COVID-19 restrictions to ease from today for the long weekend

COVID-19 restrictions to ease from today for the long weekend

Around the country COVID-19 restrictions will be eased from today, with many of these moves to be welcomed by Australians just in time for the long weekend.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk - whose state along with WA won't have a public holiday on Monday - has today celebrated the news that venues will be permitted to open to more than 20 seated patrons from midday today.

The restrictions will see venues be able to accommodate groups of up to 20 seated people per dining area on the condition a COVID-safe plan has been approved.

"We are expecting a bumper weekend," said Palaszczuk.

But Queensland is not the only state reopening businesses today, with the Northern Territory, Tasmania, and Western Australia all easing COVID-19 restrictions.

Northern Territory

The NT is moving into Stage 3 of restrictions being eased from midday today.

From today Territorians will be able to:

  • Frequent bars without consuming food;
  • Attend nightclubs, cinemas, theatres, concert or music halls and other approved entertainment venues;
  • Participate in licenced gaming activities;
  • Enjoy amusement venues, community centres and play centres; and
  • All previously restricted services at places that provide beauty therapy, cosmetic services, tattooing or body art can be accessed again from 5 June.

Sports including football, netball, basketball and soccer will also be able to resume and be officiated, with supporters and up to 500 people in any arena, stadium or community sport competition

Tasmania

Stage 2 easing of restrictions are being brought forward today from 3pm in Tasmania.

Pubs, restaurants and cafes will be able to provide table service for up to 40 patrons, with delivery and takeaway services able to continue.

Western Australia

In WA Phase 3 COVID-19 restrictions will be eased from Saturday midnight

As part of Phase 3, Western Australia will be the first State in the nation to implement a two square metre per person capacity rule for venues, replacing the previous four square metre rule, which is the current national advice.

Other restrictions will be eased, allowing:

  • non-work indoor and outdoor gatherings of up to 100 people at any one time, per single undivided space, up to 300 people in total per venue (100/300 rule);
  • food businesses and licensed premises may operate with seated service;
  • alcohol may be served without a meal at licensed premises (patrons must be seated);
  • food courts can reopen with a seated service;
  • beauty therapy and personal care services to reopen;
  • saunas, bath houses, float centres, massage and wellness centres to reopen (100/300 rule);
  • galleries, museums, theatres, auditoriums, cinemas and concert venues can reopen (during any performance, the patrons must be seated. (100/300 rule));
  • Rottnest Island to reopen to the WA general public;
  • Perth Zoo to open with no patron limit for the whole venue (the 100/300 rule applies to indoor spaces and cafés/restaurants);
  • wildlife and amusement parks can reopen (100/300 rule);
  • arcades (including pool/snooker, ten pin bowling, Timezone), skate rinks and indoor play centres to reopen (100/300 rule);
  • auction houses and real estate auctions can reopen;
  • TAB and other gaming venues (other than the Casino which is being considered separately) are permitted to reopen;
  • full contact sport and training is now permitted;
  • playgrounds, skate parks and outdoor gym equipment are permitted to be used;
  • parents/guardians will be able to enter school grounds to drop off or pick up their children;
  • gyms, health clubs and indoor sports centres will be able to offer the normal range of activities, including the use of all gym equipment (gyms must be staffed at all times and undertake regular cleaning).

Travel will now be permitted throughout Western Australia, including into the Kimberley region, pending the Commonwealth's approval to remove the Biosecurity Area on June 5. Access into remote Aboriginal communities will remain prohibited.

Updated at 12:26PM AEST on 5 June 2020.

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