Wagga cafes, pubs and restaurants have expressed frustration with new restrictions which mean they can only serve fully-vaccinated customers from Monday.
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NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet announced an updated roadmap on Thursday following the state hitting the 70 per cent fully-vaccinated milestone earlier this week.
Under the new guidelines, hospitality businesses across the state will be able to open up on Monday so long as all staff have received at least one vaccination dose and they will only be able to serve double-jabbed customers - except for takeaway.
The new rules reflect an easing of restrictions for areas that are currently in lockdown, but for Wagga businesses who opened up almost four weeks ago, the roadmap is a frustrating tightening of restrictions.
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Andrew Buik, the general manager of The Oakroom Kitchen & Bar, said he welcomed the signs that NSW is on the road to recovery but admitted the new restrictions were a hurdle local businesses would have to overcome.
"It is a little frustrating that, in some fashion, the new rules that apply from Monday are a step backwards for region areas," Mr Buik said.
"But we understand that obviously it is important to bring the state together so we are working under the state-wide roadmap and we will play along with those rules as best we can."
Mr Buik said the requirement for all customers to be fully-vaccinated was a "big step" but one that his business will be enforcing from Monday.
Vickie Burkinshaw, the owner of Curious Rabbit cafe, expects pushback from customers when they are questioned on their vaccination status.
"We're just working through the logistics of how it will work with people coming into the venue and I know there will probably be some resistance from some of our customers around their privacy and sharing their vaccination status," Ms Burkinshaw said.
"It's just frustrating because we went through the lockdown and then opened up and now you get back into the swing of things and it's like 'oh no not again'."
The updated roadmap requires all staff to have at least received one vaccination and a grace period has been set until November 1 for them to receive their second dose.
A density limit of up to 20 people per booking has been set and all drinking indoors must be seated while drinking outdoors may be seated or standing.
No singing or dancing is permitted indoors at hospitality venues.
All premises must also continue to operate at a one person per four square metres rule indoors and a one person per two square metres outdoors.
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