Face masks are also no longer necessary for churchgoers in Greater Sydney (including Wollongong, the Central Coast and the Blue Mountains) – with face coverings also no longer required in hairdressers, beauty salons and gaming rooms.

Masks will still be compulsory on public transport, however.

The cap of a maximum of 300 congregants in a room remains. And, singing as a congregation is still not allowed, with the Premier describing it – along with dancing – as “too high risk in the current environment”.

The exact same rules apply to weddings and funerals as “the risk of transmission in emotional settings remains high,” Berejilklian said.

The Premier stressed that her announcement was contingent upon the state not experiencing any “unexpected outbreaks” of COVID-19 before February 12.