Coronavirus Australia: NSW to ease restrictions from Friday

Restaurants and cafes in NSW will be allowed to serve up to 10 people at a time under easing of restrictions later this week.

A woman orders at a Sydney cafe which has closed its indoor seating area and switched to takeaway only. Picture; AAP.

Restaurants and cafes will be allowed to reopen to serve up to ten people at a time, homes will be able to receive groups of five visitors including children, and groups of ten or less will be able to gather for recreational activities in public under an easing of coronavirus restrictions in NSW.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Sunday confirmed the changes will come into force on Friday, a week after the National Cabinet settled on a three-stage plan to ease lockdown measures across the country.

The rollback of restrictions is in line with most aspects of stage one of the National Cabinet’s three-step plan. Other regulations are changing, with up to 10 guests to be allowed at weddings, 20 people at indoor funerals, and 30 at outdoor funerals.

Religious gatherings can also welcome up to 10 people and outdoor playground or gym equipment can be used with caution, as can outdoor swimming pools.

However, NSW will not lift a ban on regional and rural travel for the purpose of holidays - but travel is permitted for recreational purposes and to conduct household visits.

Ms Berejiklian warned that as restrictions are eased and the country moves into winter, people should treat every person they meet as if they have coronavirus and get tested at the slightest sign of the flu.

“We know as the colder months come on board, flu-like symptoms are likely to increase. Don’t assume it’s the flu. Assume it’s the virus,” she said.

“Every time you leave the house, you have to assume you have the virus or somebody you’re going no contact with as the virus.

“That is the only way we will keep this deadly virus at bay.”

Until Friday current regulations apply - households can only receive two adult visitors, not including dependent children, and groups no larger than two can gather in public.

Additionally only five people, including the celebrant, can attend weddings in NSW and ten people can attend funerals.

Ms Berejiklian said the decision to implement the changes on Friday was to give people time to understand the new regulations.

“The reason why we’re not implementing any of these easing until Friday is to make sure we give our citizens time to absorb what this new chapter in managing the pandemic means,” she said.

Ms Berejiklian said that further changes to restrictions will be based on whether the curve continues to grow or flatten as people head outside and children back to school in increasing numbers.

“Obviously, with the increased retail, and of course with the easing of restrictions next Friday, and the data - the number of cases - and to the extent that we have spikes and where they are will determine the next steps forward,” she said, warning that a spike in the number of cases would result in restrictions being reapplied.

Other Australian states are due to announce an easing of their own restrictions in coming days.

The Victorian government is due to announce its plan on Monday. South Australians will be allowed to travel regionally and eat at cafes and restaurants from Monday while WA Premier Mark McGowan is expected to outline a restrictions easing plan on Monday.