COVID-19: Group Bookings and Outdoor Gatherings Increased

NEW South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced further restrictions will ease from this Friday, October 23.

Group bookings of up to 30 people will be allowed in restaurants and hospitality venues and outdoor gatherings will increase from 10 to 20 people.

People are required to maintain social distancing rules; four square metres apart indoors venues and two square metres apart outdoor.

“This is good news to allow people to prepare for Christmas and the celebrations over summer,” Premier Berejiklian said.

“Health experts agree and have given us advise that it could actually be safer to go to a restaurant or a hotel which is COVIDSafe to have your Christmas lunch,” she said.

On December 1, up to 300 people will be allowed at weddings and corporate events, as long as they remain seated and comply with COVID-19 safe plans.

Corporate events will be allowed not only in function centres but in any hospitality area that can comply with the social distancing rules.

The Premier encouraged residents to continue to get tested after only 7000 tests were conducted over the weekend.

“The higher the testing rates, the more confidence we’ll have that we’re getting all of the cases in the community,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“Overnight I’m pleased to say there were no new case of community transmission, but four new cases in hotel quarantine,” she said.

“We are reasonably concerned and alert that there could be cases lurking that we’ve yet to identify, so please come forward and get tested.”

Eased restrictions October 23:

• Group bookings in restaurants up to 30 people;
• Outdoor gatherings raised from 20 to 30 people.

Eased restrictions December 1:

• Corporate events up to 300 people;
• Weddings up to 300 people.