NSW relaxes Coronavirus restrictions - May 15, 2020
41 ImagesSydney may have woken up to new freedoms this morning, with NSW relaxing Coronavirus restrictions but the realities post isolation remain. NSW is allowing people to have five visitors at a home and gather in groups of 10 outside. Pubs, cafes and restaurants are allowed to trade with 10 patrons, and churches can reopen for the same number of worshipers. In Australia, the death toll remains at 98, although there have been 31 new cases reported on Friday May 15, which a bit higher than we've seen recently. Twenty-one of those were in Victoria, including nine with no known source. There's also concern about a case in a Rockhampton aged care nurse who worked while infectious after returning to the central Queensland city from Brisbane. More virus restrictions have been relaxed across the country on Friday May 15, 2020. Photography by The Sydney Morning Herald photojournalists. Follow us on Instagram @thesydneymorningherald and on Twitter @photosSMH
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Public transportation will have to assess the number of people returning to work on Monday as restrictions are eased.Credit:Dean Sewell
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Talyna Smith is a nurse at St Vincents Hospital emergency departments red zone.Credit:Kate Geraghty
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As restrictions on exercising outside ease, Inner West mayor Darcy Byrne has stern advice for walkers, runners and cyclists: stay away from the Bay Run.Credit:Louise Kennerley
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Local playgrounds and public gym equipment reopen across Sydney.Credit:James Alcock
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Muscles on display in Sydney's eastern suburbs.Credit:Steven Siewert
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Talyna Smith a nurse in St Vincents Hospital emergency departments red zone tends to a patient suspected of having COVID-19. Credit:Kate Geraghty
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Co-owners of Five Dock Dining, Charles Garzaniti and Frank Angilletta have chosen a novel approach to the partial reopening their restaurant in Five Dock as the lifting of restrictions allows them to cater for 10 people. The pair sourced royalty free stock library images of ordinary people from the internet, printed them out life sized and positioned them around to create a feel that diners where not alone and feel comfortable in the sparse environment. Credit:Dean Sewell
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People enjoy the new-found freedom as restrictions are eased. Credit:Janie Barrett
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Glen Steele swims in Bronte Pool which has just been reopened for a maximum of ten people.Credit:Janie Barrett
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Diners in China Town on May 15, 2020.Credit:Edwina Pickles
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A State Rail employee cleans surfaces at Central Station as more commuters begin to use public transportation with the easing of social restrictions by the State Government.Credit:James Alcock
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Last light on the CBD as Coronavirus restrictions are set to relax on May 15. Credit:Wolter Peeters
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Retail shops have reopened in Sydney's CBD.Credit:Edwina Pickles
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Spooked by the spectre of COVID-19 sweeping ruthlessly through street-dwellers, the NSW government dug deep and allocated $34 million to boost temporary accommodation and private rental packages. Though he denies it, the NSW Minister for Communities, Gareth Ward, supposedly had a battle on his hands to get the cash approved until the government apparently figured $34 million was sensible insurance.Credit:James Brickwood
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Head Chef of Hotel Harry, Gustavo Melo, is living at his workplace in one of the hotel rooms. He is on a working visa and is not able to receive any of the coronvirus government stimulus. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer
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Cafes and restaurants have reopened today with a limit of 10 people. Diners in a restaurant in China Town.Credit:Edwina Pickles
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Hospitality venues continue to suffer in Kings Cross however the City of Sydney has given think tank Committee for Sydney the green light to work with the local liquor industry, businesses and other stakeholders to provide recommendations on how to jump-start the night-time economy and bring domestic and international visitors back to the area.Credit:Brook Mitchell
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Mr Moulder, 25, from Kellyville, said the loss of routine provided by playing football and working out had robbed him of motivation. "It's been quite boring," he said. "I haven't been able to do much." Mr Moulder said the pandemic had not affected his relationship with girlfriend Lily – "she lives pretty much at my house" – but he missed socialising with friends at the pub and football club. Credit:Wolter Peeters
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Sydney musician and busker Shirina Holmatova from Paddington has not been able to work since the lockdown. Credit:James Brickwood
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Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy with Prime Minister Scott Morrison. The Prime Minister has committed $48.1 million in additional support for mental health in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, while announcing states and territories can start to resume more elective surgeries.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
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NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says the government is ready to flip the switch on allowing travel within NSW – as soon as a few lingering healthcare concerns are abated.Credit:Louise Kennerley
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Children enjoy the fine outdoor weather at Newington Armory, Olympic Park.Credit:James Alcock
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Haymarket on the day that restrictions were eased in NSW. Credit:Edwina Pickles
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Sydney-siders get outdoors and enjoy the fine Autumn weather at a park in Lavender Bay.Credit:James Alcock
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Playgrounds are open once again.Credit:Edwina Pickles
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Sofia and Lucy wait for the bus on their way home from school. The number of school students using public transport could be down due to parents anxiety of children contracting coronavirus.Credit:Rhett Wyman
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Bathers and beach-goers enjoy at Brighton Le Sands on Botany Bay.Credit:James Alcock
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Swimmer David McMahon outside North Sydney Olympic Pool. The mayor presiding over the North Sydney Olympic Pool will push for it to be reopened despite recently raising concerns over its structural safety in the lead-up to its long-awaited redevelopment. Councillor Jilly Gibson said "our community has spoken" in declaring she would put forward a mayoral minute at Monday's North Sydney Council meeting to welcome swimmers back to the facility, pending an engineering review, following pressure from pool regulars and the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.Credit:Louie Douvis
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Cumberland St, The Rocks. Credit:James Brickwood
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People social distancing at Balmoral Beach. Credit:Wolter Peeters
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Jemima rides her penny board with her dog Wolfie in Alexandria Park.Credit:Dominic Lorrimer
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Artist, Marikit Santiago, with the help of her three children, Maella, 5, Santi, 4, and Sari, 1, have created a drawing of the view from their apartment window in North Parramatta, for the Art Gallery of NSW for a new online exhibition during the coronavirus pandemic. Credit:Janie Barrett
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Playgrounds reopens from Friday May 15.Credit:Edwina Pickles
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Sound Engineer, Royce Sandersan sprays a microphone with an aerosol disinfectant to protect from COVID-19 prior to Emma Pask performing a livestream at the Sydney Opera House on Saturday, May 9, 2020. Photo by Cole BennettsCredit:Cole Bennetts
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Emma Pask during a portrait session after her live streamed show at Joan Sutherland Theatre at the Sydney Opera House on Saturday, May 9, 2020. Photo by Cole BennettsCredit:Cole Bennetts
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Chef Callum Brewin and waiter Gaetan Dossal prepare the MacLeay Street Bistro in Potts Point ahead of eased restrictions permitting 10 people to dine at one time. Credit:Brook Mitchell
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Daily life in Bronte beach. Credit:Steven Siewert
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Walkers, runners and cyclist on the Bay Run at 9.30am, Lilyfield. Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. 14th May 2020 Photo Louise Kennerley SMHCredit:Louise Kennerley
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Sydney prepares to return to a new normal as NSW relaxes on restrictions from Friday May 15,2020. Credit:James Brickwood
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Coronavirus - COVID-19. Sydney CBD. Cirqulary Quay. Sydney Tram. Photographed Wednesday 6th May 2020. Photograph by James Brickwood. SMH NEWS 200506Credit:James Brickwood
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Dawn at Avalon beach as Sydney returns to a new normal post isolation.Credit:Nick Moir