Restauranteur Luke Mangan says while it is frustrating to have restaurants and other hospitality venues still operating under the four-square metre rule, he understands it is necessary to ensure the virus is eradicated from the community.
New South Wales will ease restrictions on masks and gatherings from Friday, with up to 30 people allowed to visit a household and up to 50 people allowed to gather in an outdoor setting.
However, hospitality venues were left behind, with Premier Gladys Berejiklian saying another two weeks were necessary to assess the public health situation before they could move to the two-square metre rule.
Mr Mangan said restaurants had missed out for now, but understood the state government was aiming for “short term pain for long term gain”.
“We’re going to get through it, we’ve come this far and let’s not ruin it, let’s make sure we get it right so we don’t have to have another cluster and close down again,” he told Sky News.
“The g