Restrictions on the number of people allowed at gatherings will ease in Wollongong on Friday, but for some the changes will have little impact.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The cap on numbers at funerals and weddings will rise to 300 people, but the one person per four square metres rule will remain for indoor ceremonies.
H. Parsons Funerals general manager Brian Hood said this did not amount to much change for the funeral provider.
Given the size of the business' indoor spaces, Mr Hood said, the ongoing density requirement meant the new restrictions did not affect the number of people they could accommodate inside.
He said this was a common issue among many local operators, and other places such as churches.
But the NSW government has flagged that the density rule is likely to ease to one person per two square metres in two weeks, if current trends continue.
This would mean venues could double the number of people allowed indoors, up to the cap.
Mr Hood said the funeral provider was looking forward to density rules relaxing further.
"Just to reduce the anxiety faced by close family," he said.
Mr Hood said the COVID-19 restrictions had a "big impact" on bereaved families.
"We're having to encourage families to develop a guest list... So families are having to make choices," he said.
It also affected relations and friends who wished to pay their respects, Mr Hood said, as they were reticent to attend funerals out of concern they were impinging on the family.
However, H. Parsons provided more portable TVs and seating outside so people could attend the funeral in some capacity, and Mr Hood said the live streaming service they had offered since 2015 had grown significantly.
The restrictions had also put funeral directors in a tricky position, he said, as they had had to police the restrictions in often challenging circumstances, turning guests away.
"Despite it all, we've been very proud to play a part in the control of COVID throughout all of this," Mr Hood said.
The four-square-metre rule also remains in place for hospitality and events venues.
A spokesperson for Venues NSW, the operator of WIN Sports and Entertainment Centres in Wollongong, said the company continued to work closely with NSW Health to host events safely.
"We encourage people who attend events at WIN Sports and Entertainment Centres to take every necessary precaution and follow the public health guidelines," the spokesperson said.
NSW recorded no new locally acquired COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm Wednesday, for the 11th day in a row.
However, testing numbers fell below 8000, and deputy chief health officer Dr Jeremy McAnulty said high rates of testing were important in monitoring the spread of the virus.
With restrictions easing, he said it was crucial people "maintain their vigilance".
More news:
We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.