And it's hard not to get excited.

The pace of change as we start to emerge from the state's enforced coronavirus hibernation is beginning to rival the pace of change as we entered the lockdown, with every few days now seeming to bring a new easing of restrictions.

The big news on Friday was Premier Gladys Berejiklian's announcement that pubs, clubs and restaurants would be allowed to serve up 50 patrons at a time, providing they have the space to comply with the existing one person per four square metres rule.

The announcement took many by surprise, coming just seven days after the government finally allowed a return to dine-in meals on the proviso that no more than 10 people were in attendance.

Few would have predicted the government would announce a five-times increase in allowable dining numbers just a week later, but the 50-patron figure will make reopening financially viable for many more venues. In turn, that means many thousands more employees back at work - and off Job Keeper payments.

Monday's return to full-time schooling for all public school students has also come quicker than we first expected and offers further proof of the value of Australia's rapid response to the developing pandemic.

Certainly, there have been mistakes (most notably, the Ruby Princess) but, overall, Australia remains a coronavirus success story. So far, at least.

These easing restrictions do not mean this story is over, but we can now start to reap the benefits of the pain we've endured.

Our new world might look a little different to the old world, but we will all emerge from this pandemic with a much greater appreciation for all that we have.