Coronavirus Australia: What restrictions will be lifted today?
South Australia is today back in business, and other states and territories are slowly catching up. Here are the COVID-19 rules set to ease.
South Australia is back open for business, with the state’s first major attempt to lift coronavirus restrictions now in place.
From today, all country accommodation across the region will be allowed to reopen, including caravan parks, hotels, motels and Airbnb services.
Alcohol-free outdoor dining at cafes and restaurants for up to 10 people and the resumption of outdoor sports training will also be permitted.
Universities and TAFE colleges will be free to resume face-to-face learning, public swimming pools, places of worship and libraries can reopen, and open house inspections and home auctions will be permitted.
More restrictions are scheduled to lift next month.
South Australian pubs could reopen as early as June, with a state government plan that would allow larger pubs to welcome 50 customers at a time, according to The Advertiser.
But Health Minister Stephen Wade said that depended on the health outcomes in the coming weeks.
Deputy Chief Public Health Officer Mike Cusack says it remains vital for all South Australians to continue to do the right thing in terms of good hygiene and social distancing.
"I would really like to remind people that we shouldn't become complacent," he said.
"We've seen just over the state border in Victoria there are still cases on a daily basis and that could happen in South Australia still."
Dr Cusack said with some restrictions being eased, the likelihood of new cases spreading would be "that much further and faster".
SA reported no new virus cases on Sunday, with only one new infection reported over the past 18 days.
The state's total number of cases remained at 439.
Only one case is still considered active.
Other states and territories will begin lifting restrictions in coming weeks, following Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s announcement on Friday of a three-step plan to reopen the nation.
He said the states and territories would outline their own timetables for the three-step plan, and each stage would be assessed on its success, which would determine when to proceed to the next stage.
After the PM’s press conference, some state premiers began announcing the timing for the implementation of step-one. This is where each state stands:
TASMANIA
Premier Peter Gutwein says Tasmania will ease some restrictions today, but stage one measures outlined by the Federal Government will begin next Monday.
From today:
• The number of people allowed at funerals will increase from 10 to 20 attendees;
• Aged care residents will be allowed one visit per week of no more than two people;
• National parks and reserves will be open for exercise but people will only be able to visit those within 30km of their home; and
• TasTAFE and other training institutions will be open to small groups of students for practical learning and assessment sessions.
From May 18, stage one measures will begin, subject to public health advice. This includes:
• Gatherings of up to 10 people will be allowed for both indoor and outdoor activities, including for weddings, real estate sales and religious gatherings;
• Funerals of up to 30 people if they are held outdoors;
• Visitors allowed in the home will to increase to five people (from two people);
• Up to 10 people allowed in restaurants and cafes, including venues located in pubs, RSLs and clubs for seated table service;
• Tasmanians returning to the state will be allowed to quarantine in their principal residence if it is suitable, others will still need to quarantine in hotels;
• Libraries and other government facilities will be open for up to 10 people; and
• Parks with exercise equipment and playgrounds, pools and boot camps outdoors will be opened for up to 10 people;
From May 25, subject to public health advice:
• Students in kindergarten to year 6, as well as those in year 11 and 12 can return to school;
• Aged care residents will be allowed two visitors at least once a day;
From June 9, subject to health advice:
• High school students in year 7 to 10 to return to schools; and
• Racing will resume.
From June 15, the state will move to stage two, subject to health advice:
• Up to 20 people will be allowed to gather in both indoor and outdoor areas including restaurants, cinemas and museums;
• Funerals of up to 50 people will be allowed;
• Restrictions on people staying in hotels and caravan parks will be lifted so people will be able to move around the state and stay overnight;
• Camping and use of shacks will be allowed;
• Open homes and auctions with up to 20 people allowed;
• Gyms and bootcamps will be allowed for up to 20 people;
• Beauty services including tattoo, nails, waxing, facials and tanning will be able to open;
• Up to 20 people allowed to use parks and exercise equipment
• Outdoor community sports will be able to resume with 20 athletes or personnel involved;
• Indoor sports, including pools, will be allowed for up to 20 people but with no spectators.
From July 13, stage three will begin, subject to health advice:
• Gatherings of between 50 and 100 people allowed;
• Aged care residents will be allowed up to five visitors and multiple visits per week;
• Bars, nightclubs, casinos and gaming to return;
• Markets and food courts to re-open; and
• Border controls to remain.
QUEENSLAND
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told reporters on Friday that step one would begin in Queensland at 12am next Saturday, May 16.
This will allow:
• Gatherings in homes with a maximum of five people;
• Up to 10 people to gather in public spaces;
• Some beauty therapies including nail salons to re-open catering to a maximum of 10 people by appointment;
• Recreational travel up to 150km from your home for day trips;
• Reopening of libraries, playground equipment, skate parks, outdoor gyms with a maximum of 10 people at a time;
• Wedding guests to increase to 10 people;
• Funerals to increase to 20 people indoors, 30 people outdoors
• Up to 10 people at open homes and auctions;
• Reopening of public pools and lagoons (must have an approved plan for numbers greater than 10); and
• Non-contact community sport for a maximum of 10 people.
Ms Palaszczuk also said those living in the outback would have more freedom as there were no cases in these areas. Up to 20 people will be allowed in pubs, restaurants and cafes, and residents will also be able to travel up to 500km but they must remain in those outback areas.
She said stage two and three will be aimed at gradually increasing travel distances and the opening of businesses in time for the June school holidays but plans will be reviewed at the end of each month.
It’s hoped travel will be allowed for up to 250km by the June holidays and then for unrestricted travel across the state to be allowed in July.
Queenslanders can already travel 50km from their residence to visit parks, have picnics and jet ski. Shopping for non-essential items is allowed and up to five members of a single household will be allowed to visit other homes from Sunday, May 10.
In terms of schools, Queensland kindergarten, prep, grade 1 and year 11 and 12 students will return to classrooms full time from May 11 with schools expected to be fully operational by May 25.
VICTORIA
Victoria has announced its roadmap out of coronavirus restrictions, the last Australian jurisdiction to do so.
Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed seven new cases in the state and said from tomorrow restrictions would begin to be eased.
From Wednesday, May 13, Victorians will be allowed to have up to five guests in their home. Professional sports will also be allowed to resume training.
The state is also looking at a gradual return to schooling, with Mr Andrews saying a “gradual, staged return to face-to-face learning is safe, cautious and appropriate, given the testing we've done and the circumstances we face”.
Airbnb and hotel stays will not yet be permitted, and restaurants and cafes will also potentially have to wait until June to re-open.
NSW
NSW students will start attending school in stages from today.
Currently NSW residents are allowed to have two visitors plus children, in their homes. Weddings are limited to five people and funerals to 10 people. Most beaches are open for exercise, swimming and surfing only.
Property inspections and on-site auctions are now allowed as long as social distancing rules are followed.
Over the weekend NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced that some restrictions would be eased from Friday, May 15, this includes allowing outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people and the re-opening of cafes and restaurants for up to 10 patrons at any one time.
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
The national capital has eliminated all known cases of coronavirus and ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has announced the lifting of some restrictions.
• Indoor and outdoor gatherings can have a maximum of 10 people, which includes children. However, it’s OK if two households coming together exceeds this number.
• Up to 10 people can attend a wedding, plus those conducting the ceremony.
• Up to 20 people can attend an indoor funeral, and this increases to 30 if it’s held outdoors, not including those conducting the service.
• Open houses and auctions can go ahead with up to 10 people and (non-contact) outdoor fitness training and boot camps of up to 10 people are allowed.
• Students will return to school in stages between May 18 and June 2.
Mr Barr encouraged people travelling to NSW to do so in small groups: “So, (just) your household.”
NORTHERN TERRITORY
The Northern Territory has already announced the lifting of many restrictions as part of its own two-stage plan.
• From May 15, Territorians will be able to have an after-work Friday pint, with pubs and restaurants set to reopen with a two-hour limit.
• Northern Territorians are allowed to gather with as many as 10 people, as long as they keep a distance of 1.5m.
• Visiting parks and camping, outdoor gatherings, non-contact outdoor sports and exercising and training outdoors are all allowed again.
• The state has relaxed restrictions on parks, golf, fishing and swimming.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
In Western Australia, the two-person limit on non-work activities has already been increased to 10, providing people adhere to social distancing and good hygiene.
• Picnics, boating, hiking, camping and group exercise are also now allowed, while open homes and display villages are also permitted.
• The state hopes all students will return to classes today.
• From May 18, up to 20 customers at a time will be allowed to have a sit-down meal in a cafe, pub or restaurant, provided the venue keeps to the four-square-metres-per-patron rule.
• The state’s temporary regional borders have been reduced from 13 to four, allowing travel between some regions that had previously been closed off.
Travel between Perth and the other regions will remain prohibited, and WA's interstate border will remain closed for now.
– with AAP
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