Picnics, leisure shopping, hikes and boating are back on the agenda for some Australians but the federal government has warned the battle against coronavirus is “not yet won”.
Queensland and Western Australia have announced the easing of restrictions while residents of other states have been told to stay bunkered down.
From Saturday residents of the Sunshine State will be allowed to travel up to 50km and have been given the okay to have picnics, go boating, take a drive and visit newly re-opened popular hiking trails.
The Queensland border will remain closed.
In WA, where some of the toughest restrictions were introduced, picnics, fishing, boating, hiking and camping will be allowed but people must comply with travel restrictions.
Ten people will be allowed at weddings and the 10-person limit remains for funerals.
Queensland had three new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday and Western Australia reported zero.
But despite states like Victoria also watching the infection trend fall to just three new cases on Sunday, restrictions are not expected to be eased until at least May 11.
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said he had no intention of altering Victoria’s stay-at-home measures until the state of emergency ended.
“I don’t know what transmission will look like this week or next week, but I think the state of emergency going to May 11 is a nice line-up with the national cabinet process for a real look at changing the restrictions,” Professor Sutton said.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard reiterated that residents should continue following social distancing measures and frequently wash their hands.
The battle has not been won
As states prepare to begin easing restrictions, federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has warned the battle against the coronavirus is “not yet won”.
After reporting just 16 new COVID-19 cases across the nation on Sunday, Mr Hunt said there had been 117 cases in the previous seven days, which compared favourably with 297 cases a week earlier.
“We have now had an average increase in case numbers of less than one per cent for 15 consecutive days,” Mr Hunt told reporters in Canberra.
“What we have seen is a sustained and consolidated and now extended flattening of the curve.”
As at 11.44pm on Sunday, Australia’s number of coronavirus cases had increased to 6711 – of which 5364 had recovered.
The national death toll rose to 82 after an elderly man in his 90s died of COVID-19 overnight on Sunday at the Mersey Community Hospital in northern Tasmania.
The fatality took the state’s virus death toll to 11 – a day after another man in his 90s died from the disease at the same hospital.
Only New South Wales and Victoria have recorded more COVID-19 deaths than Tasmania, with 10 of its 11 deaths relating to the major outbreak in the state’s north-west.
The four new cases of coronavirus on Sunday are linked to the outbreak at the North West Regional Hospital, Tasmania’s Public Health Director Mark Veitch confirmed.
Two are healthcare workers who worked at the Burnie hospital, one was a recent patient and one was a close contact of a previously confirmed case.
More Aussies return on rescue flight
Several repatriation flights touched down in Melbourne on Sunday, though there are no known cases of coronavirus on board.
The 178 passengers from Buenos Aires, 65 passengers from Doha, 18 passengers from Auckland and 11 passengers from Hong Kong will be tested and put into mandatory 14-day quarantine in Melbourne hotels.
Victoria stands firm
Despite a steady decline in the number of new cases, Victoria will not follow other states in easing social distancing measures.
Health Minister Jenny Mikakos confirmed the state recorded one death and three new coronavirus cases on Sunday, including a patient at a private psychiatric clinic at the centre of an outbreak.
A man in his 90s succumbed to the virus in hospital, bringing the state’s death toll to 17.
The state’s total number of COVID-19 cases sits at 1349, though 1265 people have recovered.
“They prove that our physical distancing measures are working but this is not a time to relax our strong approach,” chief health officer Brett Sutton said.
“This disease can get away from you very quickly as we have seen in cities overseas.”
Professor Sutton said he has no intention of altering Victoria’s stay-at-home measures until at least May 11.
South Australia hospital numbers fall
South Australia recorded no new cases of coronavirus for the fourth consecutive day, as the state government urged people with other serious medical issues to not let the pandemic stop them seeking help.
The state has confirmed a total of 438 cases, but only 23 remain active.
Four people are at Royal Adelaide Hospital, including two in intensive care.
Health Minister Stephen Wade said there were concerns about a significant reduction in emergency department presentations, ambulance call-outs and GP visits.
-with AAP
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