Coronavirus training bans for sports clubs to ease next week
Coronavirus restrictions lifting as early as next week will allow sporting clubs large and small to jump back into training after weeks on the sidelines.
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Sports clubs big and small will be encouraged to get back on the training track as part of a suite of restrictions lifting from Monday in South Australia.
Political leaders will today decide their road map to recovery at a significant national Cabinet meeting, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison expected to unveil guidelines for weddings, funerals, nail salons, beauty parlours, offices, religious gatherings, mass gatherings such as sports events or concerts, and outdoor gatherings. Each state will then implement the road map, at its own pace.
SA, which has operated under some of the most relaxed restrictions in the nation, will focus on sports and regional travel first.
Premier Steven Marshall told The Advertiser his plan included a proposal to get sport up and running across the state.
“That will be a clear direction on all three levels from school sport, to community sport, to elite sport,” Mr Marshall said.
“That will start with training as of next week.”
Training in small groups of fewer than 10 people for non-contact sports has never been banned in SA.
But non-contact training in groups of 10 or fewer is expected to be encouraged from Monday. Change rooms and other indoor facilities will still be unavailable for some time yet. The restrictions are expected to be lifted in three tranches, with up to a month between each phase.
Political leaders agreed earlier this week to aim for a “COVID-19-safe economy” by July.
“We are certainly keen to get South Australia back to business,” Mr Marshall said.
“On Monday, we will start with a modest lifting of restrictions but we will see that increasing as we continue to get good results here in SA.”
He said chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier was keen to have three or four weeks between tranches.
“So we will get two weeks of new arrangements followed by a week analysing the results for any new set of restriction easing,” he said.
In addition to sport, the first tranche will be focused on regional travel, likely including caravan and camping.
“We have had the lowest level of restrictions but the highest level of compliance of any place in the entire country and now we are reaping the rewards,” Mr Marshall said.
Mass gatherings and an international travel ban are expected to be among the final restrictions lifted.
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The 4 sqm rule for indoor gatherings is likely to be part of the road back to normal life for pubs, clubs, restaurants, cinemas, and other venues.
Massage and beauty parlours are not likely to reopen under the first stage, given that they are indoors in close proximity.
Social distancing is also set to be in place for months yet.
“It’s extremely important that we keep those basic measures, the 1.5m, the hand hygiene, the cough etiquette,” federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said. “These are not polite things to do; these are lifesaving, necessary measures.”
The peak body representing funeral directors is calling for the Federal Government to allow up to 50 mourners at funerals.
More than 5.2 million Australians have now downloaded the COVIDSafe app but the number is still half of the 10 million, or 40 per cent, of people the Government says needs to download the app for it to be a success.