Scott Morrison reveals his three-step plan to lift lockdown and says restaurants and cafes will be first to open – but warns ‘there will be outbreaks and more cases of coronavirus’
- Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced a three-step plan to relax coronavirus restrictions in Australia
- The first step will allow gatherings of ten people outside and visits of five people to another household
- The second step allows gatherings of 20 and the third stage allows 100 people to come together at once
- New South Wales and Victoria premiers have already refused to make and any changes this weekend
Here’s a breakdown of what each step will look like.
Stage one
Step one is designed to enable a greater connection between friends and families.
- It expands gatherings of up to 10 people outside of homes and five visitors within homes.
- Weddings may have up to 10 guests in addition to the celebrant and the couple. Funerals may have up to 20 mourners indoors and 30 outdoors.
- Religious gatherings may have up to 10 attendees.
- All gatherings must record contact details.
- Work will continue to be carried out from home where possible.
Australians will be encouraged to participate more in retail shopping as long as stores adhere to distancing guidelines.
Restaurants and cafes will be allowed to serve and seat up to 10 customers as long, also following distancing rules.
Stage two
Stage two is purposed for reopening businesses while maintaining physical distancing and hygiene.
- Under stage two, gatherings of up to 20 people outside of the home will be allowed.
- Australians will be able to participate in gyms, beauty therapy, cinemas, theatres and amusement parks, galleries and museums and interstate travel under circumstances.
- Caravan parks and camping grounds will fully open.
- Up to 20 people will be allowed to participate in outdoor sport and pools will be open with restrictions on the number of swimmers.
- Australians who still have jobs will continue to be encouraged to work from home where applicable.
Stage three
The third and final stage will encourage Australians to return to work.
- All outdoor gatherings will be expanded to 100 people at a time.
- Child care centres and schools will open per their individual state and territory guidelines.
- University and tertiary education facilities will increase face-to-face learning where possible.
- Cafes, restaurants and food courts will be able to seat up to 100 people – adhering to the four-square-metre rule.
- The “trans-Tasman travel bubble” will be considered more seriously, as will travel throughout the Pacific.
- All interstate travel will resume.