The NSW state government has eased COVID-19 restrictions around standing while drinking and well, cheers to that.
As of Wednesday, March 17th (A.K.A St Patrick’s Day), “vertical consumption” is once again allowed at indoor venues, pubs and clubs.
“I’m not sure if it’s the luck of the Irish or the good work of the citizens in NSW, but today we get to stand and have a beer… [bringing] some level of normality off the back of this pandemic,” NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro said.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the NSW state government also plans to soon lift COVID-19 restrictions relating to weddings and funerals, as well as permit the return of dancing.
“It doesn’t make much sense that you can dance in a wedding but you can’t dance on St Paddy’s day in a pub … so that’s next,” Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said.
“We want to get to a point where whatever setting you’re in, you can have the same activity.”
As reported by The Sydney Morning Herald, Barilaro indicated that a further announcement regarding lifted restrictions can be expected by next Wednesday.
The news comes off the back of NSW having recorded one new locally acquired case of COVID-19 in the most recent reporting period.
The case is a returned traveller who was on the same floor of the Sofitel Wentworth hotel as a security guard who was also reported as a positive case last week, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the timing of the person’s diagnosis suggested that it was likely they had caught it during their two weeks of quarantine at the Sofitel.
“This is why people are asked to isolate: you might be negative on day three but then positive on day 10,” she said.
