NSW residents can drink while standing at pubs in latest relaxation of restrictions
One of the most annoying COVID-19 restrictions has been dropped, and hospitality bosses in NSW are celebrating.
Residents in NSW will be allowed to drink while standing at the pub from Wednesday, just in time for St Patrick’s Day celebrations.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian revealed a further easing of COVID-19 restrictions despite revelations that another returned traveller tested positive on the same hotel floor as an infected security guard.
Ms Berejiklian last month said the NSW government would relax restrictions to allow people to stand in bars and clubs if all went well.
There were concerns this may not have gone ahead after a hotel quarantine security guard tested positive to coronavirus on Saturday after 55 days of no local cases.
So far, there have been no more cases of community transmission, but another returned traveller on the same floor likely caught the virus while in the hotel.
The new cluster has sprung health officials into action and sparked alerts at venues, mainly in Sydney’s Hurstville area.
But Ms Berejiklian brushed off concerns and said the government was still going ahead with the relaxation.
“At this stage there’s no cause for us to change any of that (restrictions easing),” she said.
It is believed hospitality venues such as pubs, bars and clubs still cannot exceed one person per 2sq m. Previously, patrons had to remain seated at all times.
The hospitality industry has been hard hit throughout the pandemic, and the latest announcement will provide some sense of relief.
Ms Berejiklian said thousands of quarantine workers would soon receive their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine, which meant restrictions could be eased even further.
“At the end of this three-week period we’ll certainly address and consider what further restrictions we can ease if any, and it will also depend on how well we’re doing in terms of community transmission,” she said.
Speaking to 2GB’s Ben Fordham, Laundy Hotels owner and former Liberal MP Craig Laundy called for more restrictions on hospitality venues to be eased as the end of JobKeeper looms.
“The drama we’ve had as operators, given it (standing while drinking) is a fundamental part of Australian culture … we’ve been turned in arc because there’s a $10,000 fine if the police come in and catch someone standing up,” he said.
He also questioned the one person per 2sq m rule.
“We do (need that to go),” he said.
Mr Laundy praised the state and federal governments for implementing protocols such as QR codes and its contact tracing, and said it should back its systems and ease restrictions further before the end of JobKeeper on April 1.
“If we can only have 50 per cent of bums on seats by April 1 … we’d only need 50 per cent of the staff,” he said.
“It’s not just me, it’s every operator in the industry.”
The announcement comes after the NSW Premier on Tuesday reiterated her quest to get as many people vaccinated against COVID-19 as possible.
Many countries have suspended their AstraZeneca rollout after some recipients developed blood clots, but Ms Berejiklian said the nation must forge ahead.
“I have full confidence in the vaccine and I have full confidence in our health experts. I certainly wouldn’t have taken it if I hadn’t done my homework – which I have – and I feel completely safe,” the Premier said.
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro and Treasurer Dominic Perrottet flagged a further easing of restrictions on Wednesday and said a discussion would be had within days.
“There (are) a few restrictions we’re going to be focusing on,” Mr Barilaro said.
Mr Barilaro said the “vertical consumption of beer” would be allowed from Wednesday but acknowledged issues remained for weddings and funerals.
“If things don’t deteriorate and we maintain the success we’ve seen then we would re-evaluate that (lifting the caps at weddings and funerals),” he said.
“The industry is waiting for us to say something and we will say something in the next few days.”
The government is also holding a crisis cabinet meeting next Wednesday where restrictions will be discussed.
The treasurer also weighed in, saying the government was working with the health department on creating consistency across the board.
“It doesn’t make much sense that you can dance at a wedding but can’t dance at St Patrick’s Day in a pub,” Mr Perrottet said.
“That’s next and we want to get to a point where whatever setting you’re in you can (do) the same activity.”