No standing in pubs as NSW launches new virus crackdown

Standing and drinking a beer in a pub will no longer be allowed in NSW, as the state scrambles to stop a growing coronavirus cluster across Sydney's south-west.

Speaking on Today, Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed bookings at pubs and hotels will now be reduced from 20 to 10 people.

There will also be a cap, regardless of the size of the venue, of 300 people.

Ms Berejiklian said patrons at pubs and hotels will be ordered to sit.

"Standing up and mingling spreads the virus," she said.

Without providing details, she hinted possible new rules around common cutlery and plates.

Ms Berejiklian said the hotel industry had told her that when there are more than 10 people, "people are getting up and mingling and not staying seated".

Some venues would need to employ a fulltime marshal to ensure COVID-safe practices are being followed, she said.

Images emerged last weekend of huge lines outside one Sydney pub, with no social distancing observed.

READ MORE: COVIDSafe tracing app labelled a '$2 million failure'

She warned further stringent restrictions could be on the way if the virus cluster in south-west Sydney spirals.

"If we have to do more, we will," she said.

"But at this stage we are looking at the high-risk activities.

"Do we need to do more to control the spread? I would rather do this in a period or a situation of control because to some extent we are still in control."

Ms Berejiklian said acting now would hopefully avoid pushing her government "down another path which we don't want to go down".

Contact: msaunoko@nine.com.au

FOLLOW: Mark Saunokonoko on Twitter