Tamworth region leaders agree community ready for normality with COVID-19 lockdown across most of New England North West lifting on Saturday

Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall - who had been pushing heavily for communities in his electorate to be released from stay at home orders this weekend - said he hasn't "been this happy for months and months".

"It's brilliant," he told the Leader.

"As I said a few days ago when I was wanting this to happen, this is, I think, a just reward for all our communities that have worked so hard and sacrificed so much to keep our region safe.

"Lockdown certainly served its purpose, but now it's time to get children back to school, get businesses up and running again and people getting back to some normality."

But he warned the region is not out of the woods yet, and there are still restrictions in place.

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Until the state hits its 70 and 80 per cent vaccination targets, if a local government area (LGA) records a single case of COVID-19, it will go back into a 14-day lockdown.

Narrabri LGA missed out on being released on Saturday after it recorded its first positive case of COVID-19 in more than a year.

The Queensland resident, who is a worker in the cotton industry, had recently visited Sydney before travelling to Narrabri for work.

The person is being cared for in Tamworth hospital, and will be escorted by police to hotel quarantine in Newcastle, according to NSW Health.

The case was infectious while in the Narrabri community, and a drive-through COVID-19 testing facility has been set up at the Narrabri hospital which will operate from 9am to 3.30pm and will continue into the weekend.

Despite a fifth consecutive positive sewage test confirmed for Tamworth on Thursday, the Tamworth LGA will also celebrate freedom from Saturday.

Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson said it's a "great win for communities, businesses and families in the region who have worked so hard to stay safe and abide by the public health orders since being locked down".

"They've been devastated," he said.

"But they've held together, this is also about the mental health of our community and that's why this freedom is so important."

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro said Tamworth's sewage consistently testing positive for fragments of the virus was a concern, but cabinet had weighed up the decision.

"We sided on the side of you've been in lockdown longer than some other areas so we proceeded with caution and we'll keep an eye on the sewage surveillance," he said.

Tamworth mayor Col Murray said he was pleased for business and wanted money moving around the local economy as soon as possible.

"I'm the eternal optimist but I was hoping desperately we were going to come out of lockdown for the sake of businesses and jobs," he said.

"We've got so many casual workers, so many segments of our economy that were in such a desperate position.

"The strongest message I can give now is support local business when you go back shopping again."

There was also a detection of viral fragments in the Glen Innes sewage catchment on Thursday.

Tamworth and Glen Innes communities are being reminded to remain vigilant and to look out for any minor symptoms and get tested.

Once local government areas are released from lockdown on Saturday, September 11, at 12:01am, they will be subject to the following restrictions:

Gatherings in the home and public spaces:

Up to five visitors will be allowed in a home (not including children 12 years old and under).

Up to 20 people can gather in outdoor settings.

Venues including hospitality, retail stores and gyms:

Hospitality venues can reopen subject to one person per four square metres inside and one person per two square metres outside, with standing while drinking permitted outside.

Retail stores can reopen under the one person per four square metres rule.

Personal services such as hairdressers and nail salons can open with one person per four square metres, capped at five clients per premises.

Gyms and indoor recreation facilities can open under the one person per four square metres rule and can offer classes for up to 20 people.

Sporting facilities including swimming pools can reopen.

Schools:

Schools will re-open with Level 3 COVID-safe measures in place.

Stadiums, theatres and major outdoor recreation facilities:

Major recreation outdoor facilities including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can reopen with one person per four square metres, capped at 5,000 people.

Up to 500 people can attend ticketed and seated outdoor events.

Indoor entertainment and information facilities including cinemas, theatres, music halls, museums and galleries can reopen with one person per four square metres or 75 per cent fixed seated capacity.

Weddings, funerals and places of worship:

Up to 50 guests can attend weddings, with dancing permitted and eating and drinking only while seated.

Up to 50 guests can attend funerals, with eating and drinking while seated.

Churches and places of worship to open subject to one person per four square metres rule, with no singing.

Travel:

Caravan parks and camping grounds can open.

Carpooling will be permitted.

Masks:

Masks will remain mandatory for all indoor public venues, including public transport, front-of-house hospitality, retail and business premises, on planes and at airports.

Only hospitality staff will be required to wear a mask when outdoors.

Children aged under 12 will not need to wear a mask indoors.

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