Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria will all further ease social distancing restrictions for businesses, venues and public spaces from today.
The more flexible restrictions – which differ across the states – will mean more movement in public places, including pubs, cafes and restaurants.
But authorities continue to urge the public to practise safe hygiene and social distancing measures.
From midday today, Queenslanders will be able to travel statewide, while pubs, clubs, restaurants and cafes will be allowed to seat up to 20 people.
The state brought forward the next easing of restrictions by almost two weeks after zero new cases were announced for the third straight day on Sunday.
The changes include 20 spectators being allowed to attend community sporting fields, while gyms will also reopen.
The state’s strict border closure will remain in place.
In NSW, 50 people will be allowed in pubs, clubs, cafes from today, while beauty salons will open to 10 clients at a time.
Museums, libraries, zoos and aquariums will reopen today, while holiday travel inside state boundaries will also be permitted.
Up to 20 people can attend weddings, 50 at funerals and 50 at places of worship.
In Victoria, indoor and outdoor gatherings will be increased to 20 people from Monday.
This applies to cafes, restaurants, beauty salons, tattoo parlours, museums, public libraries and outdoor gyms.
The maximum of wedding guests will rise from 10 to 20, with up to 50 at outdoor funerals.
At eateries, the requirements demand 1.5m between tables and collection of patrons' contact details to assist in rapid contract tracing should any become unwell with the virus.
Premier Daniel Andrews has urged people to continue to work from home for June if possible.
Today, venues can have up to 80 patrons in South Australia, provided they are contained to groups of 20 in separate rooms or areas.
Dining and drinking at cafes and restaurants is allowed, currently with up to 10 customers indoors and 10 outdoors.
Customers will be permitted to drink alcohol without having to buy food.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Nick Coatsworth said the lifting of restrictions is a balancing act between the socio-economic benefit from their removal and the public health risk.
“We’re taking a deliberately safe and cautious approach,” Professor Coatsworth told reporters in Canberra on Sunday.
“Most importantly we’re taking the time to gather the data over the coming weeks to determine whether it’s safe to move to the next round of lifting restrictions.”
Almost 7200 Australians have tested positive for coronavirus, with over 1.45 million tests conducted.
Some 478 virus cases remain active across the country, while the death toll sits at 103.
More than 62 per cent of the nation’s confirmed cases have been acquired overseas since January 22.
With AAP
