More COVID-19 restrictions will be eased in NSW from 1st of June.

More COVID-19 restrictions will be eased in NSW from 1st of June.

More COV ID-19 restrictions will be eased in NSW from 1st of June (Monday) with more people allowed in clubs, religious places and at weddings and funerals, but all will be subject to the four square metre rule.

Up to 20 people will be able to attend weddings and 50 people can gather at funerals and their places of worship from Monday as the NSW government continues to ease COVID-19 restrictions.

But there will be no choirs, sharing books or passing of collection plates and everyone must maintain social distancing, including the four-square metre rule at indoor gatherings, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.

"We know how important these services are to individuals and families but as we ease restrictions further, we must remember to keep one another safe," she said.

"It is crucial that worshippers remember to follow health advice. This is particularly important for people with co-morbidities aged over 65 and people aged over 70."

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said places of worship will be asked to find alternatives to practices like group singing, sharing books and passing around the collection plate to reduce infection risks.

"Communal singing and chanting should not occur because of the high risk of transmission of the virus. Instead, measures such as one singer standing at least three metres away from others would be safer," she said.

Certain clubs could welcome as many as 500 people in NSW from Monday.

“A club’s patron capacity may further increase beyond 50 patrons – in increments of 50, up to a maximum of 500 – in accordance with the number of restaurants and cafes inside the clubs,” ClubsNSW said in a statement.

“For example, a club with two restaurants and one cafe can admit up to 150 people at any one time, on the basis of 1 person per 4 square metres and on the condition that those eateries are open at all relevant times.

“Under these arrangements, clubs can permit patrons in the bar and gaming rooms up to the venue capacity and with 1.5 metres physical distancing in all areas.

Outbreaks of COVID-19 in places of worship overseas highlighted why people needed to be cautious with the easing of restrictions, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said.

“Sadly, we have seen many congregations of different faiths and denominations affected by COVID-19 overseas,” Mr Hazzard said.

“NSW Health has developed a checklist to help places of worship create a tailored COVID-19 Safety Plan to ensure they can keep participants as safe as possible.

“These safety plans cover topics such as physical distancing measures, hand hygiene and extensive cleaning measures, it is also vital that people who are unwell stay at home.”

Lockdown restrictions imposed to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Australia may be lifted earlier than previously thought, with the National Cabinet to meet on Friday to discuss Australia’s progress.

Lifting restrictions earlier than planned and allowing larger gatherings could be recommended within two weeks. Earlier this month Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a three-stage plan in which social distancing restrictions would be eased.

Mr Morrison had hoped each state and territory would reach stage three by July, but with the country’s low infection rate the federal government is hopeful it could come even soone