HOSPITALITY venues in Barham can welcome larger group bookings from next week.
From Monday October 11, CluBarham, among other hospitality venues in New South Wales, can have a maximum of 20 people in a single booking.
Everyone in the booking must be double vaccinated against COVID-19.
Hospitality venues can operate at one person per 4 square metres indoors and one person per 2sqm outdoors.
Drinking indoors must be seated, but drinking outdoors may be seated or standing.
For those that are unvaccinated, hospitality venues can only serve them takeaway meals.
CluBarham chief executive officer Jason Wallace said the licensed venue would do their best to comply to the Public Health Order.
“We will do what’s fair and reasonable to see if they’re double vaccinated, but the onus is on the individual who could be fined $1000,” Mr Wallace said.
Mr Wallace said one of the hardest things would be having to turn away people who are unvaccinated.
“We’re just abiding by the laws of the NSW Government, and the Public Health Order, please be kind and patient and abide by the Order,” he said.
Mr Wallace said if people became aggressive when being turned away, staff may require the assistance of police.
In addition to patrons, staff must also be vaccinated, and Mr Wallace said of the venue’s 85 staff members, 90 per cent have received their first dose, and 45 per cent were fully vaccinated.
According to ClubsNSW, member clubs across NSW were advised to strongly encourage their employees to get vaccinated to ensure the club was in a position to trade when NSW reaches the reopening milestone.
Mr Wallace said initially the requirement was for staff to be fully vaccinated by October 11, but said it was reduced to just the one dose.
All staff were encouraged to get vaccinated, Mr Wallace said, however their personal decisions would be respected.
“But there could be a chance they couldn’t work if they weren’t vaccinated, if the government policies are amended,” he said. *breakout*
Workers in regional NSW who have had one COVID-19 vaccination can return to their workplace on Monday.
A grace period will give them until November 1 to get their second dose.
NSW has reached the 70 per cent double COVID-19 vaccination target, which means the state will open up on October 11.
According to NSW Health, up to October 7, 10,459,088 doses have been administered in NSW since February 22.
The easing of restrictions is part of the Reopening NSW Roadmap, which will allow fully vaccinated adults to enjoy more freedoms from October 11.
Up to 10 visitors aged 13 and over can visit a home, outdoor gatherings will increase to 30 people, and weddings and funerals can welcome 100 guests.
Indoor pools will reopen for swimming lessons, squad training, lap swimming, and rehabilitation activities.
Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Year 12 students are set to return to face-to-face learning on October 18, with all other years joining them a week later on October 25.
Further restrictions will be relaxed after the state clears the 80 per cent double vaccine target.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said the common-sense changes would help life return to normal as soon as possible.
“Vaccinations are the key to life returning to normal and the changes today will help family and friends reconnect, get kids back to school and get businesses back up and running sooner,” he said.
“NSW is putting in the hard yards and it’s important people continue to turn out in droves to be vaccinated.”
NSW Minister for Health Brad Hazzard said residents aged 12 and over have led the charge to get vaccinated and ensure NSW is among the safest places in the world.
“Getting to 70 per cent double dose is a badge of honour for every fully vaccinated NSW citizen to wear proudly, but we can do so much more and 90 per cent is within our grasp,” he said.
