People across Australia have been quick to return to the activities prohibited under coronavirus social-distancing measures.
Key points:
- Every state and territory’s rules around gatherings and travel are slightly different
- Tasmania is bringing in a raft of changes from Sunday, while WA is further easing restrictions on Monday
- Deputy Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd said Australia has conducted over a million COVID-19 tests
Families returned to playgrounds with excited kids, beachgoers were up early and out enjoying the sun, and some were thrilled just to be able to sit down for a coffee or a pub meal.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd said as restrictions eased, it was critical for everyone to adhere to the physical distancing measures under which we have lived for the past months.
“People do feel a little bit relaxed in some parts of the country now we’ve had the very small step of lifting the restrictions, and we can’t afford to become complacent, we must remain vigilant,” he said.
“The pandemic is not over, the risk to vulnerable people remains significant in Australia.
“It’s essential we all continue to do our part.”
As he gave an update on the latest numbers, Professor Kidd confirmed that 1,015,652 COVID-19 tests had been carried out.
There had been 20 new cases in the previous 24 hours, with no additional deaths.
On Saturday, it seemed people had mostly kept up the measures that helped flatten the curve. Check out how things played out across the states and territories.
Queensland
Despite restrictions easing from Saturday, only a handful of cafes on the main dining strip of the Sunshine Coast’s Mooloolaba Esplanade had opened.
Lot 104 Espresso and Wine Bar crew member Lisa Rizolli said their venue had chosen to open for limited hours, three days a week, and she was pleased to be seating guests again.
“It’s a very different type of service now with restricted numbers, it’s hard to seat everyone, we can’t have anything on the tables, all four-square metres apart,” she said.
According to Ms Rizolli, despite customers being limited, all were grateful to be able to dine out again.
Noosa’s Hastings Street was buzzing with people, but only a dozen cafes had reopened for breakfast and lunch services.
At Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast, people were back playing beach volleyball for the first time they have been allowed to since coronavirus restrictions were introduced.
Many were smiling and happy to be outside involved in a team sport.
Joanne Reweti was among those who had returned for a game at the beach where, before restrictions, up to 100 people could be playing at one time.
“Quite a few turned up this morning and we had to disperse and wait but it was good, and now we have ended up with about six or eight of us.
“We have just been playing and it doesn’t matter that we’re a bit uncoordinated, we’re having some good games and it is just nice being in that sand and fresh air.”
Edwina Flower and her two-year-old son Darcy were so excited about playgrounds being reopened from Saturday they had visited several.
“I don’t know if I am more excited or