Jonathan Barrett

SYDNEY, (Reuters) – Sydney’s oldest pub opened an hour earlier on Monday in order to welcome its customers back after a 100-day lockdown. This allowed COVID-19 vaccinated residents to have new freedoms such as a morning drink at their favorite bar.

Just minutes after the doors opened at 9 a.m. (2000 GMT Sunday), just a few people filled one end of the Fortune of War’s bar. This almost 200-year-old pub looks out to Sydney’s major ferry and cruise ship wharf, The Rocks.

It is the only way. It’s the way. You can come to the pub and have a drink, or even a little bit of a story. Steven Speed said, “They talk to staff. They talk to one another.” He gestured towards customers who were perched on barstools.

Speed stated that nobody can recall the last time the Fortune of War had to be closed for an extended duration, though he claimed it was during the Spanish Flu epidemic a century back.

Australia’s once slowing vaccination rollout is gaining momentum and Australia plans a gradual return to normal, even though its largest cities are dealing with the deadly Delta virus.

After achieving its 70% goal of fully vaccinating its adult population, New South Wales, (NSW), relaxed its lockdown regulations on Monday. When the state achieves the 80%-90% levels of vaccination, further restrictions will ease. This includes returning to international travel.

Australia and New Zealand are taking conservative approaches when it comes to opening up, even though they both experienced low levels of infection and death by global standards.

The NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet called Monday “freedom Day” and warned that infection rates would increase after reopening. This is similar to what has happened elsewhere.

Victoria is Australia’s most populous and second largest state. Officials announced on Monday that Victoria will open its doors for summer.

After a nearly four-month lockdown that left many businesses closed, barbers and hair salons were busy Monday. There was a lot of waiting and bookings, as well as long lines outside. This is what television and social media footage showed.

Samo Vojsk who visits the Fortune of War from 1981 to escape the pandemic, was there Monday morning.

Vojsk declared, “We are here to forget such things.”

“The pub atmosphere is something you miss; there’s a different way to drink at home.”

Brian Hobbs O’Mara originally hails from Dublin and said that the first time he had a beer at his favorite bar, it tasted “tremendous”.

He said, “I have been waiting for this comfort for 108 day.”