Prime Minister Scott Morrison has released a three-step road map for relaxing restrictions put in place to stop the spread of coronavirus, but it will be up to each state and territory to decide how quickly each step will be introduced.
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Under the three step plan agreed by the national cabinet on Friday, the first stage includes the opening of restaurants, cafes and shopping centres but workplaces will be limited to no more than 10 people in a business or public place.
Households will be allowed gatherings of up to 10 people or five visitors, but working from home arrangements are expected to continue where possible.
Libraries and playgrounds will be allowed under stage one, while gyms and cinemas will need to wait until stage two.
Mr Morrison said the pace at which states and territories move through the stages is completely under the control of state leaders, but he expects all stages to have been moved through by July.
"It is our goal to move through all of these steps to achieve that COVID safe economy in July of this year. In this plan, we walk before we run," Mr Morrison said.
"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.
"Not everything will go to plan. There will be inconsistencies. States will and must move at their own pace, and will cut and paste out of this plan to suit their local circumstances."
More to come.
- For information on COVID-19, please go to the federal Health Department's website.
- You can also call the Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080
- If you have serious symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, call Triple Zero (000)
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