Sydney coronavirus: restrictions easing forcing an eye on public transport
Bartenders last night relished the “phenomenal” feeling of pouring a beer into a glass pint and diners have embraced a glimmer of normality as NSW restaurants and bars reopened after an easing of COVID-19 restrictions.
NSW
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The first tastes of freedom from coronavirus restrictions were felt yesterday as Sydneysiders swarmed reopened parks and pubs as the Premier urged people to not be reckless.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison praised “brave” businesses who have opened their doors for this weekend.
“As businesses and cafes and others are opened up this weekend, those businesses, knowing that at just 10 patrons at a time, that won't necessarily be a profitable patronage for them to really sustain that, they're backing themselves, they're backing their staff, they're backing their communities, and they're backing their country,” he said.
“ And I want to commend them for that brave step that they're taking this weekend. Good on you for reopening. And I'm sure your patrons will come and support you strongly as well.”
Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned people out exercising their new freedoms this weekend that public transport is one of the easiest ways for the disease to spread.
"My biggest concern is how people are moving around,” she said.
"If you're in a queue, make sure you're socially distant. Please do not assume that because you're not in a confined space that you can relax. You can't.”
"Easing restrictions have failed in so many places around the world and I don't want that to happen in New South Wales, I want people to have personal responsibility for the way we respond, let's do our part in keeping everybody safe so that we can keep moving forward so that we never go backwards."
She added that people should not start using buses, trains or ferries if they are not already doing so.
Restaurants that have reopened have been overwhelmed with demand with diners attempting to nab a booking at Coogee Wine Room have received a response informing them they have been so busy with bookings their systems crashed.
“Apologies for the delay in responding – we have been inundated with booking inquiries since Tuesday, so much so that the website crashed,” the message read.
“We are heavily booked for the next few weeks given we can only seat 10 at a time, but there are a few openings here and there.
Sydney’s pools and parks were a hive of activity on Friday morning with boot camps back on and children allowed on playgrounds.
Randwick local Irina Ogol was relieved she could return to the Coogee rock pools after almost two-months out of the water.
“It was terrible not being able to swim. I used to come every morning then they closed everything – luckily they opened the beach so I could swim a bit in there,” she told The Daily Telegraph.
“The water was lovely. Not too cold. Normally there is a group of people who come swimming here every morning but I haven’t seen them yet.”
The opening of pubs, cafes and restaurants will be monitored by police but NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys said officers will be “firm but fair” when handing out fines this weekend.
“We have used a lot of discretion right across New South Wales. This weekend is just going to pose a bit of challenge for us, there is no doubt about that,” he said.
“We won’t be going into those places and counting how many people are in there. The responsibility rests not in the police to check but for people to take accountability for their own behaviour.”
Crowds of people returned to Centennial Park with people allowed to exercise in groups again.
Flow Athletic instructor Sheron Sultan said her classes were all excited to be back working out.
“It has been a really good morning. We started at 6.20 and everyone was here bright and early,” she said.
“Everyone was excited to see each other and get into some weights training.”
This feeling was echoed at the playgrounds of Centennial Park with children back to terrorising their parents.
By 9am dozens of children had passed through the sets of swings, slides and playgrounds.
Henry Gow-Gates, 4, and his younger brother Xander Gow-Gates, 2, both had energy to burn as they tore across the playground.
“I like being back here. I like running on the balance beams and playing on the slide,” Henry said.
“We have not been allowed to play here because of the virus. The last time I was here I was playing with the leaves and the policeman told me to leave.”
