Be supportive of your local businesses and continue to get vaccinated is the message to the Cowra community ahead of the easing of COVID restrictions across NSW.
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After the state reached the target of 70 per cent vaccination this week restrictions will ease as of Monday, October 11 allowing non essential retail outlets to re-open to double vaccinated customers.
With the change comes the onus on business to make sure their customers are double vaccinated.
Business owners and workers will need to have had at least one vaccination as of October 11 and have until November 1 to be double vaccinated.
Cowra mayor Bill West has called on local shoppers to support business through this process.
"We all need to be supportive of local businesses who are under pressure to ensure they follow state government rules and regulations," Cr West said.
"We understand there is uncertainty in some areas and mixed information coming out about the changes but the one thing we do know is the government requires businesses to follow the rules around allowing access to people who can prove they are double vaccinated.
"As a community we need to support our businesses who are in this difficult position," Cr West said.
Officer in charge of Cowra Police, Inspector Adam Beard, said his officers would be patrolling the Cowra CBD and licenced premises on Monday to ensure shoppers and diners are doing the right thing.
"Businesses can face steep fines if they fail to comply with public health orders and this can flow on to individuals," Insp Beard said.
"As part of trading conditions they do have to comply. Our role will be to support them so that they can open their doors and get our local economy back on its feet.
"If business owners need assistance we encourage them to reach out."
Insp Beard has been pleased with the behaviour of the Cowra community to date and says he's quietly confident the level of cooperation shown will continue.
"We've found through the pandemic 99 per cent will do the right thing, but there is always that one individual who won't," he said.
Cr West said it is now up to Cowra residents "to support them and work with local business"
"We understand it is difficult for some to get proof of vaccination but the onus is on individuals to get the proof," he said to shoppers and diners ahead of Monday.
The new rules, Insp Beard said, "provides further motivation for people to get their vaccinations".
"If they've had one vaccination they should follow up and get their second.
"If they do they will be able to enjoy a lot more freedoms sooner and enjoy the potential health benefits of being less affected if they do contract the virus," Insp Beard said.
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