Today’s National Cabinet meeting saw the announcement a three step framework for the road map to a COVIDSafe economy. We are pleased to note that the roadmap aims for a shift from crisis to recovery by July 2020. The goal is to restore 850,000 jobs in the months ahead. This framework will be able to provide the confidence for you, and your customers, to reopen and begin to engage with businesses again. Here are the measures each state and territory is adopting:
Queensland
From 11.59pm, Friday, 15 May, the following will be allowed:
- Gatherings of a maximum of 10 people together in a public space
- Dining in at restaurants, pubs, clubs, RSLs and cafes for a maximum of 10 patrons at one time as part of a gradual re-opening (no bars or gaming)
- Recreational travel of a radius of up to 150km from your home for day trips
- Some beauty therapies and nail salons for up to 10 people at one time
- Reopening of libraries. playground equipment, skate parks and outdoor gyms (a maximum of 10 at one time)
- Wedding guests increased to 10 people and funeral attendance increased to 20 (30 outdoors)
- Open homes and auctions with a maximum of 10 people at one time;
- Re-opening public pools and lagoons (eg South Bank, Cairns, Airlie Beach) with a maximum of 10 people at a time or greater numbers with an approved plan
For Outback Queensland, where there have been no COVID-19 cases, two special concessions have been made:
- Dining in at pubs and cafes will be up to 20 for locals only, reflecting the important role these venues play in connecting small outback communities; and
- Recreational travel of a radius of up to 500 kilometres reflecting the long distances in the Outback.
Stage Two, effective 11.59pm, Friday, 12 June would provide for:
- Gatherings at homes with a maximum of 20 visitors
- Dining-in at restaurants, pubs, clubs, cafes and RSLs for up to 20 patrons at a time and an option for more with an approved COVID-safe plan
- Holiday travel within your region
The Premier said Stage Three would include reviews of border closures and build to 100 customers for venues giving certainty to business, communities and families to be able to plan ahead.
South Australia
From Monday, 11 May, the following changes will be enacted:
- Gatherings of a maximum of 10 people together in a public space
- Regional travel
- Uni and TAFE face-to-face tutorials
- Outdoor dining for restaurants and cafes
- Community, youth and RSL halls
- Auctions and house inspections
- Local government libraries
- Sport training (outdoor only)
- Funerals (20 indoor / 30 outdoor)
- Worship, weddings and ceremonies
- Pools (limits apply)
- Campgrounds and caravan parks
Stage Two, effective Monday, 8 June would provide for:
- Cinemas and theatres reopening
- Seated dining in restaurants and cafes
- Galleries and museums
- Beauty, nails, tattoo, massage (non-therapeutic)
- Driving instruction lessons
- Gyms and indoor fitness
- Funerals (50 max)
- Sport transition to competition without spectators, including indoor.
Future restrictions for consideration
- Larger gatherings
- Licenced pubs and bars (non-food)
- Nightclubs
- Shisha/hookah bars
- International students returning
- Casino and gaming venues
- Stadiums and larger entertainment venues
- Food courts Spas and saunas
- State border restrictions
- Travel into protected communities
Victoria
The following restrictions will be lifted on the 12th May:
- outdoor gatherings being permitted with up to 10 people
- indoor gatherings at home are permitted, with 5 visitors able to visit the normal residents of a household
- the ability to leave the house for exercise will be expanded to include outdoor recreational activities. These activities can occur in groups of up to 10 people outside, but the requirements on physical distancing remain
- for weddings 10 guests are allowed, plus the couple and the celebrant
- for funerals, 20 people will be allowed at an indoor ceremony and 30 people at an outside ceremony. This is in addition to the minimum people required to conduct the funeral
- religious gatherings and ceremonies will be permitted with up to 10 people, plus those required to perform the ceremony
From 1 June – cafes, restaurants and pubs will be able to reopen their doors to serve meals to up to 20 customers at a time per enclosed space.
From 22 June – this could increase to up to 50 patrons.
During the second half of July, up to 100.
There are five reasons Victorians can leave home:
- shopping for food and supplies that you need
- care and caregiving
- exercise and outdoor recreation
- work and education – if you can’t do it from home
- visiting friends and family – if you really need to
Schools
- 26th May classes will resume for Grades 1, 2, 11 and 12.
- 9th June Grades 3 – 10 will return to school
- Students can return to class early of they cannot homeschool
- $45 million budget given for cleaning and disinfecting for terms 2 and 3
- No mingling from parents are permitted
No overnight stays permitted (camping, hotels etc)
No kissing, hugging or handshakes (recommended not enforced)
Kids can see their grandparents but “it doesn’t mean they should”
Australian Capital Territory
From Saturday, 9 May, the following changes will be enacted:
- Gatherings of a maximum of 10 people together in a public space
- Funerals (20 indoor / 30 outdoor)
Tasmania
From Monday, 11 May, the following changes will be enacted:
- Bootcamps open for up to 10 people
- National Parks will be accessible for those within 30km
- Five people can gather in a home together
- Thirty people can attend a funeral outdoors; 20 indoors
- Restaurants, pubs, clubs, RSLs to open to 10 people at a time
The Premier said border controls will remain in place until Stage 2 of the state’s plan is enacted.
Stage 2: starting 15th June 2020
- Gatherings increase to 20 people at a time for indoor and outdoor, including restaurants/cafes, cinemas, museums, galleries, theatres, performance venues, historic sites, religious gatherings and weddings.
- Visitors to households to be reviewed.
- Funerals up to 50 people.
- Accommodation, unlimited.
- Camping, overnight boating and shacks open with up to 20 people.
- Open homes and auctions can resume with 20 people.
- Border controls remain in place.
- Gyms and boot camps for up to 20 people.
- Beauty services (including tattoo, nails, waxing, facials and tanning) for up to 20 people.
- Park exercise equipment and playgrounds open for up to 20 people.
- Outdoor community sport to resume, with up to 20 athletes/personnel (as guided by AIS proposed framework for rebooting community sport)
- Indoor sport and recreation, including pools with up to 20 people (as guided by AIS proposed framework for rebooting community sport).
- Vulnerable people are encouraged to stay home and protect their health.
Stage 3: starting 13th July 2020
- Gatherings: 50 – 100 (indoor/outdoor) with the maximum allowable number to be determined by Public Health.
- Aged care homes allowed 5 visitors and multiple visits
- Border controls remain in place.
- Consider opening bars, night clubs and casinos/gaming.
- Markets to open, subject to Public Health advice.
- Food courts and food vans at markets may open.
- Spas and bathhouses to reopen.
- Day trips and camping for school groups allowed.
- Outdoor community sport (as guided by AIS proposed framework for rebooting community sport) to resume, with numbers to be guided by Public Health.
- Indoor sport and recreation (as guided by AIS proposed framework for rebooting community sport), including pools with numbers to be guided by Public Health.
- Vulnerable people are encouraged to stay home and protect their health.
Further restrictions are now lifted/changed;
- Tasmanians can now quarantine in their own homes rather than a hotel. Non-Tasmanians must quarantine at a hotel
- Quarantine can be broken ONLY for the purpose of leaving the state
Western Australia
Phase 1 – in place from 27 April 2020
- indoor and outdoor non-work gatherings of up to 10 people
- outdoor personal training without shared equipment
- recreation activities in compliance with travel restrictions and the 10-person rule, such as private picnics in the park, fishing, boating, hiking and camping
- home opens and display villages open, in compliance with 10-person rule, appropriate record keeping and hygiene practices.
Phase 2 – Monday 18 May 2020
Social distancing, good hygiene and the 4sqm rule apply to all activities.
Public gatherings
- indoor and outdoor non-work gatherings of up to 20 people
- weddings and funerals up to 20 people inside or 30 outside.
Dining out
- cafés and restaurants with meal service, including within pubs, bars, clubs, hotels and casino
- up to 20 patrons.
Return to work
Western Australians are encouraged to return to work, unless they are unwell or vulnerable.
Regional travel
Restrictions relaxed, with travel allowed between:
- South West, Great Southern, Wheatbelt and Perth-Peel regions
- Mid-West, Gascoyne and Pilbara regions (excluding the biosecurity zone)
- Goldfields-Esperance region (excluding the biosecurity zone)
- within Kimberley Local Government areas (the Commonwealth’s biosecurity zone remains in place).
Travel exemptions will be required to travel between these regions.
Fitness and recreation
- non-contact community sports up to 20 people
- outdoor or indoor fitness classes with minimal shared equipment, up to 20 people
- public pools (1 indoor and 1 outdoor) permitted to open under strict rules and up to 20 patrons per pool.
Community facilities
- places of worship, community facilities and libraries permitted to reopen
- up to 20 patrons.
Advice for business
Businesses seeking to reopen, including hospitality, sports and recreation, community and cultural venues, will need to complete an official COVID Safety Plan.
The WA Government has begun consulting with key stakeholders to develop COVID Safety Plans and Guidelines, which will be available here this week.
This includes consultation with the hospitality, community and cultural venues, and sport and recreation sectors.
Phase 3 – will be finalized in the coming weeks
Phase 3 will be based on the Chief Health Officer’s advice, taking into account infection rates across WA. It is expected to be implemented about 4 weeks from the start of Phase 2.
Phase 3 is expected to include:
- further increases in number of people allowed at indoor and outdoor non-work gatherings, including patrons at cafés, restaurants, weddings and funerals
- possible further relaxation of regional travel restrictions
- restrictions further relaxed for gyms, health clubs and indoor sport centres
- contact community sport (indoor and outdoor) permitted, with gathering limits
- beauty therapy and personal care services permitted
- auction houses and real estate auctions permitted (not just online, as it is currently)
- public playgrounds, outdoor gym equipment, skate parks, zoos, cinemas, galleries, museums and concert venues permitted to open, with gathering limits.
Phase 4 – to be confirmed
Phase 4 will be assessed and finalized in due course. Western Australia’s interstate border closure will remain in place. It’s expected to be the final restriction lifted.