Sydney Workers Shun Office, Opting for Malls as Lockdown Lifts
- Restaurant bookings surge as consumers begin socializing again
- More muted return for city center offices, public transport
Diners outdoors at Opera House Bar in Sydney on Oct. 18.
Photographer: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images
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Sydney’s city center offices aren’t yet feeling the love. While suburban cafes, shops and hairdressers have seen a flood of business as Australia’s most populous city emerges from a 107-day lockdown, the central business district is seeing only a trickle of returnees.
Google mobility data show workplace activity in the City of Sydney was down 62% on its pre-Covid baseline a day after the lockdown was lifted last week. While still an improvement on the week prior, by contrast, retail and recreation across New South Wales state was down just 23%.