Western Australia is the latest state to gently wind back coronavirus restrictions, after Queensland made a similar announcement over the weekend.
From Monday, indoor and outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people will now be allowed, even if they’re non-essential.
This means people can now start having picnics, weddings and open houses again, while boot camps will also be allowed to run in groups.
However, restaurants and cafes will still be takeaway-only for the time being. Meanwhile, playgrounds, skateparks and outdoor gym equipment will remain closed.
So while you can’t go out for dinner with mates, you can invite them over if you’re willing to cook for them yourself.
The state government said the relaxed rules are intended to spark economic activity and “ensure family and friends can stay connected during the pandemic”.
“The economic impact of these restrictions has been devastating, our economic situation remains dire,” Premier Mark McGowan said.
“The state government together with the federal government, continues to do what we can to help us get to the other side of this pandemic.
“When this all started, we said COVID-19 was going to be like a war, a war we have never seen before, and Western Australia and Western Australians have risen to the challenge and we must stay focused.”
Despite the gradual easing of restrictions, the state government is still advising people not to leave the house except to go shopping, to go to work, to study, to exercise or for medical purposes.
There have been 549 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Western Australia as of April 26th, and health authorities are warning people not to let their guard down just yet.
