Physical distancing and hand washing are still the order of the day, as socialising in moderation and gathering in small groups outdoors are back in our tentative post-ISO world. With the number of COVID-19 cases remaining relatively low in Australia compared to other countries, the federal government provided a three-step roadmap for states and territories to start carefully relaxing some restrictions on our movement.
However, since this roadmap was released last Friday, state and territory Premiers have decided to pick and choose measures from the map to suit their own citizens and regions. Confusion obviously ensued.
But to ease some of this confusion, The Greek Herald has compiled a handy list outlining everything you need to know about what you can and can’t do this weekend in your hometown. Here goes nothing!
New South Wales (from Friday, May 15):
- Household visits will move to five people at a time, including children.
- Ten guests are allowed at weddings.
- Indoor funerals will be allowed up to 20 mourners and up to 30 for outdoor funerals.
- Religious gatherings and places of worship can have up 10 worshippers.
- Children are asked to head back to school for one day a week. This will increase over the coming weeks.
- Cafes and restaurants can seat up to 10 patrons at any one time but they must comply with the four-square-metre ruling.
- Pubs and clubs will be allowed to open their restaurants.
- Retail stores are allowed to be open and people can shop, so long as social distancing is maintained.
- There is no set distance in place for travel but NSW residents must still have a reasonable excuse to be out and about.
Victoria (since Wednesday, May 13):
- Five guests are allowed in homes.
- Ten people are allowed to hold public gatherings. Victorians can return to the golf course or have a kick of footy with up to 10 people.
- Fishing is allowed but social distancing must be adhered to.
- Indoor funerals can be attended by 20 people, and 30 people for outdoor funerals.
- Religious gatherings, auctions and open-house inspections can occur with only 10 people present.
- Shops are open with social distancing but leisurely window shopping is not on.
- Restaurants and cafes are open for takeaway only.
- Public playgrounds, pools, outdoor gym equipment and caravan parks stay out of bounds. National parks are open again but no camping is allowed.
- Prep, grade one and two and years 11 and 12 will go back to school on May 26. Years three to 10 will return on June 9.
- Local or regional travel is discouraged.
Queensland (from Friday, May 15):
- From 11:59pm, Queenslanders will be able to gather in groups of up to 10 people from any household in many settings including parks, restaurants, cafes, beauty salons and public libraries.
- Public amenities including pools and parks will be fully reopened and open homes and auctions will be able to be staged with the 10-person limit.
- Weddings can have 10 guests while funerals will be allowed up to 20 mourners for an indoor service and 30 for an outdoor function.
- The recreational travel limit will also be extended to 150 kilometres from your home.
- Schools will start a staggered reopening with all kindergarten, prep and year 1 students, as well as year 11 and 12 students in high schools, returning to classes.
Western Australia (from Monday, May 18):
- Non-work gatherings, indoor and outdoor, are capped at 20 people.
- Cafes, restaurants, pubs, bars, community clubs and casinos can have a maximum of 20 seated dine-in patrons, counting both those inside and outside, with staff on top of that. They must still observe the 4-square-metre rule.
- A pub can only serve a drink with a meal. Reopening pubs just for drinking will be considered for a later phase.
- Weddings and funerals are capped at 20 attendees indoors, 30 for outdoor events.
- Places of worship, community facilities and libraries will reopen for 20 attendees at a time.
- Non-contact community sports can involve 20 people. Same goes for fitness classes.
- Public pools are open but only for 20 patrons per pool.
- Retailers are encouraged to reopen in accordance with the 20-person, 4-square-metre rules.
- The state’s hard border to overseas and interstate travellers remains in place, which requires anyone entering WA to go into quarantine for 14 days.
Tasmania (since Monday, May 11):
- Funeral limits have increased to 20 attendees.
- Aged care visits are opened to two visitors, once per week.
- State border restrictions remain in place, including bans on regional travel. But exercise is allowed up to 30 kilometres from home.
- From May 18, public gathering limits will increase to 10 people, and up to five for household visits. Weddings and religious gatherings will also be allowed to have 10 people attend.
- From May 25, primary school, plus year 11 and 12 students, will return to classrooms with all remaining students in years 7 to 10 back on June 9.
South Australia (since Monday, May 11):
- School students returned to school as usual on April 27 while at universities and TAFE’s, face-to-face learning resumed May 11.
- Household visits from up to 10 people are allowed as long as there is enough space to keep 1.5 metres apart and four square metres per person indoors.
- Regional travel is being encouraged and camp grounds and caravan parks are open, making South Australia the first state to do so.
- Restaurants and cafes are open for 10 patrons if they sit outside.
- Auction and home inspections have restarted.
- Up to 30 people can attend an outdoor funeral, with 20 people allowed at indoor funerals.
- Public swimming pools and places of worship have reopened, although gathering numbers of maximum 10 still apply.
Northern Territory (since Friday, May 1):
- No limits on household visits, although social distancing must be upheld.
- Weddings and funerals have no limit as long as social distancing guidelines are adhered to.
- Playgrounds, parks and reserves have reopened.
- Public swimming pools and water parks also have the green light, and NT residents are allowed to go fishing with friends and play golf.
- You can shop at your leisure but there’s no eating at food courts just yet.
- Pubs, restaurants, cafes are serving takeaway food and drink only.
- Students are expected to return to school in term two.
ACT (from Saturday, May 16):
- Household visits are capped at 10 people both inside and outside with social distancing.
- Weddings can have 10 attendees, while 20 people can attend an indoor funeral and 30 an outdoor one.
- Boot camps can take place outdoors with a maximum of 10 people.
- A 10-person limit applies to places of worship.
- Cafes and restaurants will be able to reopen with 10 seated guests.
- Students will begin to return to public schools from May 18 for a staggered reopening of schools.
- Two adults and any dependent children can leave the ACT and enter New South Wales for the purposes of providing care and support.
