News Snapshot

Here on the news snapshot, we help keep you up to date with everything that’s happening around the world and in Australia. Since the pandemic has been declared, different states of Australia went into various stages of a lockdown. On Friday the 8th of May, the federal government has introduced a 3-stage plan to ease the coronavirus restrictions with goal of reaching the last stage in July. The first phase allows for the opening of retail stores, outdoor gyms and the use of skateparks and parks with a limit of 10 people. Childcare centres and schools would also open for face to face learning. Phase two would allow for more non-work gatherings and more businesses opening aside from pubs and casinos. The final phase would then allow non-work gatherings of up to 100 people as well as cafes, restaurants and food courts would be allowed to operate with more seating.

In this news snapshot we are letting you know about the general guidelines for social distancing and quarantine in each state of Australia as of the 20th of May. These rules are constantly changing so we want to help you keep up to date with our news snapshot. The basic rules on the ease of coronavirus restrictions vary from state to state but are often the same for several.

In QLD, NSW and VIC, you are allowed to have 5 people over from another household into your house. In NT and ACT, you can have a limited amount of 10 people indoors and WA a limit of 20 people indoors. People living in TAS and SA are allowed a minimum of 2 people gatherings.

Art galleries, museums and libraries will be open on the 1st of June with physical distancing rules still applying in QLD, NSW, WA and SA. You are allowed to have outside gatherings of up to 10 people for non-contact sport, group training and boot camps.

NSW schools are welcoming back students for face to face learning as of May 25th and QLD welcomed back their students with face to face learning on 22nd May, with physical distancing rules still applying.

Cafes and restaurants are now opened with the allowance of 10 people sitting down with 4 square meters of space per person. Weddings will allow 10 people inside other than the couple, the one conducting the service and photographer.

These are some quarantine restrictions that have been eased and more rules will be eased as time goes on. Check our news snapshot weekly for updates on quarantine restrictions easing and stay safe at home.

Resources & News Articles:

Boseley, M., & Landis-Hanley, J. (2020). Social distancing rules explained: Australia's current state by state coronavirus guidelines. Retrieved 23 May 2020, from https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/may/20/social-distancing-rules-australia-when-will-end-guidelines-coronavirus-laws-physical-covid-19-restrictions-signs-posters-nsw-victoria-qld-queensland-act-sa-wa-nt-tasmania#maincontent

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/may/08/scott-morrison-details-australias-three-step-path-out-of-coronavirus-lockdown

Hurst, D., & Karp, P. (2020). Scott Morrison details Australia's three-step path out of coronavirus lockdown. Retrieved 28 May 2020, from https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/may/08/scott-morrison-details-australias-three-step-path-out-of-coronavirus-lockdown