Coronavirus NSW: Pubs, restaurants able to have more customers outdoors

A huge change will be made to NSW virus rules this weekend that will help struggling pubs, clubs, restaurants and hospitality businesses.

Outdoor hospitality businesses in NSW will soon be able to host more customers as restrictions are eased in time for summer.

From Friday the restriction will be reduced from one person per 4sq m to one person per 2sq m up to a maximum of 500 people seated at outdoor events.

Arts and music events will also be able to accommodate up to 500 people outdoors as long as they were seated and subject to the 4sq m rule. Previously only 20 people were permitted.

Indoor venues and events will remain under the 2sq m rule.

Businesses must use electronic methods, such as the QR code system to collect customer details to help contact tracers.

NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the easing of the outdoor restriction would assist some of the hardest hit industries throughout the pandemic.

“It is a step in the right direction and it is happening in consultation with the business community,” he said.

Outdoor hospitality businesses in NSW will be able to host more customers from this weekend. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

“As we head into summer we want to take NSW from being inside to outside. We want to do more and can do more as we maintain the strong health response here in NSW.

“We’ve seen a reduction in employment between March and September in hospitality of around 14 per cent and in arts around 11 per cent.”

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the new outdoor rule would make a huge difference to the economy and the ambience of Sydney and NSW.

“There must be an organiser of these events and that organiser will have to make sure there’s a COVID-safe plan,” he said.

“We expect with a COVID-safe plan we will be able to have up to 500 people really enjoying the outdoors.”