VICTORIA AND NSW EASE MORE RESTRICTIONS AS PART OF COVIDSAFE PLAN
NSW
NSW will scrap the limit of 50 people at indoor venues such as cafes, restaurants and churches on July 1, Premier Gladys Berejiklian has confirmed. Announcing the state would implement the next stage of its reopening plan, Ms Berejiklian said on Sunday the state would enforce a four-square-metre rule at venues, meaning the number of patrons would only be limited by the size of indoor venues.
“All venues which currently have upper limit restrictions will have no restrictions as long as those businesses comply to strict social distancing guidelines and the checklist that has been outlined through service New South Wales.
The Premier clarified the rule would apply to places of worship as well as hospitality venues.
But there’s a drawback.
“If you go somewhere to have dinner or to partake another activity, you have to be seated,” Ms Berejiklian explained.
“We know from overseas experience that it is when people mingle unintentionally or when there are certain activities where the virus spreads, all the activity in the hospitality venues needs to continue to be seated to make sure everybody is safe.”
The state will also allow outdoor cultural and sporting venues with capacity of up to 40,000 people to seat 25 per cent of their normal capacity, paving the way for crowds to return to ticketed events such as football with physical distancing.
VICTORIA FINALLY EASES RESTAURANT RESTRICTIONS
Earlier, Victoria’s Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed the state was on track to ease further restrictions next week, in line with its two-step COVIDSafe plan. The Victorian Government will finally allow pub-goers to have a drink without a meal and up to 50 people to attend venues from next week.
Mr Andrews confirmed restrictions on cafes, restaurants and bars would start to be lifted from next week.
“I can confirm that all those restrictions that we had foreshadowed, coming off, as it were, midnight next Sunday night, so 11.59pm on June 21, those changes will in fact be made,” he told media this morning.
From next Monday, up to 50 customers will be allowed in cafes, restaurants and bars. However, a maximum group size of 20 still applies.
Perhaps more exciting is that seated service of alcohol will resume, without food needed.
Pub TABs and Retail TABs will open, followed by electronic gaming areas in pubs, clubs, casinos and hotels on 20 July.
