The Australian government has announced it will relax most of its COVID-19 restrictions by July in a three step plan to recovery.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has unveiled Australia’s roadmap to recovery, outlining a three-step plan of how COVID-19 restrictions will be progressively lifted over the coming months.
Under the plan, Morrison said, he expects the country to return to some semblance of normality in July. “Today, we have put Australia in a position to go forward,” the Prime Minister said at a press conference today.(May 8) “We have strengthened our health system and put the protections in place. And it is our goal to move through all of these steps to achieve that COVID-safe economy in July of this year.”
The Australian states and territories are empowered to progress through the three steps at their their own pace, but the prime minister expects the national economy to be largely operational by July.
Under the first step of the plan, which the government expects states and territories will move into soon, restaurants and cafes would open, and non-essential travel would be permitted within states and territories. Five visitors would be allowed in private homes and 10 visitors in businesses and public places. Libraries, community centres, playgrounds and exercise boot camps will also open.
The second stage will allow gatherings of up to 20 people, and will include gyms, beauty shops, cinemas, galleries and amusement parks. Some interstate travel will also be allowed.
The third stage would allow gatherings of up to 100 people, as well as the opening of nightclubs, food courts and saunas, and all interstate travel. Travel to New Zealand may be possible at this point, but overseas travel would likely still not be permitted, and Australia’s borders would remain otherwise closed.
