Australia’s Premier of New South Wales, Dominic Perrottet, has called for patience and respect as the state emerges from lockdown amid concerns customer-facing staff could be at risk of abuse from the unvaccinated.
His hope is that police will only need to be called as a last resort.
After 106 days, almost 63,000 Covid-19 cases and 431 deaths, stay-at-home orders have lifted across NSW.
Having surpassed the 70 per cent double-dose vaccination milestone early last week, gyms, cafés, restaurants, pools, shops, hairdressers and beauticians will reopen from Monday and people will be allowed to venture more than five kilometres from home.
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But as lockdown ends for some, a "lockout" of the unvaccinated begins; only those fully vaccinated will be able to enjoy the new freedoms.
Business owners and hospitality staff are nervous the risk of transmission is high, and the risk of abuse even higher.
Perrottet acknowledged problems are inevitable, but urged the state's residents to show patience, kindness and respect.
"We're the first state in the country that's put these plans in place," he told AAP.
"There will be challenges and difficulties as we go through this ... but we certainly don't want to be having police moving through cafés and restaurants.
"That's just not the state that I love and know."
He rejected concerns business owners have been left out on a limb when it comes to dealing with angry people denied service.
Clear guidelines have been issued to them in terms of training staff and in terms of signage, he said.
Brook Mitchell/Getty Images
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has called for patience and respect as the state emerges from lockdown.
"If an individual feels unsafe, if a business owner ... feels unsafe, then yes, it's important that they do contact police."
"But that'll be the same today as it will be tomorrow."
Sydney bartender Lucy is one of those anxious about being on the frontline when stay-at-home orders cease and people flood the pubs.
The venue where the 34-year-old works will not be hiring a security guard to cut costs after months without trading, so other staff will be responsible for checking patrons' vaccination status and making sure they follow safety measures.
"A lot of people are angry about having to get vaccinated and I worry they will try to make a point at the door," Lucy told AAP.
She's keen return to work having been stood down during each of the state's lockdowns, but also feels exposed as the Delta variant continues to circulate throughout the city.
"I definitely feel at risk," she said.
"I worry a lot of the pubs will be environments where the virus can spread pretty easily."
The United Workers Union, which represents essential frontline and public-facing workers, has expressed concern that staff checking vaccination status will be put in unsafe situations, calling for clear binding rules on bosses to protect staff as well as penalties for non-compliance.
Diego Fedele/Getty Images
After 106 days, almost 63,000 Covid-19 cases and 431 deaths, stay-at-home orders have lifted across NSW.
From Monday, indoor and outdoor gatherings will also be permitted, with caps increased last week to 10 and 30 people respectively.
However the unvaccinated remain locked down until December.
"It's been 100 days of blood, sweat and no beers but we're back in action tomorrow," Perrottet told reporters on Sunday.
"NSW is leading the country out of this pandemic."
Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images
Lockdown is easing in New South Wales, however the unvaccinated remain locked down until December.
NSW on Saturday reached 90.3 per cent first-dose vaccination coverage for those eligible, while 73.5 per cent of the eligible population is now fully jabbed.
On its final day of lockdown on Sunday, the state reported 477 new local Covid-19 cases and six deaths.
None of those who died – all men – were fully vaccinated.
There are 794 Covid-19 patients in NSW hospitals, with 159 in intensive care units and 76 on ventilators.
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2021-10-10 17:09:00Z
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