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Sydney leaves quarantine after more than 100 days: "Freedom Day"

Immunized residents in Australia’s largest city are enjoying easing restrictions after more than 70% of adults have been vaccinated and despite the continued outbreak of the Delta strain.

The pubs opened their doors, and long queues were recorded in the hairdressers and beauty salons.

On the other hand, those who are not vaccinated will stay at home until 1 December

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• Australia

• Sydney

• Corona virus

Reuters

Monday, 11 October 2021, 08:18 Updated: 09:31

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"We missed the atmosphere. It's not like drinking at home."

Customers at the "Prey of War" pub in Sydney, today (Photo: Reuters)

The oldest pub in Sydney opened today (Monday) one hour earlier to welcome regular customers, following a more than 100-day closure in Australia's largest city.

The relief for those vaccinated against the corona virus has given them the opportunity to have a morning beer again at their favorite bar.

On the other hand, unvaccinated residents are required to stay in their homes until December 1st.

Shortly after the doors opened at 9am, several customers filled one side of the bar in “War Loot,” a nearly 100-year-old pub overlooking the Port of Sydney.

"This is the Australian way of life. You come to the pub, drink beer, chat a bit. They talk to the staff, they talk to each other," said Stephen Speed, the pub's owner.

Speed ​​noted that no one remembers when the place was forced to close for such a long time, although he said it most likely happened during the Spanish flu epidemic a century ago.

Samu Weisk, who has been in charge of the pub since 1981, said the place offers a refuge from the never-ending epidemic.

"We come here to forget things like that," he said.

"We missed the atmosphere in the pub. It's not like drinking at home."

Brian Hobbes says, originally from Dublin, said the taste of the first beer he drank at his favorite bar was "great."

"I have been expecting this pleasure for 108 days," he said.

In addition, vaccinated people can sit in open spaces in cafes and restaurants, and visit gyms, libraries and pools.

Hairdressers and beauty salons were also particularly busy today, and many businesses were flooded with orders and long lines lingered outside after four months of closure.

During this period, residents were not allowed to visit other homes or travel a distance of more than five miles.

The prime minister warned of an expected increase in the number of infected.

Queue for a hairdresser in Sydney, this morning (Photo: Reuters)

Thanks to the acceleration of the vaccine campaign that stuttered in the beginning, Australia plans to return to routine despite its large gates battling an outbreak of the most contagious delta version. The state of New South Wales, of which Sydney is the capital, eased restrictions today after reaching a target of full vaccination for 70% of the adult population. Additional restrictions will be lifted after reaching 80% and 90% vaccination rates, including the resumption of international flights.

New South Wales Prime Minister Dominic Frott described the closure easing as "Freedom Day," warning that the number of infected would rise again as experience elsewhere has shown.

Neighboring Australia and New Zealand acted cautiously before returning to routine, although they recorded a low number of dead and infected corona compared to most countries in the world.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called on Sydney residents to "enjoy the moment".

He said, "Today is a day that many have been waiting for - a day where we celebrate things we have taken for granted," he said.

Morrison, who must announce elections before May, was under pressure to reopen the economy following the economic damage caused by the closures and ahead of Christmas.

Victoria, Australia's second largest country, plans to reopen towards the summer, which in Australia begins in December.

Other countries in Australia, on the other hand, where a low number of infected people were registered, did not specify when they would open their internal borders.

Since closing its international borders in March last year, Australia has reported 1,448 deaths from corona and 130 people diagnosed with the virus.

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