Your Covid-19 restrictions update

Parmas, spin class and the brow bar are back on in some states. So when can you book in your next massage and pub sesh?

By all accounts the Covid-19 pandemic is far from over. Yet governments around the world are getting a handle on the situation and clarifying what their residents can do to avoid infection.

That includes our own Federal and State Governments. The last couple of weeks have seen the easing of restrictions around the country, along with updated guidelines for preventing the spread of the disease.

So what does that mean for you?

First, it’s important to realise that we all still face the risk of Covid-19 infection. Wherever you live, these guidelines apply:

Feeling unwell? Don’t leave home.
Self-isolate and call your GP if you develop a dry cough or fever or experience other flu-like symptoms.
Wash your hands frequently, especially while you’re out and after you get home, and avoid touching your face.
Regularly disinfect surfaces that are touched by more than one person in your home, like your kitchen benches, bathroom, doorknobs and home phones.
Don’t hug, shake hands or touch others.
Keep 1.5m between yourself and others from outside your household at all times, wherever you are.
Help protect those at risk: practice excellent hygiene and social distancing when supporting people over 70, those with chronic health conditions or compromised immune systems and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders over 50 with chronic conditions.
Know when to go: If you’re out somewhere and feel the place is too crowded, or social distancing isn’t being observed, head home.
Stick to the rules. Don’t see the lifting of restrictions as time for a party. Limits apply to how many people you can have over or be out with, and it’s critical that we stick to them.

Now, let’s look at the state of play in your local area.

Victoria

While Victorians who can stay at home are still advised to do exactly that, you can now have up to five people over, or meet with up to nine others in public, outdoors, keeping a 1.5m distance between yourselves at all times. That includes non-competitive sports, so if you’ve been missing your early-morning boot camp, it might be back on the agenda soon.

Some indoor facilities — places of worship and community centres, for example — are also open for groups of up to 10, provided you can keep to the social distancing rules. But most public places from galleries and gyms to play centres and skate parks are closed, but not for long. Premier Dan Andrews announced new changes to social distancing rules coming in to play from June 1.

You can get a haircut, see up to 20 friends and get a spray tan from June 1. If you’re dying for a quick getaway, make it a day trip to somewhere people-free: holidays, mini-breaks, and social overnight stays are on from June 1st, as is camping.

Find out more here.

New South Wales

New South Wales, it’s time to celebrate (with a limited number of friends): reduced restrictions mean that not only can you meet with 5 others at home and 10 in public, you can go to a restaurant, cafe or pub for a meal too. With a sit-in customer limit of 10 people per premises, you’ll probably get pretty great service, provided you can get a seat in the first place. You can have up to 10 people to your wedding or place of worship, and 20 at indoor funerals (30 at outdoor services).

If you’re keen to enjoy the last Autumn days, outdoor pools and play and exercise equipment can all be used with caution and outdoor exercise in groups of up to 10 is fine so long as you can observe social distancing rules. Most other venues, including cinemas and community centres, bars that don’t sell food, and indoor sports facilities are closed. Hairdressers are open but subject to social distancing; other personal services remain shut.

Holidays are still against the rules for now, as is camping, but you can stay overnight with a friend or family member at their house. That said, from June 1, you’ll be able to travel within the state for a holiday, and visit museums, galleries and libraries, so start planning your socially distanced adventures!

More information is available here.

Queensland

Queenslanders, the Great Outdoors have once again opened their doors! You can get together with nine of your besties at public-space beaches and lagoons, local parks and pools and national and state parks for a hike or a lazy picnic. Skate parks, playgrounds, and outdoor gyms are also open for up to 10 people at once, and you can attend weddings, places of worship, libraries and personal training classes with the same head-count limit.

If you need a little retail therapy, good news. You can now go shopping; get a massage, mani-pedi or any other personal service; attend an open home; or go out for a meal! The 10-person limit applies in each place (except retail stores), and physical distancing must be maintained at all times.

Finally, day-trips to locations within 150km of your home are now permitted, so those who are feeling claustrophobic can finally hit the road.

Check out the full details here.

Australian Capital Territory

With Canberra’s rules now allowing up to 10 people at any gathering (in or outdoor, including at home) and with hospitality venues open for business, it’s like old times in the ACT … almost.

If you’re having people over, they must all be from the same household — just one rule designed to limit the possibility of outbreaks as the restrictions lift. Social distancing rules apply in all cases, as well as at weddings (up to 10 people allowed), funerals (20 people indoors, 30 if it’s outdoors), religious ceremonies and places of worship and outdoor fitness classes, where equipment sharing is still banned.

Outdoor play and fitness facilities are open, as are BBQs, parks and nature parks (though you’ll have to be patient with Namadgi National Park, which remains closed). But at all times, you’ll need to maintain your social distance and not gather with more than nine other people, so if the place gets crowded, your best bet is to head home.

See more on what’s allowed here.

Northern Territory

Lucky Territorians have been able to enjoy outdoor activities all month. Parks, reserves and campgrounds are all open, as are open-air markets, weddings and funerals, exercise classes and non-contact sports, playgrounds and swimming pools. You can have visitors at home, go fishing and boating and shop at your leisure. Not bad, NT!

More recent restriction rollbacks mean you can now go out for a meal, attend indoor fitness venues like gyms and yoga studios, visit libraries, indoor playgrounds, galleries, museums and places of worship. You can even go to zoos and nature parks.

Changes slated for June include the opening of bars, beauty services, amusement venues including cinemas, theatres and nightclubs, stadiums and arenas. Team sports are also likely to resume then. Hooray!

Get the full story on restrictions here.

Western Australia

The big news in WA is that you can now go back to work. So if you’ve struggled to get things done from home, it’s time to return to the office — and your normal productivity levels!

These days, you can meet with up to 20 people in or outdoors. Weddings and funerals are allowed 30 guests if they’re outside. You can also eat out, with pubs, bars, clubs and hotels having a 20-person maximum limit. Places of worship and community facilities like libraries are also open to the same head-count, as are non-contact community sports, in and outdoor fitness classes and public pools.

Travel is also allowed through most of the WA, excluding the biosecurity zones in the north-east of the state.

Restrictions are expected to be eased further in the coming weeks, so stay tuned. Get more information here.

South Australia

South Australians, it’s time to live a little! Your government is now encouraging non-essential travel, so campgrounds and caravan parks are open for business, subject to social distancing and hygiene rules ( hot tip to book ahead).

Libraries, places of worship, public swimming pools, non-contact sports training and community and youth centres are open for up to 10 people, while indoor sporting facilities remain closed for the time being. Weddings can also be held with up to 10 people plus a celebrant.

Fancy a meal out? Go right ahead. While you won’t be able to have alcohol with your meal or sit indoors, you’ll be able to enjoy dining alfresco with no more than nine other patrons, total. Bon appetit!

See the full details here.

Tasmania

Tasmania is open! …for table service in restaurants and cafes, anyway (10 patrons, max). Can’t get a seat? Have up to 5 friends visit you for a home-cooked meal (observing social distancing, of course).

Out in public, indoor and outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people are permitted, including in parks, community and government facilities, religious ceremonies and private worship and weddings, where the 10-person limit excludes the happy couple and any staff. In line with other states, indoor funerals can include up to 20 people; outdoor services up to 30.

You can visit a skate park, playground or pool and attend outdoor fitness activities and sports training, although the numbers at each location mustn’t exceed 10. If you’re heading to the park with some mates, keep in mind that your group can have up to 10 in total and that you’ll need to be suitably spaced out from any other group in the park. Keep to those social distancing rules within your group, too.

Full details are here.

Make the most of your new found freedoms and remember to run everything by your flatmates to make sure that they’re comfortable with you having people over. As always, stay safe.

Information up to date at the time of publishing on May 25th 2020.