Wagga businesses and churches have welcomed the pending removal of many COVID-19 restrictions next week.
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Singing at places of worship and dancing at pubs and nightclubs will no longer face restrictions from Monday after the NSW government updated its safety rules yesterday.
There will be no limit on the number of visitors at a home but gatherings of more than 100 will need a COVID-19 safety plan.
Barbecues Galore Wagga manager David Leonard said the more stringent restrictions last year had already boosted sales but the prospect of bigger home events could prompt another round of purchases.
"Since March last year our sales on outdoor furniture and barbecues have increased tenfold," he said.
"I think that shows that families were spending more time at home and wanted to update or buy something they never had before. The trend has been going strong and I think it will continue."
Wagga Catholic Diocese's Father Kevin O'Reilly said the organisation had yet to take a close look at the new rules and update its COVID procedures, but he welcomed the changes.
"It is a positive thing and we welcome changes that might bring situations back to normal for our congregations and ceremonies in the church," he said.
From midnight on March 29, the following rules will apply:
- No caps on weddings and funerals;
- No restrictions on singing including in places of worship;
- No restriction on dancing including at weddings and in pubs and nightclubs;
- No cap on visitors in the home
- 200 people allowed for personal outdoor public gatherings;
- All venues to move to the one person per two square metre rule (venues will be allowed at least 25 people before the two square metre rule applies);
- 100 per cent seated capacity at entertainment venues including stadiums and theatres
Businesses and other organisations will stall have to keep records of all attendances, including through QR Codes, to enable fast contact tracing.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the easing of restrictions was a significant step forward for NSW.
"With no community transmission and our quarantine and frontline workers now receiving their second vaccinations, the timing is right to further ease restrictions across the State," Ms Berejiklian said.
"As we do this, it is important we don't let our guard down and continue to check in at venues, keep our social distance and get tested if we have even the mildest of symptoms."
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