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'Do the right thing': Covid warning to residents as NSW eases restrictions

NSW has eased restrictions after 10 days without any known locally acquired coronavirus cases.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters on Wednesday NSW residents would be able to welcome up to 30 people into their homes from Friday, while outdoor gatherings are capped at 50.

Masks in Greater Sydney will also only be compulsory on public transport, in places of worship and in beauty and hair salons, not in supermarkets. Hospitality workers will still be required to wear a mask.

The state will also now allow for 300 people to attend weddings and funerals.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian speaking at a press conference.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced that some restrictions will be eased from Friday. Source: ABC

There will be no maximum cap on hospitality venues but they must adhere to the four square metre rule.

She said she believes hospitality venues will be able to return to the two square metre rule in two weeks.

“With the easing of restrictions from Friday, that gives [businesses] a great leap of confidence for the next couple of weeks and then beyond that, the high probability of going back to two square metres, I think, should instil everybody with confidence,” Ms Berejiklian said.

But the premier warned against residents getting too relaxed about Covid risks.

“Because our strategy will only work if people to the right thing,” she said.

Health chief warns NSW residents against complacency

Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant warned NSW residents the state was not yet out the woods and reminded people the virus could still be circulating in the community.

“At the moment, we're optimistic we're on the trajectory of eliminating the transmission in New South Wales. But it is too premature to say we've got there yet,” she said.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard once again pleaded with NSW residents to come forward for testing, saying the current rates of around 9000 per day were “not adequate”.

There were two cases detected in hotel quarantine in the previous 24-hour reporting period.

NSW Health, meanwhile, is urging people in southwest Sydney to monitor for COVID-19 symptoms after virus fragments were detected in sewage at the Liverpool waste treatment plant.

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