For the past 35 years, Maureen Davy has been the owner-operator of a fitness centre in Cottesloe, in Perth's western suburbs.
She estimates the decision to make mask-wearing mandatory indoors at public venues in Perth and Peel for another week will slash her revenue in half.
"For my business, it means another setback," Ms Davy said.
"People won't come and wear masks. A lot of people have health problems with breathing.
"[The rule] sets me back financially, because they suspend their memberships."
Eased COVID-19 restrictions took effect today after no community cases were recorded in Western Australia on Friday for the sixth day in a row.
Overnight, one new case was recorded in an infant, who is the son of a recently reported case in hotel quarantine.
It brings the total number of cases in WA since the pandemic began to 1,000.
From midnight last night hospitality venues — including restaurants, cafes, food courts and bars — were permitted to return to pre-lockdown business as usual, nightclubs could reopen under the four-square-metre rule and community sport was given the green light to resume.
Outdoor gatherings of up to 500 people are allowed again without a COVID-19 plan and a crowd capacity of up to 75 per cent can now be welcomed at Sunday's AFL western derby at Perth Stadium.
But some restrictions are set to remain until Saturday May 8, which will cover the 14-day incubation period following the recent COVID-19 outbreak at the Mercure Hotel.
That includes wearing masks at all indoor public venues — including workplaces and on public transport — although masks are no longer required outdoors unless it is not possible to physically distance.
For the next week, indoor private gatherings are also allowed with a maximum of 30 people and weddings and funerals can proceed with a cap of 200 people.
'Every little bit helps'
The state government plans to introduce a specific targeted grants program to provide some relief to those small businesses that have been most impacted by the COVID-19 restrictions.
Businesses in the hospitality sector, gyms, dance studios and cinemas have been particularly hard hit.
Ms Davy welcomed the compensation, saying it would come in "handy" but that it would not go "very far" to cover her losses to date.
Down the road, barista James Andrew — who works at Up Town, a cafe on Napoleon Street — said the compensation plan was "better than a poke in the eye".
Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA (CCIWA) chief economist Aaron Morey said a survey of 350 businesses found the average hit for small operators from the lockdown was $8,060.
"Certainly for some businesses, the [$2,000 grant] will cover the cost but for those businesses that are impacted to a greater extent, it does fall short," Mr Morey said.
"One of the clear messages ... is that businesses want more clarity on what the plan is for future lockdowns ... they're happy to do the right thing by society, but they do expect to receive the right information and adequate level of compensation for the cost they incur."
