Australia allows home visits, opens beaches as virus lockdown eases

 

People surf as Bondi Beach reopens to surfers and swimmers after it was closed to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), with strict social distancing measures remaining in place, in Sydney, Australia, April 28, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott

 

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's most populous state said on Tuesday it will relax some restrictions on movement as beaches reopened amid hopes a policy of widespread medical testing will help sustain a decline in new cases of the coronavirus.

 

Bondi Beach and two neighbouring beaches in Sydney were reopened to local residents on Tuesday, reversing a local government decision to close them following earlier criticism about large crowds that apparently violated social distancing rules.

 

New South Wales state, which is home to nearly half of Australia's cases of the illness, meanwhile said it would let up to two adults visit another person's home from Friday, relaxing a ban on non-essential movement.

 

"For many people, they've been cooped up in their homes for a number of weeks, and with the exception of exercising, medical needs or buying what they need to or going to work, many people have been isolated in their homes," NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters in Sydney.

 

"Two adults will be able to go and visit anybody else in their home on the basis of care, on the basis of reducing social isolation and (improving) everybody's mental health."

 

Children were allowed to accompany adults on house visits, and people who were feeling unwell should stay home, Berejiklian added.

 

Australia has avoided the high numbers of deaths seen in other countries as the coronavirus, formally called COVID-19, ravages communities around the world. Economies have also been hit due to strict restrictions on public life that have closed restaurants, bars and sporting events.

 

However, Australian states are starting to relax some restrictions as the local rate of new infections slows to barely 1% per day, compared to 25% a month ago. The country has recorded 6,723 infections and 84 deaths associated with the virus.

 

State governments have set up coronavirus testing centres and are now encouraging people to undergo tests regardless of whether they have symptoms.

 

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who was due to deliver the country's Budget next month but delayed it until October because of the virus response, said he would give a statement about the economic impact of the outbreak in parliament on May 12.

 

(Reporting by Byron Kaye; Editing by Sam Holmes)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-04-28

 

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11 minutes ago, webfact said:

the coronavirus, formally called COVID-19,

What's its latest name?

10 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

What's its latest name?

Colin29

While in Pattaya news today:

Pattaya Police arrest 12 Thais and eleven foreigners for violating Emergency Decree to stay out of public areas such as beaches and parks

 

When will Chonburi Pattaya open beaches?

 

 

 

 

Edited April 28, 20206 yr by OnTheGround

58 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

What's its latest name?

Hoax 19

Just waiting for the libraries to reopen.

Open everything!! Everyone in the sun and sea. It's good for the health - children in particular. Open everything and dig into commerce. The virus will soon be forgotten. What second wave?? Who said that?  There will be NONE!!

11 hours ago, webfact said:

New South Wales state, which is home to nearly half of Australia's cases of the illness, meanwhile said it would let up to two adults visit another person's home from Friday, relaxing a ban on non-essential movement.

Does this overturn the ban on non-essential travel within NSW? Could I drive 300km to visit my sister in Sydney?

So far, I’ve been forced to visit a farmers’ market to provide an excuse for giving my car a good long run. Would have preferred not to get out of the car, just go for a drive, but to make the trip legal have had to stop at the market and buy a bag of veggies, while mixing with a couple of hundred people.

10 hours ago, CygnusX1 said:

Does this overturn the ban on non-essential travel within NSW? Could I drive 300km to visit my sister in Sydney?

 

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/apr/28/nsw-new-south-wales-coronavirus-restrictions-partially-lifted-to-allow-limited-visiting

Wow, thanks for that. Anywhere in NSW! Big change from not even being able to go for a short drive.