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MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Australia’s most populous states refrained from easing COVID-19 restrictions on Saturday, even as some states allowed small gatherings and prepared to open restaurants in line with the federal government’s three-stage plan to reopen businesses .
Prime Minister Scott Morrison outlined plans on Friday to remove most curbs in July in a three-step process to get nearly 1 million people back to work as the country reduced new COVID-19 infections. less than 20 per day with strict locks. .
Australia’s total deaths from COVID-19 remain just below 100.
The nation’s capital Canberra and some states on Saturday allowed people to start visiting each other again, with indoor and outdoor gatherings, including weddings, of up to 10 people allowed.
In South Australia, outdoor dining in restaurants and cafes will be allowed from Monday for up to 10 people, and in the Northern Territory, pubs, bars and restaurants will reopen next Friday.
However, the states of New South Wales and Victoria, which account for more than half of the country’s population and nearly two-thirds of the country’s COVID-19 cases, plan to outline plans to ease trade restrictions just next week.
New South Wales Health Minister Brad Hazzard said Saturday that about 300,000 people were screened for coronaviruses in the state, and while 3,000 of them tested positive, 82% of them have already recovered.
Before Mother’s Day on Sunday, Hazzard urged people not to let their guard down on social distancing and handwashing when they visit their mothers.
“It’s really hard not being able to hug your mother or kiss her, but it would be the wisest course not to do that,” said Hazzard.
Many nursing homes across the country began allowing limited visits this weekend, some requiring temperature checks and testing for flu shots before allowing visitors a strict 1.5-meter (4.9-foot) social distancing.
While schools reopened last week in Western Australia and South Australia, the state of Queensland prepared to send kindergarten, year 1, 11, and 12 students to school on Monday.
“I have a very excited first grade student who cannot wait to go to school at home and I am sure there are many, many other children and mothers eager to return to school,” said the Queensland Minister of Health, Steven Miles. he told reporters on Saturday.
Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, Australia’s fourth largest bank, told staff it was preparing for a phased return to work, with no more than 35% of its people in the office at any time.
New Zealand reported two new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, bringing the country’s total to 1,492 cases. There have been 21 coronavirus-related deaths.
(Report by Sonali Paul; Raju Gopalakrishnan Edition)
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