Sydney prepares to ease restrictions after 100 days of lockdown

                          

Sydney was set to reopen after months in lockdown, officials said on Sunday, with businesses preparing to welcome fully vaccinated residents the following day.

New South Wales, Australia's most populous state, reported 477 new coronavirus cases and six deaths on Sunday, in an outbreak that has kept five million people in state capital Sydney in a lockdown for 100 days.

But as the state has met the threshold of 70 per cent of its people fully vaccinated, New South Wales was ready to ease some restrictions and reopen many businesses, said state Premier Dominic Perrottet.

"Well, it is a big day for our state and to everyone across New South Wales; you have earned it. It has been 100 days of blood, sweat and no beers but we have got it and we are back in action tomorrow," Perrottet said.

"It has been a very difficult time for the people of our state, over 100 days of people making enormous sacrifices, not being able to say goodbye to their loved ones, not being able to get married, businesses closed, people out of work."