Restaurants and cafes will soon reopen when stage one of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions are lifted.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Addressing the nation on Friday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Australians will also be allowed to have five visitors at home and 10 in businesses and public places.
He announced a three-step plan out of the coronavirus lockdown, agreed on by the national cabinet.
Importantly, the easing of lockdowns have not yet been implemented.
It is not yet known exactly when step one will be implemented in Victoria. Premier Daniel Andrews said there would not be an announcement until Monday.
Each individual state will be responsible for implementing the timing of its own three-step process.
National cabinet will review progress on the restrictions and the coronavirus caseload every three weeks to decide when to move to stage two and three.
The three-step plan outlined:
- STEP 1: Allows five visitors in private homes and 10 visitors in businesses and public places. Restaurants, cafes and retail to open, as will libraries, community centres, playgrounds and exercise boot camps. Travel within states for non-essential reasons also allowed.
- STEP 2: Gatherings of up to 20 people allowed. Will include the opening of gyms, beauty shops, cinemas, galleries and amusement parks, as well as caravan parks and camping grounds. Some interstate travel also allowed.
- STEP 3: Gatherings of up to 100 people, the opening of nightclubs, food courts and saunas, and all interstate travel as well as the possibility of travel to New Zealand. "We cannot allow our fear of going backwards from stopping us from going forwards," Mr Morrison said.
"We've learnt some important lessons that we can meet the tests that we have and the challenges that we have so far confronted," Mr Morrison said.
"We've been fighting the virus and we're winning."
He said the government had put in place important lifelines to curb the impact on the country's economy.
"Today our focus is on the road back," Mr Morrison said.
"Today we are putting Australia in a position to go forward."
The Courier has removed the paywall from our stories relating to health warnings and safety of the community in regards to the coronavirus. However, we depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.
