Australian states ease coronavirus restrictions after low new cases

By Ihesiulo Grace

30 April 2020

Foreign

Australian state and territory jurisdictions have started loosening coronavirus-related restrictions after the country saw a low number of new cases.

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT), which includes the national capital Canberra, has become the first region to have no coronavirus cases in the country after the last man was cured, Kerryn Coleman, the ACT’s chief health officer, told reporters on Thursday.

A total of 106 people in the ACT have had Covid-19, three of whom died, she said.

Overnight, Australia recorded only 10 new coronavirus cases, the country’s chief nursing and midwifery officer, Alison McMillan, told reporters on Thursday.

More than 3.31 million people have registered to use the government-built COVIDSafe app, which has been flagged as one of the ways to loosen restrictions nationwide, McMillan added.

Australia’s most populated state of New South Wales – which has Sydney as its capital – will ease gathering restrictions from Friday to allow a maximum of two adults and their children to visit others.

Queensland will also ease restrictions from Friday, with picnics and weekend drives up to 50 kilometres from homes allowed. The state also opened national parks, beaches, and business centres.

Western Australia, which covers about half of Australia, already eased some restrictions from Monday, including increasing the number of people allowed to gather together from two to 10.

Non-work activities, like picnics, boating, hiking, and camping are now allowed, as well as real estate open houses and displays.

Meanwhile, the Northern Territory, which has not had a single case of coronavirus for 24 days, will ease more restrictions than other jurisdictions, including outdoor activities and national parks visits.

All but three of its 28 cases had recovered, said chief minister Michale Gunner on Thursday, as he outlined how the territory could become the first jurisdiction to return to “a new normal” over the next five weeks.

He said all businesses including restaurants, bars, gyms, libraries, and places of religious worship, will reopen with a two-hour-limit, albeit with social distancing measures, from May 15.

Victoria has said it will reassess the restrictions on May 11, but the government has announced blitz tests to include more than 100,000 people, including those with mild symptoms.

Tasmania, which has the worst outbreak per capita, will not ease restrictions at least until next week, while South Australia, which has no new coronavirus cases for the past week, will announce soon which restrictions can be lifted.

All the states and territories still have their borders closed.

One of the biggest points of contention has been the opening of the schools. The federal government wants to open all schools, but most states and territories want to continue with online schooling.

More than 6,700 people in Australia contracted Covid-19, with less than 1,100 still recovering. The disease has killed 91 Australians. (dpa)