a target with an arrow in the bullseye.
"You did it NSW. Congrats!" it read.
The post received hundreds of "likes" and comments.
"Thank you new Premier now can we please get our kids back to school as soon as possible," wrote Facebook user Kristie Smeros.
"Thank you Gladys Berejiklian and team that have been working on getting the vaccinations to a high percentage," Maria Anthony posted.
The announcement came as the NSW crisis cabinet was meeting, and an extension to stay-at-home orders were announced for the Oberon local government area (LGA), Snowy Monaro regional LGA, and for Menindee and Sunset Strip in the Central Darling Shire until October 11.
Mr Perrottet refused to be drawn on potential changes to the exit plan which he formulated with former premier Ms Berejiklian and former deputy premier John Barilaro.
"I spent the day working through those matters and once those decisions are made, I will let you know," he said.
Despite the good news, there are concerns that, less than two weeks before students start returning to school, the government does not know how many teachers are fully vaccinated.
Only 5,000 teachers have filled out an online survey asking them about their vaccination status. There are about 55,000 full-time teachers in NSW.
Mr Perrottet promised checks would be put in place to ensure classroom teachers were fully vaccinated before October 18.
"[The] bottom line is if you are a teacher you need to get double vaccinated," he said.
Today, NSW recorded its lowest COVID-19 cases since August 18.
In the 24 hours to 8:00pm yesterday, there were 594 new locally acquired cases and 10 deaths — seven men and three women.
Included in today's deaths were three residents at an aged care centre in Sydney's south-west.