Overview
If heading out for a romantic dinner is part of your Valentine's Day plans this year, you might have a bit more company than you were expecting. No one will be crashing your date but, as Premier Gladys Berejiklian foreshadowed last week and confirmed today, Wednesday, February 10, Greater Sydney's current COVID-19 restrictions for restaurants, bars, cafes and eateries will relax again on Friday, February 12.
Come 12.01am on Friday morning, hospitality venues will move back to the one person per two-square-metres rule. The change will apply to function and event spaces as well — and covers both indoor and outdoor spaces. But, they don't apply to gyms, which will be sticking with the four-square-metres requirement for the time being.
Don't expect to go dancing, though, as Premier Berejiklian first noted last week. The rules about making shapes aren't changing — and singing in public is still off limits, too, as both activities are still considered too high-risk.
You'll be able to unmask in most situations, however, with face coverings only required on public transport — including taxis and ride shares — from February 12 as well. So, hospitality workers and people attending places of worship will no longer need to wear masks.
That said, the usual warnings about masks remain in place for situations where you can't social distance. "We do retain the advice to strongly recommend that, especially in an indoor setting where you can't guarantee social distancing, you should be wearing a mask — especially if you are a vulnerable person, someone with low immunity or regarded as high-risk," Premier Berejiklian said.
The announcement comes as NSW recorded no new locally acquired COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday, February 9. As always, NSW residents are asked to continue to get tested immediately if you experience even the mildest of COVID-19 symptoms.
For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website.
Top image: Cassandra Hannagan.