Victoria has finally relaxed coronavirus restrictions to allow recreational activities and home visits.
From 11.59pm tonight, Victorians will be allowed to invite five people into their homes and will be allowed to gather in groups of ten outside for activities such as hiking, fishing, walking and kicking a football around.
The state will also allow professional sports teams to start training from tomorrow, paving the way for games to restart in the near future.
Premier Daniel Andrews also said schools in the state will be allowed to resume ‘soon’ – but did not announce a timeframe.
The state recorded only seven new cases of coronavirus on Sunday and no new deaths.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has been the harshest of all state leaders regarding restrictions
Meanwhile, New South Wales recorded only one new case of coronavirus on Sunday after 5,200 tests.
The patient was a returned traveller from the United Kingdom meaning there was no recorded community transmission.
There have been only 14 new cases of the virus in Australia’s most populated state over the past five days, sparking calls to quickly relax lockdown.
Queensland, which has already relaxed restrictions to allow recreation such as sunbathing, recorded zero new cases on Sunday.
A ‘roadmap’ showing the way out of lockdown was presented to Australians on Friday. But NSW will not relax restrictions until a week later. Pictured: Volleyball on Sydney’s Bondi Beach in March
New South Wales recorded only one new case of coronavirus on Sunday after 5,200 tests. Pictured: Premier Berejiklian
Protesters demanding more personal freedom clashed with police in Sydney’s CBD on Sunday after Premier Gladys Berejiklian said restrictions will not be relaxed until Friday, a full week after the Prime Minster gave the green light.
Explaining her cautious approach, Ms Berejiklian said she feared a second wave of the virus.
‘The more activity there is, the more likelihood there is of a spike in cases,’ she told reporters on Monday.
Threatening a second lockdown, she added: ‘The second we let our guard down the cases will go up again and then governments will have to look at other options and we don’t want to be in that position.
‘We rely on the advice of experts and consult with relevant people before we embark on our path forward.’
The economy is bleeding $4billion a week due to lockdown. Pictured: Centrelink queues
Ms Berejiklian warned that residents must obey social distancing rules after restrictions are relaxed.
‘I’m extremely worried about people being complacent. We have to assume every time we leave the house we have the virus and that’s how we have to lead our lives,’ she said.
The Berejiklian government on Sunday announced the easing of some restrictions from Friday, including allowing outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people, such as a physical training session or sitting down in a park.
Up to five people, including children, will be able to visit a home and religious gatherings and places of worship can also welcome up to 10 worshippers.
Surfers are seen at Duranbah Beach on the Queensland where they are allowed to exercise and enjoy beaches at leisure
This image shows the federal government guidelines for relaxing lockdown by July
Restaurants and cafes will also be allowed to have up to 10 patrons at a time, while ensuring they maintain social distancing and four square metres space per person.
Ms Berejiklian admitted the 10-people rule means it will not be viable for many bigger venues to re-open.
A total of 10 guests will be allowed at weddings, and up to 20 people at indoor funerals and up to 30 at outdoor funerals.
However, holidays in regional NSW are still banned.
No new coronavirus-related deaths have been reported in NSW with the state’s death toll sitting at 46.
Ms Berejiklian on Monday urged people to come forward and get tested – especially on weekends when testing numbers generally drop.
‘We need to remain vigilant and come forward and get tested,’ she told reporters in Sydney.
‘As the months and weeks get colder… please don’t assume it’s the flu, assume it’s coronavirus.’
It is up to the states and territories to decide when outdoor activities with more people can resume. Pictured: Surfers’ Paradise
Queensland will move to stage one on Friday May 15
A countdown is on for the reopening of Queensland restaurants, libraries, pools and beauty salons.
Personal training sessions, retail shopping, weddings with up to 10 people, and funerals with up to 20 inside or 30 outside, are also allowed from May 15.
Bars and gaming facilities will remain closed in the first phase of a staged easing of the state’s lockdown, but up to 10 people at a time can dine in at restaurants, pubs, licensed clubs, RSL clubs and hotels will be allowed.
Recreational travel of up to 150km from home will also be allowed.
Those rules apply differently in the outback, where locals can travel up to 500km from home, and up to 20 can dine in an eatery at a time.
