High case numbers have hurt Illawarra businesses more than many restrictions did, according to owners.
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The Illawarra Mercury contacted a number of local hospitality venues and gyms after the two-square metre rule, QR codes and masks were once again required for customers.
They were unanimous in their belief that those restrictions were a minor inconvenience for patrons, and relatively easy to implement - but the consequences of removing them for two weeks in the lead-up to Christmas has had disastrous results.
Duty manager at the Fraternity Club in Fairy Meadow, Andrew Mazzara, said after lockdown lifted the club had been reasonably busy.
After the NSW Government announced QR check-ins and vaccination was no longer required for hospitality venues the Fraternity Club continued their COVID-safe policies, even though they were no longer mandated.
That was also not a deterrent for patrons - but skyrocketing cases over the past week has left the bistro quiet.
"We had cancellations for our Christmas buffet, cancellations for New Year's Eve, and it's been pretty quiet since a couple of days before Christmas," Mr Mazzarra said.
"People want to be able to travel interstate to see family, and they're scared, especially the elderly.
"The return of the two-square metre rule doesn't affect business when people aren't coming through the doors anyway.
"The government should have kept the QR codes and double-vaccination requirements."
Angela Saville, owner of Savvy Fitness in Fairy Meadow, agreed.
"Businesses could work with the mask rules, QR check-ins and density limits," she said.
"But with the number of cases now the next few weeks look like they'll be a nightmare.
"The number of staff and customers who are affected makes it chaotic and unpredictable."
She said rather than helping the economy, removing all restrictions at once had the opposite effect, as many people were either required to isolate, or feared leaving their home.
Additionally, many found changing requirements confusing and overwhelming.
"The guidelines need to be kept clear and simple with people's health in mind," Ms Saville said.
"Our protocols haven't changed, and we operate most of our classes outside in a low-risk setting."
Ms Saville said businesses who had survived the past two years were used to adapting quickly, but said consistency was key to compliance with health orders.
"What I don't understand is why we couldn't have kept requirements as simple as masks," she said.
"We were all used to them, so why were they taken away for that period of time?"
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