Few customers as cafes and restaurants open

Many cafes and restaurants have opened again in Sydney as some coronavirus restrictions were lifted, although customers were relatively few.

New South Wales in Australia began allowing cafes, restaurants and places of worship to reopen with up to 10 people, if they observe social distancing.

Pubs and clubs could open, but only for dining.

State premier Gladys Berejiklian, said: “Let’s please do our part in keeping everybody safe so that all of us can keep moving forward so that we never, ever go backwards.”

Many Catholic churches in the state opened for private prayer, confession and small-scale masses.

“The celebration of mass is the highest form of Catholic worship and to not be able to physically gather these past two months has been very difficult for Catholics,” said Sydney’s Archbishop Anthony Fisher.

Many Jewish synagogues and other Christian churches decided to keep their doors closed.

New South Wales reported eight new cases yesterday, bringing the state total to just over 3,000.

LIGHT LUNCH: A handful of people eat lunch at a Sydney restaurant after New South Wales eased the lockdown