Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced a three-step plan that will see clubs and pubs reopening across Australia by July.
Under step one, pubs, clubs, cafes and restaurants may open and seat up to 10 patrons at one time, maintaining 4sqm spacing per person. Step two would increase capacity to 20 patrons, and 100 patrons by step three.
Seated restaurants in pubs and clubs could start in stage one under the 10-person limit but “they may well not”, chief medical officer Brendan Murphy said, noting “that would be a pretty small restaurant”.
“Similarly in step two, they can still do seated dining,” he said.
“The general view is that, with the exception of the Northern Territory, which is moving forward more quickly, that it will be level three before bars, nightclub-type venues and gaming-type venues without seated dining would be open.”
South Australian Premier Steven Marshall has announced restaurants and cafes will be allowed to have outdoor dining for up to 10 people, but with appropriate social distancing, from May 11.
RSLs will be open, but not for meals and bar service
On Friday, May 15, Northern Territory sees pubs reopening and allowing visits to licensed venues for a maximum of two hours.
Territorians can attend bars, pubs, sports or RSL clubs (alcohol allowed with the consumption of food). However, gaming activities will not be permitted and strict social distancing rules will still apply.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said from Saturday, May 16, Queenslanders would be able to dine in at restaurants, pubs, clubs and RSLs. However, only 10 patrons would be permitted at a time
Those in outback areas would have more freedom, with up to 20 people allowed in restaurants and cafes.
From June 13, if all goes to plan, the restrictions will ease further to allow pubs and eateries a maximum of 20 patrons, the Premier said.
Western Australia has raised the number of people allowed at indoor or outdoor gatherings to 10, and announced it would unveil its full plan on easing restrictions by the end of the weekend.
Victoria and NSW, however, will wait until next week before making any decisions.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said more testing is needed before his government decides what restrictions will be eased and when.
“When I have more to say about cafes and restaurants, about gatherings, inside and outside, when I have more to say about all the elements of that top line in that three-stage framework, I will do that. And that process will begin on Monday,” he said.
From May 18, up to 10 people will be allowed in Tasmanian restaurants and cafes, including venues located in RSLs and clubs. However, only table service is allowed, with social distancing.
The ACT is allowing outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people from Saturday, but dining at restaurants and cafes will not restart immediately.
Expert panel reviews plan to reopen pubs
Earlier this week a set of recommendations were provided to the Australian Government by the Australian Hotels Association and the Restaurant and Catering Industry Association for licensed venues including pubs reopening.
The proposals were passed to a medical expert panel to be assessed.
The AHA’s proposal suggested two stages on reopening bars and restaurants.
Stage One would require people in venues to stand 1.5 metres away from each other. Menus would either be single use or covered in plastic and regularly cleaned. If feasible, food might also have to be ordered via a mobile device.
Bollards or markings on the floor have been proposed make bar service orderly. Venues are being encouraged to have a single entry and single exit point to stop people walking into each other with possible identification recordings on entering and temperature checks.
Additionally venues will encourage the use of the COVIDsafe app
No communal free food, such as snacks like chips or peanuts, would be offered. Buffets and communal cutlery trays would also be off the menu.
Staff would receive increased training in safe work health practices with increased cleaning at “all touch points” – such as handrails, tables and chairs. If possible, they would also have daily temperature checks.
Each venue would also have a nominated hygiene, capacity and distancing officer.
