Coronavirus Australia: Sydney’s Crossroads Hotel reopens

The beers are back at Sydney’s Crossroads Hotel, two weeks after it became coronavirus ground zero. The only thing missing is the customers.

The normally booming beer barn hosted just seven patrons having a beverage and shouting at the trots at one point on Friday evening.

Social distancing was no problem given the handful who were present described it as the quietest night in some time.

The Casula pub’s car park, just days ago home to hordes of coronavirus testers and panicked patrons, wasn’t even a third full about 5.45pm.

Pictured: Sydney’s Crossroads Hotel reopened on Friday night two weeks after it became coronavirus ground zero

The Crossroads Hotel in Casula was virtually empty on its opening day on Friday July 24

The Crossroads Hotel in Casula was virtually empty on its opening day on Friday July 24

Pictured: On arrival, Daily Mail Australia reporter Daniel Piotrowski was subjected to a temperature test by a hi vis vest-wearing 'Covid marshall' plus an automated squeeze of hand sanitiser

Pictured: On arrival, Daily Mail Australia reporter Daniel Piotrowski was subjected to a temperature test by a hi vis vest-wearing ‘Covid marshall’ plus an automated squeeze of hand sanitiser

On arrival, I was subjected to a temperature test by a hivis vest-wearing ‘Covid marshall’ plus an automated squeeze of hand sanitiser.

What followed was a compulsory online survey surrendering details to contact tracers – God forbid, should the virus rear its ugly head again – and a driver’s licence check, apparently to confirm the details provided were true and correct.

Inside, the pub was utterly spotless and despite the fact there was scarcely more than a handful of people inside, the glove-wearing bartender took a quiet moment to wipe down tables and windows with disinfectant.

Coronavirus health warnings were unmissable on the walls even above the yahoos of a couple of inebriated tradesmen watching the horses. 

The pub was spotless and staff were seen repeatedly cleaning surfaces despite the lack of customers

The pub was spotless and staff were seen repeatedly cleaning surfaces despite the lack of customers 

The normally booming beer barn hosted just seven patrons having a beverage and shouting at the trots at one point on Friday evening

The normally booming beer barn hosted just seven patrons having a beverage and shouting at the trots at one point on Friday evening

¿ Slide me ¿

The Casula pub's carpark, just days ago home to hordes of coronavirus testers and panicked patrons, wasn't even a third full about 5.45pm
Last week the car park was packed out with people seeking coronavirus testing as the outbreak spread

The Casula pub’s carpark, just days ago home to hordes of coronavirus testers and panicked patrons, wasn’t even a third full about 5.45pm

Scrap metal worker Craig, one of the few drinkers present, admitted over a cigarette that he was unsure about coming.

‘I was in two minds about it,’ he said.

But eventually he, and a handful of his workmates, chose to forge ahead with their Friday tradition of stopping for a beer on the way home, two weeks after the pub was forced to close.

The sudden outbreak at the pub has sparked a cluster of 56 coronavirus cases and fears Melbourne’s horror second wave was about to crash on Sydney.

Officials, including Premier Gladys Berejiklian, had said the state was quite literally at a ‘crossroads’. However, no additional cases were recorded from the Crossroads cluster in the 24 hours to 8pm Thursday.

Social distancing was no problem given the handful who were present described it as the quietest night in some time

Social distancing was no problem given the handful who were present described it as the quietest night in some time

Red crosses were marked on the floor to encourage parons to keep 1.5 metres distance

 Red crosses were marked on the floor to encourage parons to keep 1.5 metres distance 

A hotel spokesperson reassured customers staff are going to every length to be 'Covid Safe'

A hotel spokesperson reassured customers staff are going to every length to be ‘Covid Safe’ 

Health officials are crossing their fingers that the outbreak has been contained.

New South Wales reported seven cases statewide on Friday and Victoria exactly 300, in the first sign that state’s lockdown may be working.

Staff at the Crossroads said they were under strict instructions not to comment to the press.

But in a statement, a hotel spokesperson reassured customers staff are going to every length to be ‘Covid Safe’ – even offering contact-free menus, accessible by QR code.

‘We would like to thank everyone for the support that has been shown by our community of loyal customers during this difficult period,’ the spokesperson said.

‘We look forward to welcoming you back soon’.

The pub is hopeful more patrons will return after a quiet reopening on Friday evening

The pub is hopeful more patrons will return after a quiet reopening on Friday evening 

A Covid testing clinic set up at Crossroads Hotel last week saw resulted in huge queues of cars waiting to undergo screening

A Covid testing clinic set up at Crossroads Hotel last week saw resulted in huge queues of cars waiting to undergo screening

Cars stretched down the road as passengers waited their turn to enter the hotel car park for testing

Cars stretched down the road as passengers waited their turn to enter the hotel car park for testing

An aerial view of traffic streaming into the Crossroads Hotel on July 13

An aerial view of traffic streaming into the Crossroads Hotel on July 13 

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