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Newcastle Herald
Newcastle Herald
National
Ashleigh Tullis

The strict new COVID-19 rules for clubs, restaurants, cafes that start today

Cafes, restaurants and clubs will have to comply with new rules that come into effect on Friday. File picture: Adam McLean

NSW businesses are on notice to comply with the state's public health orders, or risk a fine or closure, that came into affect from Friday as the state recorded seven new COVID-19 cases.

From Friday, compliance measures introduced to pubs will be extended to restaurants, bars, cafés and clubs.

There will be a limit of group bookings to a maximum of 10 people; mandatory COVID-Safe plans and registration as a COVID-Safe business and a digital record of attendance must be created within 24 hours.

Read more: Wollongong police to patrol pubs as new COVID restrictions come into effect

Weddings and corporate events are limited to 150 people subject to the four square metre rule and registration of the venue as a COVID-Safe business. No singing and dancing can occur.

Funerals and places of worship are limited to 100 people, subject to the four square metre rule and a COVID-Safe business registration for the venue.

Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said Liquor and Gaming inspectors had visited 1311 pubs to date.

Seventy verbal warnings, two written warnings and fines for Auburn Hotel, The Star and The Golden Sheaf have been issued.

"Any business found blatantly breaking the rules will have the book thrown at them. We won't be listening to any excuses," Mr Dominello said.

"The vast majority of pubs are complying.

"We have more inspectors on the beat and they will be out in force increasingly over the weekend and in weeks ahead.

"Businesses that aren't serious about safety should not be in business. Those who disregard the restrictions should expect a visit from an inspector.

"We also encourage customers to report wrongdoing. We have a shared responsibility to ensure NSW remains safe."

Mr Dominello said there was a four step plan for businesses to become "COVID-safe".

"One, download the COVID-safety plan that is relevant to your industry," he said. "Step two, register your plan, three, comply with that plan, and four, display the stickers so customers can know you are a COVID-safe business.

"Those orders came into effect from midnight and there will be a 24-hour grace period, i.e. until midnight tonight to allow those businesses to register their plans and display their stickers."

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys said 15,000 police inspections have occurred around the state at businesses last month and he expected a similar number of inspections to be carried out this month.

"The message is very, NSW Police will enforce the public health orders," he said. "The time is over for excuses. Police in every police district will enforce compliance because it is ultimately about the health of everyone in the state."

Meantime, seven new cases of COVID-19 have been diagnosed in NSW between 8pm on 22 July and 8pm on 23 July.

There were a record 36,169 tests reported in the 24-hour reporting period, compared with 24,640 in the previous 24 hours.

The seven new cases include six people associated with the Thai Rock restaurant cluster and one case who has no identified source.

Of the six Thai Rock cluster cases, three are linked to Our Lady of Lebanon church, and three are close contacts of other cases, including two at a workplace.

A previously reported case visited Costco at Marsden Park for 3 hours on 19 July from 11am to 2pm. Other patrons who were present at that time are encouraged to seek testing if they develop symptoms.

There were no new cases linked to the Crossroads Hotel on Friday.

There are 56 cases associated with the Crossroads Hotel cluster, 52 cases associated with the Thai Rock restaurant and eight cases associated with the Batemans Bay Soldiers Club.

Given the current context of local transmission, NSW Health has directed that health workers must now wear a surgical mask if they are within 1.5m of patients in public hospitals.

Patients are also required to wear a mask, where possible. This advice applies to hospital and community health settings and comes into effect from Friday.

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This story The strict new COVID-19 rules for clubs, restaurants, cafes that start today first appeared on Illawarra Mercury.
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