The Star Sydney expands operations as NSW records no new COVID-19 cases
The Star Sydney will allow up to 50 members to a number of selected bars and restaurants from Monday but its casino will be restricted to invited guests only as NSW records no new COVID-19 cases for the first time in three weeks.
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The Star Sydney will return more staff to work and increase the capacity of fine dining restaurants and bars from Monday but access to its casino will be limited to a restricted number of invited guests only.
The Star Entertainment Group announced on Sunday that its new operating model aligned with the latest NSW Government health orders as the state recorded no new COVID-19 cases for the first time in three weeks.
Only select venues within the casino zone will reopen as part of the latest easing of restrictions and up to 50 people will be allowed per outlet.
But bookings will be available only to invited members and diners will have access to gaming facilities.
The Star Entertainment Group CEO Matt Bekier welcomed the latest easing of restrictions in NSW and said two of Australia’s leading public health and infectious disease experts had signed off on the company’s COVID Safe Operating Plan submitted to government.
“The business and human impact of the COVID-19 crisis has been extraordinary,” Mr Bekier said.
“We have attempted to ease financial stress for our people through paid pandemic leave, a targeted hardship program for the most seriously affected, early access to annual leave and long service leave, plus JobKeeper payments.
“However, having people back to work is the biggest step we can take. It will be a gradual process. From Monday we will have the opportunity to return more team members to their jobs.
“It will still leave us operating at significantly lower than usual levels and operations will not be materially profitable at this stage. However, the primary objective is returning our team members to work and re-engaging with guests.”
Additional visitation will be permitted across other areas of The Star complex, including The Darling and The Star Grand hotels, already opened fine dining restaurants Sokyo and Black, other food venues and luxury shopping outlets.
The Star will ensure strict adherence to social distancing and hygiene requirements across the entire precinct.
The news comes as health officials announced on Saturday that no new COVID-19 infections had been recorded across the state for the second time since the pandemic began.
As of 8pm Friday, the total number of cases in NSW stands at 3,092 but experts are warning of the possibility that there may still be cases in the community that are undetected.
There are currently just 71 COVID-19 cases being treated by NSW Health, which includes one person being treated in an intensive care unit, who no longer requires a ventilator.
“The virus is likely circulating among people in the community with mild symptoms,” NSW Health’s Dr Jeremy McAnulty said on Saturday. “The risk of outbreaks and a resurgence of cases remains real.”
“NSW Health is again urging anyone feeling unwell – even with the mildest of symptoms such as a runny nose or scratchy throat – to come forward and get tested, so cases in the community are identified as quickly as possible.”
The last time NSW recorded no new cases of coronavirus within a 24-hour time frame was on May 12.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced on Friday that from June 1, up to 20 people can attend weddings, 50 at funerals and 50 at places of worship. However strict social distancing guidelines would continue to apply. “It is crucial that worshippers remember to follow health advice. This is particularly important for people with co-morbidities aged over 50 and people aged over 70,” Ms Berejiklian said in a statement.
The government had been wary about adjusting the restrictions on places of worship after observing COVID-19 outbreaks in churches and choirs overseas. But state religious leaders pushed for the relaxation on service attendance after the government last week announced up to 50 people would be permitted to dine in restaurants, pubs and cafes from June 1.
Anthony Fisher, the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, on Friday said in a statement his church would abide by government health regulations.
The archbishop of the Anglican Archdiocese of Sydney also said Anglican churches were well prepared to return to services of 50 people.
Hand sanitisers will be available at each entrance, churches will be thoroughly cleaned and designated ushers will record attendees’ contact details. “We realise that this is not the normality we enjoyed in 2019. We are grateful for the relief, joy and comfort that many parishioners will feel in meeting again in public Christian worship,” Archbishop Glenn Davies said in a statement. Meanwhile, Ms Berejiklian’s government has a fight on its hands to get a proposed 12-month public sector pay freeze through parliament, with upper house crossbench MPs vowing to block the measure.
Ms Berejiklian on Thursday raised the possibility of job losses amid the COVID-19 pandemic unless the proposed freeze was endorsed on Macquarie Street. The freeze is expected to save $3 billion, to be reinvested in public projects.