Scott Morrison, Australia’s Prime Minister, said on Friday that the country will have a three-phase lockdown release in an attempt to restart the economy by July.
“The next step beyond this will be to build confidence and momentum that will see our economy get back up and running and get Australians back up on their feet and moving ahead with confidence,” said Morrison.
The first phase will involve reopening of all educational institutions, cafes, restaurants and retail outlets. This phase will also include allowing up to 30 people in funerals, and a maximum of 10 people at weddings. Phase two will involve the reopening of cinemas and galleries, with up to 20 people, while also reopening small-scale sporting events and beauty salons. The third phase will ensure the complete release of lockdown.
Morrison said there would be no strict timeline for the measures, with states and territories allowed to enact them at their own pace, but that the goal would be to move through all of the steps to achieve a “Covid safe economy” by July of this year.
Australia has been under lockdown since March, banning all public gatherings and non-essential travel, along with other restrictions. Due to this, the outbreak has been fairly contained, with the country’s total number of reported cases being 6,913, with 97 fatalities.