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Everything you need to know about PM's 'three-stage' plan

Yahoo News Australia's Life After Lockdown series investigates what life will be like after coronavirus restrictions.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has revealed how Australia will ease restrictions, providing a roadmap for Australians on how the nation will emerge from the coronavirus lockdown.

Announced following Friday’s national cabinet meeting, the roadmap is a framework put out by the federal government, however it will be up to state and territory governments to implement changes when they see fit.

“The pace will be totally be up to the states and territories,” Mr Morrison said.

The National Cabinet has agreed on a three-step plan to “achieve a COVID safe economy and society”.

 Prime Minister Scott Morrison has outline a new plan agreed to by the National Cabinet to start easing restrictions imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The three-step plan aims to deliver a "COVID-19 safe economy". Source: Getty
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has outline a new plan agreed to by the National Cabinet to start easing restrictions imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The three-step plan aims to deliver a "COVID-19 safe economy". Source: Getty

“It is our goal to move through all of these steps to achieve that COVID safe economy in July of this year,” Scott Morrisons said.

“In this plan, we walk before we run.

“We know we need to be careful to preserve our gains, if we wish to reclaim the ground we lost, we cannot be too timid. There will be risks. There will be challenges. There will be outbreaks, there will be more cases, there will be set backs.”

The idea of the framework is to give Australians clarity on what to expect in the coming weeks and months as the three stages roll out and restore 850,000 jobs.

Every three weeks, the plan will be reviewed, and changes will be made if necessary and there will be more clarity on what steps two and three look like after step one is reviewed.

“Step three, but also step two, will get greater definition as we move through the success of step one,” Mr Morrison said.

Stage One: Larger gatherings, kids in the classroom and cafes reopen

Stage one will “enable greater connection with friends and family”, Mr Morrison explained.

Gatherings of up to 10 people will be allowed in businesses and public places and households will be permitted to have five guests over.

The restrictions on funerals and weddings will be eased.

Funerals will allow for 30 people to gather and pay their respects, while weddings will be allowed to have 10 guests.

If it works for you and your employer, working from home will continue.

Stage one will also see children “back in classrooms and in play grounds in their communities” Mr Morrison said.

Australia's can expect to have groups of 10 people over at their homes during the stage one of the 'roadmap' out of the restrictions. Source: Getty
Australia's can expect to have groups of 5 people over at their homes during the stage one of the 'roadmap' out of the restrictions. Source: Getty

Retailers and small cafes will be allowed to reopen and recreational interstate travel will be resumed, while exercise activities will be permitted.

“Golfers back on the green,” Mr Morrison said.

“Lap swimmers back in the pool. Boot camps back in the parks.”

Libraries and community centres will also be allowed to reopen, and home sales and in-person auctions can resume.

Local and regional travel will be allowed to resume.

People are seen on the beach at Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast, Sunday, May 3, 2020.  The Queensland Government have relaxed some restrictions due to a very low number of new COVID-19 infections. Queenslanders can now go for a drive (within 50km of home), ride a motorbike, jetski or boat for recreation, have a picnic, visit a national park and shop for non-essential items. (AAP Image/Darren England) NO ARCHIVING
Australians are eager to get back to the beach. Source: AAP

What you will be able to do during stage one:

  • Non-work gatherings of up to 10 people, five visitors over at a home

  • Childcare centres and school opened as per state or territory guidelines, universities and Tafe to resume face-to-face learning where possible

  • Ten patrons allowed in cafes and restaurants, hairdressers and barbers to reopen

  • Ten people allowed in community centres, outdoor gyms and skate parks

  • Wedding allowed up to ten guests, in addition to couple and celebrant

  • Indoor funerals permitted to have 20 mourners, 30 if the funeral is outdoors

Step Two: Beauty services resume, some travel and community sport

Step two will allow for larger gatherings, of up to 20 people, including in homes, businesses and in public, however state territory government can allow for larger gatherings in some circumstances.

Beauty services, gyms, cinemas, amusement parks and galleries will be allowed to reopen with COVID-safe plans in place.

Organised community sport will be able to start up again, with up to 20 people allowed to participate in outdoor sports.

Some interstate travel will be allowed to resume, and caravan parks and camping grounds will reopen.

What you will be able to do during stage two:

  • Non work gatherings increased to 20 people

  • Cafes and restaurants to seat up to 20 patrons

  • Beauty and massage therapies and tattoo parlours to reopen, with 20 clients on the premise and record client details

  • Caravan parks and camping grounds to reopen

Step Three: Interstate trips, pubs reopen and 100 person gatherings

Step three will allow for gatherings of up to 100 people and it is under stage three more people will be returning to their workplaces.

“Most workers, by then, will be back in the workplace,” Mr Morrison said.

However, it is advised people returning to work avoid public transport in peak hour even in stage three, as it is advised for steps one and two.

Interstate travel will likely resume in stage three, and cross-Tasman, Pacific island and international student travel will be considered.

The limit of 100 people gatherings will apply for sporting venues, cafes, restaurants, hair and beauty services.

Pubs, clubs, nightclubs, food courts, saunas and some gaming venues will reopen, with some restrictions.

What you will be able to do during stage three:

  • Non-work gatherings of u-p to 100 people

  • Return to workplaces, developing a ‘COVID-Safe’ plan

  • Up to 100 people seated in cafes and restaurants

  • All sporting venues reopen with gatherings of up to 100 people

  • Funerals and weddings to have up to 100 people

  • Interstate travel allowed

The criteria needed to move forward

Mr Morrison also said for a state or territory to move forward to the next stage criteria will need to be met.

“The medical evidence suggests that further easing will not present an undue risk, widespread testing is identifying community transmission, and thirdly, public health actions are able to trace cases and trap local outbreaks,” he said.

“Testing, tracing, trapping.”

He then promoted the COVID-Safe app as the “best way to help us do this job”.

More than 5.3 million Australians have now downloaded the app.

“I would encourage you to continue to download the COVIDSafe app,” he said.

“For industry and businesses it's all about getting your COVID safe plans in place for your workplaces and your premises.”

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