Outdoor venues in NSW will be able to host double the number patrons later this week, as the government relaxes some of its COVID-19 restrictions.
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NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced on Tuesday that outdoor venues will be able to use the "two square metres rule", instead of the current four square metres, to calculate their patron numbers outside as long as the business has an electronic QR code.
As we head into summer, we want to take NSW from being inside to outside
- Tresurer Dominic Perottet
The four square metre rule will stay for indoor spaces and the restrictions will lift from Friday, she said.
Ms Berejiklian also said musical performances would be able to host up to 500 people at outdoor venues.
Welcoming the rule changes, treasurer Dominic Perottet said arts, recreation and hospitality had been the hardest hit industries through the pandemic and had been consulted about the lifting restrictions.
"As we head into summer, we want to take NSW from being inside to outside," he said.
Likewise, Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the changes would make a "huge difference" to state.
"[This] will make a huge difference to the economy and a huge difference to the ambience of NSW," he said.
"We can now have - similar to what we've had with sport - up to 500 people outside enjoying their music, playing instruments and singing," he said.
He said the music events would need to have a COVID Safe plan and an organiser in place to increase their patron numbers.
"We're conscious of the fact everything has to be done in a COVID-safe way," he said.
The ministers also said they were looking at easing further restrictions in the coming weeks.