Sydney Pubs To Open In Mid-October

CREDIT: Frank Augstein/AP

Cafes, restaurants, and pubs in Sydney are expected to reopen during the second-half of October.

This is scheduled to happen after months of a strict, long lockdown and even though the Prime Minister has warned the public of higher COVID-19 cases following the easing of curbs.

It has been reported that leaders must "hold their nerve."

Authorities have reported that Sydney bars, eateries and gyms will be able to reopen at reduced capacity just days after New South Wales reaches the 70% double-vaccination target.

The stay-at-home orders for those fully vaccinated will be lifted after the target is achieved.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has said, "Living with COVID means you have a cautious and staged reopening once you get to those high rates of vaccination in your adult population. 

She expects the rising of cases after the easing of restrictions and has warned the public about localised lockdowns if "there is a concentration of disease in any suburb."

If things go according to plan, pubs and cafes in Sydney could reopen before schools. Classes will begin for younger aged-groups on October 25th.

"School reopening date is fixed because we need to provide certainty and planning for school communities...but for adults, we have the capacity to be more flexible."

Sydney's staggered reopening plans bring some certainty to businesses. There are threats the $2 trillion economy will be pushed into its second recession. 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has reported that the reopening efforts align with the four-stage national plan that was revealed in July. The plans promises more freedom once the vaccination rate reaches 70%-80%.

"The next stage will be hard...we'll see case numbers rise and that will be challenging. But if you want to live with the virus you inevitably have to pass down that tunnel."

He urges state leaders to "hold their nerve" when beginning to live with the virus. ome virus-free states have reported possibly delaying their reopening after reaching higher vaccination coverage.

Australia has far lower COVID cases than in many other countries. The increased vaccination levels have kept the death rate around 0.41% with the Delta variant.