Pub owner reacts to new COVID-19 rules for hospitality

A Melbourne pub owner says he’s woken this morning feeling “better than I have felt for most Monday mornings for a while”.

Under the state’s revised reopening roadmap, pubs, clubs, restaurants and bars in metropolitan Melbourne can reopen to 20 fully-vaccinated people indoors and 50 outdoors from Friday.

In regional Victoria, the indoor capacity rises to 30 fully-vaccinated people.

Pub owner and executive member of the Australian Hotels Association, Mark O’Reilly, says his phone “was popular yesterday”.

“At 70 people we’re not gong to make any money, but it’s a start and we’re heading in the right direction,” he told Ross and Russel.

“We can’t wait to get our customers back.”

When the state reaches 80 per cent of people aged 16 and above fully-vaccinated, up to 150 fully-vaccinated people will be able to dine indoors.

Press PLAY below to hear Mr O’Reilly’s reaction to the eased rules for hospitality