Easing the COVID-19 Restrictions Feels like a Freedom & Victory of Good over Evil

After weeks of staying at home and dedicatedly following the social distancing guidelines, finally, the clouds of the epidemic has started to fade and a ray of hope and freedom is shining over Australia.

On Tuesday, 28th April 2020, Mr Scott Morrison (the Prime Minister of Australia) addressed the country and said that the country is on the road to recovery, as the government officials, medical workers and citizens of the nation, all together have almost stamped out the novel coronavirus out of the country.

With the fall in new cases reporting in the last few days, the nation is finally shifting to normalcy but in stages. As the threat of coronavirus is at a different level for different states in the country, the authorities have decided to withdraw the social movement restrictions accordingly.

Depending upon where you live, this weekend you might be able to go to the park near you, visit your friends and relatives, organise a barbeque or outdoor gathering, plan a picnic, play non-contact sports like golf, tennis, badminton, can go to boating, fishing, sailing, shop for non-essential items and more.

Below is the precise disclosure of what you can do and what you cannot in your territory as per the new rules.

Northern Territory

Alice Springs, Darwin, Batchelor, Tennant Creek, and Stuart; all together combine to form the northern territory of Australia. When it comes to relaxing COVID-19 restriction, the territory has made the big move.

Applicable from the Friday noon (i.e. May 1, 2020), following places and social activities, are open for the peoples of Northern Territory.

● From midday, the region no longer has to follow the 10 people limit guideline for outdoor activities. As per the new regulations, there is no limit of gathering at weddings and funerals, as long as the social distancing guidelines are followed sincerely.
● Outdoor activities like Bootcamping, non-contact sports, social gathering
● Pools and waterparks
● Camping, boating, sailing and fishing

What Remains Shut?

● Kakadu National Park
● Uluru or Ayers Rock
● Nitmiluk National Park
● Biosecurity areas remain closed until at least June 18.
● The existing border security and quarantine arrangements of the Territory will remain shut for the time being.

Western Australia

As per the premier of Western Australia, Mr Mark McGowan, following places and social activities, under the name of ‘cautious relaxation’ are open for the citizens of WA.

● The two-person rule is extended to a limit of 10 people at the place, so small groups can hang out together. With this relaxation, you are now enabled for group exercise, alongside following the physical distancing.

A wide range of non –contact recreational activities and sports are allowed, such as-

● A picnic in the park with the dear ones (but not more than 10, altogether)
● A barbeque with your mates with keeping at least a space of four square metres between each of them.
● Outdoor games like tennis, badminton, cricket, soccer etc. (no contact sports)
● Water activates like fishing, boating, sailing etc.
● Hiking and bushwalk

The Places That Are yet to Re-open for the Public:

● Gyms, outdoor gym equipment playgrounds and skate
● Dining in is closed for now, restricted only to takeaways and home deliveries
● Pubs, nightclubs and churches
● Rottnest Island as moorings there are still not open

Queensland

After almost five weeks of strict lockdown regulations, the third most populous state in Australia has some relief in terms of social movements.

Applicable from this Saturday i.e. 2nd May 2020, the people of QLD now can leave their home and can travel up to 50 km.

As per the new rules, Queenslanders can-
● Go for a drive
● Ride a motorbike, jet ski or boat for pleasure
● Plan a picnic
● Visit the National Parks such as Beerwah State Forest, Main Range National Park and many others. See the complete list here.
● Go for non-essentials shopping
● Can continue to have two visitors at your place

New South Wales

In comparison with the other states, New South Wales was worst hit by the pandemic and became the first state to announce complete social distancing in Australia.

In order to revive the mental health of the citizens and to reduce social isolation, new rules are made and the restrictions are put at some ease.

● You are allowed to visit your mates and relatives as a group of two adults and children (if any).
● Access to the beaches like Bondi, Bronte and Tamarama on weekdays, between 7:00 am to 5:00 pm, but only for swimming and surfing.
● Other beaches in Sydney’s eastern suburbs- Coogee, Clovelly and Maroubra are open seven days a week between 7:00 am-5:00 pm for swimming and soft-sand running.

What’s Not Allowed

● All the beaches in NSW remain shut for other forms of activities like walking, jogging and sunbathing.

South Australia

Apart from the initial moderate approach towards coronavirus restrictions, the government officials of South Australia have not announced any other formal easing.

With no new cases reported since April 25th, 2020, the state is responding positively towards the earlier restriction relief but for now, the government has not planned to go any further.

● Beaches are never actually closed here, the authority just fines to those who breach social distancing regulations.
● Wineries, breweries and cellar doors are eligible for takeaway services just like the last month.
● The Barossa Valley wine and tourist region shut due to the major virus clusters was opened again on Wednesday.
● The rule of maximum 10 people at one place remains the same, following appropriate distancing.

Victoria

As per the premier Daniel Andrews, the people are advised to stay at home, if they can.

The government authority wants about 100,000 Victorians to be tested for COVID-19 within next two weeks before making any decisions on uplifting stage-three restrictions. That means, for now, visiting your friends personally is still not on the card, unless and until visitors are providing complete care and support. You can leave the house for essential items like food, medicine etc.

You are allowed to go to work and attend school, but the authorities say, if you can avoid doing so, you must.

Tasmania

The people of Tasmania have to wait for the easing of restrictions amid COVID-19.

Though the premiere of the state has flagged that the easing measures would likely to kick start with parks, reserves and recreation spaces, the government official has not announced any date yet, on when the life of Tasmanians might begin returning to normalcy, he has said that the same will be reviewed after analysing the lead-up to May 15.

“I am hopeful that in the coming weeks the advice from Public Health will be that we can begin loosening some restrictions, however, this will only occur if the health risk is low,” Mr Gutwein (Premier of Tasmania) said.

The Premier also said that the border restrictions of Tasmania would remain the same as the region’s “strongest defence against the coronavirus for some time.”

ACT

The coronavirus-free ACT, with no active cases, became the first Australia jurisdiction to neutralise COVID-19 by and has no formalised plan to wind back restrictions.

Public school students go back to remote learning this week, with several ‘hub’ schools open to give supervision to essential worker’s children.

Here also, like other states of the country, a public gathering of a maximum of 10 people is allowed for non-physical activities like boot camping and small family celebrations. But apart from that, the region is not easing any other regulation.

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