Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, Morrison touched on a wide range of topics in relation to the pandemic and Australia’s response.

Here’s what you need to know:

We are still “in the middle” of the crisis

Morrison said Australia is still “in the middle” of beating the virus, despite having less than 2500 active cases nationwide.

He acknowledged the restrictions are testing the patience of Australians but declared that we need to “stick to our plan”.

Morrison said restrictions will be eased once certain markers are met.

The prerequisites for easing restrictions are:

  • An effective rate of transmission under one
  • A testing, tracing and response capability on the ground

Some restrictions on elective surgery will be lifted

Morrison confirmed all Category 2 elective surgeries will reopen, including IVF and joint replacement surgery for children under the age of 18.

Other procedures to have restrictions lifted include eye procedures, endoscopy and colonoscopies, post-cancer procedures such as breast reconstruction and some dental work including fitting dentures and braces.

“Priority will be given, with this re-opening, on the basis of clinical determinations by the relevant health professionals and that will occur in both the public and private system,” Morrison said.

A review will take place on May 11 as to whether further restrictions on elective surgeries will be lifted.

The four-square-metre rule does not apply to classrooms

Morrison re-iterated that the four-square-metre rule to ensure social distancing does not apply to classrooms, as schools begin to reopen for Term 2.

“That is not the advice and any suggestion that this is a requirement for schools is not the case,” he said.

The prime minister said the recommendation was for smaller class sizes, not smaller classrooms.

Healthy people can visit relatives in aged care homes

Morrison announced that in cases where states have imposed restrictions on all visits to aged care homes, they will be lifted so that there can be two visits per day by close relatives and support people.

“There is great concern that the isolation of elderly people in residential care facilities where they have been prevented from having any visitors from loved ones and support people is not good for their wellbeing, is not good for their health and so the national cabinet agreed that there needs to be a strong reminder that the national cabinet decision was to not shut people off or to lock them away in their rooms,” he said.

But Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy doubled down on advice to aged care facilities and residents, warning that anyone with “the slightest respiratory issue” should not attend.

Professor Murphy said anybody who work at an aged care facility is eligible for a COVID-19 test and the government is aware of the risk of outbreaks in homes.

Mobile tracing app will be here soon

Morrison said national cabinet has provided “in principle” support for the government’s coronavirus mobile tracing app.

He confirmed the will be released in the “not too distant future” but didn’t give a date.

“There are still a few more hurdles for it to clear as we address the many issues associated but it was seen as an important tool for many to help health workers in states and territories in the important work of determining contacts of those who may have been in close proximity to people who have contracted coronavirus,” he said.

“This does three things: firstly, it protects Australians in their own health and those of their own family by participating in this process; secondly, it helps other Australians to keep them safe; and, thirdly, it ensures that we can more effectively get back to a more normal setting where we have widespread take-up of this app and we will say more about that when we are in a position to launch the app in the not-too-distant future.”

Australia currently has 6625 confirmed coronavirus cases, while the national death toll stands at 71.