Monday marks Freedom Day across the state and although Orange had its lockdown restrictions eased weeks ago, October 11 comes as welcome relief to businesses across the city.
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Kylie Byron is the restaurant manager at Whitney's Restaurant and Bar, which only opened up last Thursday.
They made the decision to take their time so as not to chance another snap lockdown hitting them hard.
"(The potential for lockdown) always played a part in our minds," she said.
"If we reopened straight away, who knows what could've happened. Look what happened with Cowra, they were open a couple of days and locked down again. That stop start, stop start can really affect you."
While a lot of rules will ease across NSW on Monday, there will also be some new ones that come into play.
One of those is the requirement for people entering businesses classed as non-essential - such as Whitney's - to show proof that they have received both doses of a COVID vaccine.
But the restaurant out near the Bloomfield Medical Centre got ahead of this, making the decision to only allow double-vaxxed patrons inside their doors from when they opened on Thursday - four days before they legally had to.
"Our board of directors started to bring that in a bit earlier. They brought it in when we reopened because of the new cases in Orange," Ms Byron said.
"They thought we'd do this a little bit earlier just to protect the employees and the guests, but we still had a good turnout and nearly everyone seems to be vaxxed around town."
But not all venues will require people to be double-vaxxed come Monday.
Businesses classed as essential which have been allowed to operate this whole time, will not have a mandate from the NSW government to only allow those who have received both doses inside their buildings.
This includes places such as Bunnings in Orange.
Speaking of these rules, Ryan Baker, Bunnings general manager of operations said: "In line with the next steps in the NSW reopening roadmap and the easing of restrictions, our team will be welcoming customers back in store on Monday to shop our entire home, lifestyle and garden range.
"Under the NSW Government rules proof of vaccination is not required to enter critical retail, including Bunnings stores, to ensure all customers have ready access to the products they require for their health, safety and wellbeing at home."
"The community can be assured that our strong COVID-safe protocols will remain in place across our NSW store network, including physical distancing measures, mandatory face masks and QR code sign in, security at all stores to help monitor compliance and the capping of customer numbers at a one per 10 metre density limit. Customers can also continue to use our contactless Drive & Collect and delivery options if they prefer."
Back at Whitney's, Ms Byron is just hoping this brings an end to lockdowns in Orange.
"We've got the vaccination rate up like the government wanted. Hopefully we don't have to go into that sort of thing because it does hurt restaurants all around because you've got fresh produce that just can't last," she added.
"Even with a seven day snap lockdown you've got produce that won't last."
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