With no known COVID cases, no traces in our sewage, mayor Paul Harmon said the lifting of lockdown is "great news".

"I know the pressure that has been on all the local business here that have been through this lockdown, so it really is an opportunity for the them to reopen and get everyone back to some form of normality," he said.

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With Inverell Shire Council ramping up its push to get residents vaccinated - including traffic signs urging shots in arms - he said it was a reminder to "stay vigilant".

"That's the message coming out of state and federal governments at the moment to protect our communities, because the premier and deputy premier have said that if COVID does reappear they will lock us down again," he explained.

"From what I understand, Inverell's vaccination rates are low, and with the next super vax clinic coming to town again soon and a number of doses coming in for people to get vaccinated by their doctor, people now have that opportunity if that's what they choose to do."

Inverell is the only town in the region that has not cracked the 60 per cent first dose mark - sitting at 59.8 per cent - and is also the lowest for fully vaccinated people - just 29.4 per cent.

With many people in town finding it difficult to book an appointment, he said there were other options available to those needing a shot imminently.

"Certainly I believe there are some difficulties for people being able to access some of the shots here," he said.

"I was talking to people on the weekend who had travelled to Uralla to get vaccinated, and people who travelled to Texas, so I think there is the option for those who are choosing to get it to find a way to get the COVID vaccine."

Inverell Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Georgina King was thrilled the waiting for a reopening date was over, uncertainty which had played havoc on both employers and employees.

"I know even in my business it has been very tough. You don't know what you're doing, and the uncertainty some people in Inverell had wondering if they have a job or not - and when you look at what's happening in Sydney, the potential we'd be in lockdown for another month was very real," she said,

"So this announcement came out of the blue for some businesses here - we are very excited!"

Many businesses knew the drill from the last lockdown, but this second closure really saw more jump on the 'click and collect' bandwagon and focus on online marketing opportunities, she noted.

For fashion especially, many outlets were unable to sell season-specific stock, however Saturday may bring a sale bonanza to kick off the start to freedom.

"I think a lot more businesses were ready for it, and we noticed a lot more have been doing click and collect to keep sales going," she explained.

"But that's just keeping the wolf from the door, but they're still not selling all the stock that they've ordered."

One thing the Chamber has looked at is a Saturday of 'freedom sales' - a Saturday special for the whole community to benefit from.

"Watch out for the Chamber's freedom specials!" she laughed.

"It will be so lovely to see people walking down the street again, sitting and having a coffee, and browsing - a favourite pastime for many. I'm looking forward to Saturday already."

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However while it was overwhelmingly good news, the situation in Narrabri - where one person tested positive to COVID, meaning the town remains locked down for another fortnight - served as a stark reminder that it only takes one person to send Inverell straight back in chains.

"Let's hope that the public are conscious that it only takes one person. It's in the sewage at Glen Innes - so we are not out of the realm of possibility.

"Keep masks on, keep vigilant, and hope we can do everything to stay out of lockdowns."

It's no secret that the lockdowns have hit the tourism sector hard, yet this reopening up of Inverell to people from other safe areas has restored optimism.

Inverell's tourism and marketing manager Peter Caddey said we can expect to see a revamp of the 'choose your own adventure' campaign to attract people to the Sapphire City, but also said locals should really get out and about to revitalise suffering businesses.

"The local business have supported so many groups and the general community of a number of years, and now its time for us to flip that coin and support them," Mr Caddey said.

Neither Mr Harmon nor Mr Caddey are concerned the added freedoms will make our community vulnerable to an outbreak, confident in the fact only LGAs with no COVID have been released to travel the state.

"I think everyone is very well versed after lockdown 1.0 in how to conduct themselves in a COVID safe manner... the risks should be minimal to the general population," Mr Caddey noted.

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