Government Announcement
21 June 2020
Revised Restrictions Implemented due to recent spike in COVID-19 cases
Update on the easing of restrictions from 11:59pm Sunday 21 June 2020s
Stage 2 - TIGHTER Social Distancing MEASURES ENACTED
25 March 2020
The Australian Government has commenced sending text messages to keep you informed about the national response to COVID-19.
Last night Prime Minister Morrison announced Stage 2 of the social-distancing measures to stop the spread of COVID-19. Find below a table that sets out the additional prohibited activities and venues that apply from 11:59pm (local time) 25 March 2020.
Please act on that advice, it will help save lives.
For more information please go to the Prime Minister’s Media Statement: https://www.pm.gov.au/media/update-coronavirus-measures-24-March-2020
Along with these measures Tasmania, the NT, WA, Queensland and SA announced border closures. Anyone entering these States or Territory must self-isolate for 14 days.
Please go here to find out more from the respective State or Territory: https://www.australia.gov.au/#state-government
For school closures (government and non-government) please refer to state and territory education authorities that can be found here: https://www.dese.gov.au/news/coronavirus-covid-19#schools.
For more information on Coronavirus and the Government’s response, please visit: www.treasury.gov.au/coronavirus or www.australia.gov.au. Alternatively you can contact the business.gov.au support line at 13 28 46.
Additional prohibited activities and venues to apply from 11.59pm (local time) 25 March 2020
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Business, premises or place |
Exceptions |
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Food and drink |
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Cafes |
Take away service and home delivery. Cafes or canteens at hospitals, care homes or schools; prison and military canteens; services providing food or drink to the homeless; workplace canteens can provide takeaway. |
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Food courts |
Delivery and takeaway can remain. |
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Retail |
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Auction houses |
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Real estate auctions, and display and open house inspections |
Private appointments for inspection. |
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Outdoor and indoor markets will be a decision for each state and territory |
Food markets will continue to operate in all states and territories. |
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Beauty and personal care services |
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Hairdressers and barber shops |
Up to 30-minute appointments and 4sqm rule to apply. |
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Beauty therapy, tanning, waxing, nail salons, tattoo parlours |
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Spas and massage parlours |
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Entertainment venues |
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Cinemas, nightclubs |
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Casinos, gaming or gambling venues |
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Strip clubs, brothels and sex on premises venues |
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Concert venues, theatre, arenas, auditoriums, stadiums |
Live streaming of a performance by a small group could be permissible with social distancing observed. |
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Amusement parks and arcades |
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Play centres (indoor and outdoor) |
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Leisure and recreation |
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Community and recreation centres |
Facilities may remain open for the purpose of hosting essential voluntary or public services, such as food banks or homeless services. |
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Health clubs, fitness centres, yoga, barre and spin facilities, saunas, bathhouses and wellness centres |
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Boot camps and personal training (outside and inside) |
Outside must be limited to groups of no more than 10 people and social distancing must be observed. |
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Social sporting-based activities |
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Swimming pools |
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Residential facilities |
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Hotels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, campsites, caravan parks, and boarding houses will be a decision for each state and territory |
Excluding permanent residents and workers.
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Outdoor recreation |
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Caravan and camping parks will be a decision for each state and territory |
Where people live permanently in caravan parks or are staying in caravan parks temporarily while their primary residence is not available, they may continue to do so. |
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Non-residential institutions |
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Galleries, museums, national institutions and historic sites |
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Libraries, community centres, and youth centres |
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Local government non-essential facilities and services (such as libraries and pools) |
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Community facilities (such as community halls, clubs, RSLs, PCYCs) |
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Weddings and Funerals |
Weddings with a maximum attendance of no more than 5 people, with 1 person per 4 square metre rule applied. Funerals attended by a maximum of no more than 10 people, with the 1 person per 4 square metre rule applied. |
Stage 1 - Restrictions – Social Distancing
24 March 2020
National Cabinet has agreed to move to more widespread restrictions on social gatherings.
The Premier, along with the Prime Minister and other first ministers, agreed to implement new Stage 1 restrictions on non-essential gatherings.
The following facilities will be restricted from opening from midday 23 March 2020:
- Pubs, registered and licensed clubs (excluding bottle shops attached to these venues)
- Hotels (excluding accommodation)
- Gyms and indoor sporting venues
- Cinemas, entertainment venues, casinos, and night clubs
- Restaurants and cafes will be restricted to takeaway and/or home delivery
- Religious gatherings, places of worship or funerals (in enclosed spaces and other than very small groups and where the 1 person per 4 square metre rule applies).
These measures also apply to outdoor spaces associated with the above venues.
Victorian Government schools - school holidays will be brought forward to begin on Tuesday 24 March 2020 to allow teachers and staff to prepare flexible and remote learning programs for students.
Social Distancing in the Workplace:
To reduce the spread of germs in the workplace[1]:
- Stay at home if you are sick
- Stop handshaking as a greeting
- Hold meetings via video conferencing or phone call
- Defer large meetings
- Hold essential meetings outside in the open air if possible
- Promote good hand and sneeze/cough hygiene and provide hand sanitisers for all staff and workers
- Take lunch at your desk or outside rather than in the lunchroom
- Clean and disinfect high touch surfaces regularly
- Consider opening windows and adjusting air conditioning for more ventilation
- Limit food handling and sharing of food in the workplace
- Reconsider non-essential business travel
- Promote strictest hygiene among food preparation (canteen) staff and their close contacts
- Consider if large gatherings can be rescheduled, staggered or cancelled
CLICK HERE for Social Distancing Poster
[1] Adapted from Dalton et al. Pre-emptive low cost social distancing and enhanced hygiene implemented before local COVID-19 transmission could decrease the number and severity of cases.