Lockdown easing: Five-visitor limit may strand kids at home
The first stage of lifting strict isolation rules in NSW will begin on Friday. But large families are set to be worse off under the latest confusing change to what is and isn’t allowed amid the state’s coronavirus restrictions.
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Large families are set to be worse off under the latest confusing change to what is and isn’t allowed amid the state’s coronavirus restrictions.
Under the new rules which come into effect on Friday, up to five people will be able to visit another household at any one time — however, that number includes any dependent children.
It comes as NSW recorded just one new COVID-19 case overnight from an overseas traveller. More than 5200 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian yesterday admitted a family with two adults and four children would need to leave one person behind when visiting another household as restrictions are eased.
Under the state’s current rules, all six people would be able to visit another house.
“The combination is up to you but the five people, I want to stress, includes children — so it can be five adults or two adults and three children,” Ms Berejiklian said yesterday.
She said people “on average” would prefer the flexibility of deciding how many adults, and how many children, visit as part of the five-person limit.
A number of Coalition MPs raised concerns with the change, saying it adds further confusion, while state Labor leader Jodi McKay said the new limit is “impractical and unworkable for large families”.
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NSW residents and businesses will finally have some relief, with harsh coronavirus restrictions easing from Friday to “fire up the economy”.
Ms Berejiklian has revealed the first stages of the state’s COVID-19 exit strategy will allow outdoor gatherings of 10 people, allowing picnics, barbecues and other recreational activities.
Cafes and restaurants can also reopen to seat up to 10 patrons, and five people will be allowed to make a home visit.
NSW is adopting most of the stage one changes in Australia’s three-step road map to recovery, outlined by Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday, but Ms Berejiklian said it would only work if the community remained vigilant by maintaining social distancing and good hygiene.
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“My firm position during the crisis has been to follow the health advice and do what’s best for NSW,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Our community has demonstrated that by working together we can achieve positive results.
“The changes will allow NSW to fire up the economy, while allowing more personal freedoms.”
The new easing of restrictions will also allow 10 guests at weddings, and up to 20 mourners at indoor funerals and 30 at outdoor funerals.
Up to 10 worshippers can attend religious gatherings and places of worship, while outdoor equipment such as children’s playgrounds and gyms can be used “with caution”.
Users will be encouraged to sanitise the play equipment themselves.
Swimming in outdoor pools will also be allowed, with expected restrictions on numbers and the use of change rooms.
But holidays in regional NSW are still a no-go, with travel restrictions still in place.
More details will be revealed during the week.
Steps two and three laid out in the National Cabinet’s Three-Step Framework for a COVID-safe Australia will be considered by the state government in due course.
Ms Berejiklian said COVID-19 rates, especially community transmissions, will “guide us towards easing further restrictions”.
“NSW can only do this following the hard work and sacrifice of our communities,” she said. “It has allowed us to boost our intensive care capacity, ramp up our testing and enhance contact tracing so we can better manage any outbreaks.”
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said she backed the move to cautiously lift restrictions.
“As we take this next step we need to continue to work together — governments, community, business and NGOs — with high rates of testing, social distancing and adherence to other public health measures like handwashing and staying at home if you show even slight symptoms,” Dr Chant said.
Some states around Australia will start to reopen from tomorrow, and Queensland to unwind restrictions from Saturday.
The Victorian government is expected to announce its plan tomorrow.
Five new cases of COVID-19 were reported in NSW on Saturday, bringing the state’s total to 3051, with the death toll remaining at 46.
Residents have also come out in massive numbers to be tested for the virus with 13,692 tests undertaken by 8pm on Friday — the highest number in a 24-hour period.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said: “Without a vaccine we need to be vigilant, especially when restrictions lift. There will inevitably be more cases, so social distancing will become even more crucial.”