The Bathurst RSL Club will stick to its strict visitor entry policy for an indefinite period until the COVID-19 situation in NSW and Victoria shows clear signs of improvement.
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A fortnight ago, the RSL Club made the 'difficult decision' to bar visitors from Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Albury and Victoria for two weeks, and has since announced it will add further locations identified as hotspots by NSW Health.
Bathurst RSL Club general manager Peter Sargent said the rules have been met with a great deal of understanding from visitors thus far.
"We've had to turn a few visitors away and in virtually every situation, they have been understanding with us regarding our policy," Mr Sargent said.
"A group of people came in from Sydney last week, and when they were refused entry, they understood our decision and promised they'd be back once the situation settles down."
"In uncertain times, you have to make firm decisions, and when people understand there's a reason and rationale behind those decisions, they'll accept it and understand it's for the good of themselves, our staff and members and the Bathurst community."
READ MORE: Bathurst RSL Club reopens to the public
Mr Sargent said the entry rules will be reviewed regularly over the coming weeks as the situation continues.
"If cases continue to be managed well in NSW, which is how it appears, confidence will increase," he said.
"NSW seems to be managing COVID-19's re-emergence rather well and it's important for people to refrain from panicking and follow the COVID-safe guidelines."
Mr Sargent said the venue has continued to receive positive community feedback for their entry rules, and staff have maintained a committed effort to enforce COVID-safe practices.
"We had an unannounced NSW Health inspection on Saturday and are pleased to inform we received a clean bill of health," he said.
"It's a testament to the outstanding work of our staff to keep local visitors safe by ensuring they follow the rules."
Despite the reduction in venue capacity, Mr Sargent said business has remained encouraging.
"We're obviously down because our capacity is reduced, but I'm generally pleased with how we're trading," he said.
"The main thing right now is we are viable as a business, and we're appreciative of the support we've received from the community."
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