PM says a decision on lifting restrictions will be made next Friday.
Today PM Scott Morrison announced that Australians have been so successful in flattening the coronavirus curve that they have earned an “early mark” and restrictions could start to be eased as early as next week.
The Prime Minister said the National Cabinet had agreed to consider easing strict shutdown measures from May 8, a week earlier than originally planned and said that National Cabinet hasn't been considering any additional restrictions for some weeks.
The PM also hinted that we could see kids out on the sporting field sooner rather than later saying “A series of principles have been created to determine how sport will be able to start back up in a staged recommencement."
The Prime Minister also said these principles will be discussed next week and that community-level sport may not be completely synchronised with elite sport.
The PM also said that the downloading of the COVIDSafe app could be the solution to freeing up a lot of restrictions.
"The degree to which we can confidently ease restrictions depends on how many people download the COVIDSafe app." The PM said
"We don't want to have to go back, to respond to an outbreak that gets out of control.
"The question that remains uncertain is the degree to which we can get the COVIDSafe app downloaded."
"The higher the number of people who have downloaded the app, then the safer you are," the Prime Minister said.
“Moving forward, hand washing will remain incredibly important, as will putting your own health first, and downloading the COVIDSafe app. “
Professor Murphy says we can expect many social-distancing measures to remain in the aftermath of the pandemic.
"There will continue to be limits on people in rooms, but wherever you go, however you interact, you'll need to practise social-distancing.
"I think we'll all be washing our hands how we have been for the rest of our lives."
