After more than a month of stay-at-home orders and progressively stricter rules around social movements, some Australian states and territories this week announced an easing of their coronavirus restrictions.
Depending on where you live, it means this weekend you might be able to partake in some retail therapy at the shops, visit your mates, or even go fishing and camping.
With the coronavirus threat at different levels across Australian jurisdictions, some governments have decided to keep all their restrictions in place, others are slightly taking their foot off the pedal, while one has gone hard in winding back its measures.
These are all the things your government now says you can and can’t do:
Jump to your state
- Northern Territory
- Western Australia
- Queensland
- New South Wales
- South Australia
- Victoria
- Tasmania
- ACT
Northern Territory
The Territory is the big mover when it comes to relaxing coronavirus restrictions.
From noon Friday, Territorians will no longer be subject to the 10-person limit guideline for outdoor activities.
With no recorded coronavirus cases for over three weeks, the NT this week announced the country’s most liberal wind backs, with Territorians able to fish, camp and play non-contact sport from midday.
The NT Government has released a list of parks and recreation areas across the NT that will no longer be subject to outdoor restrictions from midday, while Kakadu, Uluru and Nitmiluk will remain shut.
The new rules mean there will be no limit on wedding and funeral attendance as long as social distancing guidelines are adhered to, while playgrounds will also be opened for the first time in weeks.
Other outdoor activities permissible in the NT from noon are:
- Bootcamps, non-contact sports, and outdoor gatherings
- Sports including golf and tennis where distancing can be maintained
- Pools and water parks
- Camping, boating, sailing and fishing
The eased restrictions apply to communities within Designated Biosecurity Areas, but these areas will remain closed to all non-essential workers until at least June 18.
Chief Minister Michael Gunner on Thursday released the first detailed coronavirus exit-strategy of any state or jurisdiction, outlining return dates for businesses, sporting teams and events.
Stage one begins today, while stage two will commence on May 15 and stage three on June 5.
Mr Gunner has stressed physical distancing as the key to the Territory’s aggressive plan.
“There is one important principle, and that is physical distancing. Failure to do so puts this plan at risk,” he said.
The Territory’s existing border security and quarantine arrangements will not change for some time, Mr Gunner said.
Western Australia
Premier Mark McGowan began what he called the state’s “cautious relaxation” of some coronavirus measures earlier this week.
The two-person rule has been eased to a 10-person limit, so small groups can now meet up either outdoors or inside.
The easing of the two-person rule means boot camps and some other forms of group exercise will be allowed again providing physical distan