Premier's startling warning: 'We will never have normal lives until Pandemic is over'
Yahoo News Australia's Life After Lockdown series investigates what life will be like after coronavirus restrictions.
As Australian states and territories plan to roll out the federal government’s roadmap to recovery in the coming weeks, citizens have varying degrees of normality to look forward to.
However, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has offered up a bleak reality check during a Sunday morning press conference, reiterating what many experts and politicians have said before: life will not return to normal anytime soon due to the coronavirus.
While announcing NSW will ease restrictions on Friday, Ms Berejiklian raised concerns after seeing images of people not social distancing, saying “every retailer, every customer, every person” has a responsibility to maintain such measures.
“They assume it is business as usual, which it's not,” she told reporters.
“We will never be business as usual. We will never have normal lives until the pandemic is over.”
Australia is faring well compared to the rest of the world, while there is more than 4 million confirmed cases worldwide, Australia only has some 6,900 and a death toll of 97.
Although the federal government has set up the frame work, states and territories are entrusted to roll out the plan out of lockdown as they see fit, meaning not all states will start at the same time.
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NSW has the most cases and deaths compared to any other state or territory in Australia, however Ms Berejiklian warned people cannot become complacent “because all the ground we've gained will be lost” if distancing gave way.
“So, we do the easing of restrictions with caution and because we have demonstrated collectively our ability to listen to the restrictions, to respect them,” Ms Berejiklian continued.
“And that's why I'm, please, asking everybody to show the same vigilance as we move forward.”
Even when the state eases restrictions later this week, allowing outdoor gatherings of 10 or less and five people visiting other households, Ms Berejiklian warned social distancing must be maintained.
“The last thing we want is to pass on the virus to those we care about the most,” the premier said.
Ms Berejiklian thanked the citizens of NSW for their efforts so far to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and see a huge drop in daily case numbers.
“To have a population the size of New South Wales, to see our cases go from a maximum of 200 or so a day down to just a small handful is a wonderful achievement,” she said.
“We don't want to see any of this lost.”
What restrictions will be eased in NSW?
From Friday, up to five people visit a home, including children, opposed to the current limit of two people.
Outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people will also be allowed, such as a physical training session or sitting down in a park and restaurants and cafes will also be allowed to have 10 patrons at a time.
“For many they won't think that up to 10 patrons is viable for them,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“But for those that do feel it is viable, please make sure you maintain social distancing.”
She added for smaller venues the space may only allow for two patrons inside to maintain the four square metre rule, with the option to have eight patrons outside.
Religious gatherings and places of worship will be allowed to have 10 people also, as will weddings.
For funerals 20 mourners will be allowed if the service is indoors, 30 if it takes place outside.
Regional travel is still not allowed, however.
On Sunday, NSW reported just two new cases, after testing 9,515 in 24 hours, taking the state’s total to 3,053, Dr Kerry Chant confirmed.
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Other Australian regions easing restrictions sooner
Western Australians are being encouraged to get back to work from May 18, with the state government easing restrictions and moving ahead with ‘stage two’ of the state’s roadmap to recovery.
Premier Mark McGowan says cafes, restaurants, pubs and clubs will be allowed to serve meals for up to 20 patrons with the same number of people to be permitted at weddings and funerals.
Outdoor and indoor sports training can resume with groups again limited to 20 people.
Not only did the state shut its border, WA also enacted interstate borders.
Regional travel restrictions are expected to ease, however the state’s border closure is likely to be the last thing to go.
"Our hard border has worked to our advantage and we must keep it this way," Mr McGowan said on Sunday, where he announced the state’s plan.
WA has a total of 552 cases, with only seven being active. Four people remain in hospital with one of those in intensive care.
Also ahead of the other regions of Australia is the Northern Territory, which will push ahead with its own plan.
Chief Minister Michael Gunner indicated the Territory would push ahead with its own three-stage approach that will remove most restrictions on business and community activities by early June.
In South Australia, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Mike Cusack warned of a second peak, saying social distancing and good hygiene were paramount to avoid a surge of cases.
South Australia has only two active cases and restrictions are to be eased on Monday.
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