Restrictions on beaches, home visits released
Australia’s most populous state has recently said that 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. On Tuesday, Bondi beach and two neighboring beaches in Sydney were opened, reversing a local government decision to close them following earlier criticism about large crowds that apparently violated social distancing rules.
Ban on Non-essential Movement relaxed
Meanwhile, New South Wales State, which is home to nearly half of Australia’s cases said it would let up to two adults visit another person’s home from Friday, relaxing a ban on non-essential movement. 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 also allowed to accompany adults on house visits, and people who were feeling unwell were advised to stay home. “For many people, they have 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,” said NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
Dampened spread of COVID-19 in Australia
Unlike the other countries, Australia has avoided the high number of deaths due to COVID-19. The pandemic has ravaged communities around the world. Major economies have also been hit due to strict restrictions on public life. However, states in Australia are starting to relax some restrictions as local rate of new infections slows to merely 1 percent per day, compared to 25 per cent a month ago. As of 28th March, the country has recorded 6723 infections and 84 deaths due to the virus. The state governments have set up coronavirus testing centres and are now encouraging people to undergo tests regardless of whether they have symptoms.
