The road out: What the end of the lockdown could look like as one Australian territory announces pubs and cafes will open in TWO WEEKS after blitzing coronavirus
- The Northern Territory will allow outdoor weddings and funerals from Friday
- Restaurants, cafes and bars will be able to reopen from Friday, May 15
- Waterparks, swimming pools, tennis courts and golf courses will also reopen
- The territory's active coronavirus cases dwindled down to just three
- Twenty-five people who contracted the virus have already recovered
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
The Northern Territory may have provided a road map for ending Australia's COVID-19 lockdown as pubs and bars are given the all clear to reopen in just two weeks.
The government has earmarked mid-May as a potential time to ease nationwide restrictions as Australia continues to obliterate the curve.
There are just three active cases of coronavirus in the territory and none in the ACT. South Australia hasn't recorded a new case in eight days and the NT have gone three weeks without an infection.
Despite the success, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has warned life would not return to a pre-virus normal for at least 18 months.
The 'road out' of the nationwide lockdown would likely first include easing restrictions dictating whether or not people can socialise outdoors.
This graph shows how active cases of coronavirus are dwindling while the number of recovered patients are growing
A large group are seen enjoying the sun at McKenzies Beach on April 25 (pictured) which is still against the rules in NSW as it is neither exercise nor essential
The government in the Top End on Thursday released a comprehensive exit strategy detailing how they proposed to ease distancing laws without reintroducing the virus.
Outdoor weddings and funerals with unlimited guests will be allowed from Friday, while restaurants, cafes and bars will reopen from May 15.
Patrons will be able to enjoy a drink, but only with a meal.
From Saturday, playgrounds, pools and parks will re-open allowing people to use them as long as they adhere to social distancing guidelines and stay 1.5 metres apart.
Fishing, golf and tennis are all also allowed again, and open house inspections will begin on Saturday.
Galleries, museums, gyms and beauty parlours will also open then, but facials won't be allowed until June 5.
Pictured: Last drinks at the Pyrmont Bridge Hotel in Sydney before bars closed on March 23. They could soon reopen
The Northern Territory will allow outdoor weddings and funerals with unlimited guests from Friday, while restaurants, cafes and bars will be able to reopen from May 15
Chief Minister Michael Gunner announced the plan on Thursday, as the territory's active coronavirus cases dwindled down to just three
Some limitations will still apply, with venues required to complete a safety plan to ensure physical distancing and good hygiene.
Patrons will only be able to stay in the venue for a maximum of two hours.
The national cabinet is preparing a 'road out' for the virus, and will next discuss easing some of the restrictions introduced to slow the spread in mid-May.
Most academics argue that social and economic restrictions should be wound back slowly and gradually rather than removed all at once.
The eased rules in NT could provide a blueprint for other jurisdictions due to make critical decisions about restarting economic and social activity in coming weeks.
But after the last cabinet meeting, Mr Morrison acknowledged Australians still had a 'difficult road ahead' despite the apparent success in flattening the curve nationally.
The Australian Capital Territory has effectively eradicated the virus all together, while South Australia has gone eight consecutive days with no new cases.
'We have stayed ahead of it, we've got to keep ahead of it,' he said.
Beachgoers could soon be able to sunbathe under eased coronavirus lockdown restrictions
A sign telling people to 'surf and go' is seen at Sydney's Bondi Beach (pictured on April 28), with residents only allowed on beaches for essential exercise
South Australia has enjoyed seven consecutive days with no new coronavirus cases
'I know it's a very anxious thing for Australians. When they see the really good result they go, can't we all just go back to how it was?'
The prime minister cited the experience of other countries which lifted restrictions too early, like Singapore and Germany. They later experienced a second wave of the infection.
'But let's look to the experience of what happened overseas. If you ease off too quickly too early, then you end up making the situation even worse and I don't just mean in the health terms.
'If you move too early and the health response gets out of control, then the economic consequences will be even worse.'
On March 31, Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and the ACT ordered residents to stay at home except for shopping, exercise, work and school and medical reasons.
Gatherings of more than two people will also be allowed under new eased restrictions
These rules could be relaxed to allow low-risk behaviour such as sunbathing and shopping with good social distancing.
But Professor James Wood, from UNSW's school of public health, told Daily Mail Australia travel would likely be the furthest thing from our government's minds.
'I think Australia will keep the travel bans and quarantine in place at least until the European and North American epidemics have subsided because that's where almost all our cases have come from.
'You can't expect the epidemics in Europe and North America to pass for two to three months. And then the issue is that it's everywhere else in the world now.'
The Northern Territory said their windback of lockdown has been a long time coming, after actively monitoring the cases for weeks.
At the moment, the territory's active COVID-19 cases have dwindled to just three. Twenty-five people who contracted the virus have already recovered.
The nation's coronavirus cases have fallen below 1,000 to 986 for the first time March 20.
'It's because of [Territorians] that we are safest place in Australia, and it's because of them that we can start moving to a new normal before the rest of Australia,' Chief Minister Michael Gunner said.
Mr Gunner said the success of the staged lifting of restrictions will depend on Territorians 'being the best they can be'.
He has briefed Scott Morrison and will attend National Cabinet today to explain the plan to other state and territory leaders.
The plan will include a timeline for businesses with dates and details for when they can restart.
Earlier this week the Chief Minister announced some of the NT's parks and reserves would reopen for swimming, camping and hiking for the May Day long weekend on May 4.
The NT's low number of coronavirus cases has prompted the lifting of restrictions, however border closures are set to remain in place indefinitely.
The NT government was the second to lock down its domestic borders, after Tasmania, and later forced arrivals to pay $2,500 for their hotel quarantine.
NT Health in late March told Daily Mail Australia its aggressive contact tracing program meant it knew of and had isolated every case and their close contacts.
All new cases since then were arrivals from interstate, or cruise ship passengers housed at a former workers' camp in Darwin.
Australia's death toll sits at 91 after an 86-year-old died in Tasmania's northwest.
More than 5,600 of the 6,746 people diagnosed with coronavirus nationally have recovered.
The NT's low number of coronavirus cases has prompted the lifting of restrictions, however border closures are set to remain in place indefinitely
