Tasmania ushered in stage three coronavirus restrictions on Friday, providing further freedom for businesses across a number of areas.
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Stage three relaxations include:
- Maximum of 250 people in an undivided indoor premises.
- Maximum of 500 people in an undivided outdoor premises.
- Four-square-metre person density decreased to two-square-metres.
- Businesses such as play centres, spas, casinos, zoos and night clubs can reopen.
- Full-contact sport, including training, permitted.
Small Business Minister Sarah Courtney encouraged Tasmanians to continue to support struggling businesses, given how typically challenging winter can be for traffic.
"It means that many businesses can start to get their atmosphere returning which often made them such a special place to be able to visit before," she said.
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Metz co-owner Kendra Lewis said the new density rules meant the restaurant could increase its seated capacity and allow patrons to be seated at the bar.
"We're lucky we've been able to retain all our staff ... we're able to also recruit some new people back into our business," she said.
"It's just going to be nice being able to relax a little bit more into it ... feeling a little bit more comfortable about the future as well."
Fellow upper St John Street business Tinka Coffee Brewers would also be expanding its seating capacity under the new distancing protocol from eight to 12.
Co-owner David Straw said getting back to capacity had been a little easier unlike larger cafes and restaurants.
"This is a really welcome change ... patrons have definitely shown respect for the restrictions that we've been trying to enforce," he said.
"We will look to increase, probably right not up to full capacity, taking a modest approach. That being said, it'll certainly give us a little bit more leeway where we've had to turn away business in the past."
Ms Lewis said it was encouraging to see so many locals dining in at businesses already, compensating a quiet autumn for a busy winter.