Lockdowns lifted for some states and territories

States and territories around the country have been thrust into lockdown as they fight a nationwide outbreak of COVID-19.

Restrictions have eased across some areas, but a number of rules still remain in place.

Here is the latest state-by-state rundown on border restrictions and lockdowns from around the country.

NEW SOUTH WALES

Anyone living in the Greater Sydney region is currently subject to a two-week stay-at-home order.

Residents are only able to leave their homes for essential reasons including grocery shopping, exercise, receiving medical care and essential work and education that cannot be done from home.

In regional NSW, only five visitors are allowed at a home at once, a 20 person limit applies to gyms and singing and dancing at indoor venues is not permitted.

Dancing is allowed at weddings for the bridal party only (no more than 20 people) and a maximum of 100 people are allowed at funerals.

Here's a full breakdown of what you can and can't do in NSW.

Service NSW QR codes are also being made mandatory at all workplaces and retail businesses from July 12 to aid contact tracers with a rapidly growing list of exposure sites across the city.

In addition, NSW has introduced new travel rules for anyone arriving from the Northern Territory, Queensland or Western Australia.

Anyone travelling to NSW who has been in those areas in the previous 14 days must complete a declaration form.

"Do not travel to NSW if you have attended a venue of concern as close contacts must isolate immediately, get tested and remain in isolation for 14 days, and contact the relevant health authorities in their state or territory," NSW Health said.

Those still permitted to travel to NSW from Wednesday and have been in areas that are subject to lockdown measures, must follow the stay-at-home orders in place in NSW for 14 days after being in the lockdown area.

The declaration form is available on the Service NSW website, and can be completed in the 24-hour period before entering NSW or on arrival.

VICTORIA

Victoria has paused its easing of restrictions for seven days as the rest of the country battles coronavirus outbreaks.

Private household gatherings are currently capped at 15 people including dependents and public gatherings can occur with a maximum of 50 people.

Masks are required to be worn indoors and outdoors when social distancing is not possible.

Health Minister Martin Foley said while the state had originally planned to wind back restrictions on July 1, allowing full capacity at theatres and 85 per cent capacity at stadiums, the easing had been postponed.

"We are not increasing restrictions, as other states around the Australian mainland are, but what we are doing is holding them where they are," Mr Foley said.

melbourne

Victoria has also tightened border controls with neighbouring states in lockdown.

Eleven Queensland Local Government Areas (LGAs) which were in a three-day snap lockdown - spanning from the Gold Coast to Townsville - are now classed as red zones.

The Perth and Peel regions have also been marked as red zones.

READ MORE: Victoria puts travel restrictions on parts of Queensland, WA

A red zone classification means people are banned from entering Victoria unless they are Victorian residents who are willing to quarantine for 14 days.

All arrivals into Victoria must apply for a travel permit even if they are entering from a green zone.

Exceptions and exemptions are listed on Victoria's travel permit website.

Darwin has also been declared a red zone, along with large parts of NSW.

QUEENSLAND

Queensland's three-day lockdown for Greater Brisbane and Moreton Bay regions will end at 6pm today, despite the state recording five new local cases of coronavirus.

The two LGAs were forced into an extended lockdown while contact tracers worked to identify new exposure sites.

Other lockdowns in the state already ended for LGAs including Noosa, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Logan, Redlands, Gold Coast, Scenic Rim, Lockyer Valley, Somerset and Townsville.

Mask mandates still remain in place for affected LGAs.

Residents must wear a face covering at public indoor settings including aged care facilities, hospitals and supermarkets.

READ MORE: Queensland records three new cases of COVID-19

In addition to domestic restrictions, anyone who has visited Greater Sydney is also subject to the stay-at-home order currently in place in NSW.

The LGAs of Waverley, Woollahra, Randwick and the City of Sydney have also been declared a COVID-19 hotspot, backdated to June 11.

Anyone who has been in these LGAs will not be allowed to enter Queensland, unless they are a returning Queensland resident or have an exemption.

Anyone allowed to enter will need to go into hotel quarantine for a period of two weeks.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

South Australia has eased restrictions put in place one week ago.

SA Premier Steven Marshall said mask requirements and density limits would be lifted immediately.

Home gatherings in SA will return to 200 people but a COVID marshal and check-in codes will be required for gatherings of that size. Dancing and singing will return, as will drinking while standing up.

Licensed venues are back to 75 per cent capacity and the three people per four square metre rule returns. Buffets and shisha bars are no longer banned.

The COVID-19 safe rules were introduced after a miner returning from the Northern Territory and his family all tested positive to the virus.

Mr Marshall has also said Victorians entering the state were no longer required to get tested and isolate until returning a negative test result.

READ MORE: When will Sydney's lockdown end? Race to lower case numbers as deadline nears

https://twitter.com/sagovau/status/1411890776338964486?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

A hard border remains in place with NSW, the ACT, NT, WA and Queensland.

Currently there is no expected change with New South Wales as the state continues to record a significant number of daily coronavirus cases.

"The transition committee will meet again this Thursday to look at the borders particularly with Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland but we are very pleased with the way that the situation is moving," Mr Marshall said.

NORTHERN TERRITORY

The Northern Territory's lockdown has ended for the Top End and Alice Springs, Chief Medical Officer Michael Gunner has announced.

From 1pm today there are now no restrictions on the reasons to leave home if you live in Greater Darwin or Alice Springs but some restrictions remain in place until 1pm on July 9.

The following rules and restrictions will remain in place:

  • Travel will be permitted across the Territory.
  • Face masks must be worn when you are unable to physically distance – this includes at places like the supermarket, shops and hairdresser. Workers who come into close contact with patrons, or who work in crowded environments will need to wear a mask.
  • Up to 10 people can visit your home at a time.
  • Restaurants, cafes and pubs will re-open for seated service only. Patrons will be required to wear a mask when they go to the bar to order.
  • Big events must have the Territory Check-In QR Code system in place and be able to comply with physical distancing and mask-wearing requirements.
  • No contact sports. Indoor exercise including at gyms, Zumba, barre, pilates and yoga studios will remain closed.
  • Places of worship will open. Masks must be worn and physical distancing applied.
  • Schools, vacation care and childcare centres will open.

The Territory has also introduced border restrictions, with Perth and Peel now considered hotspots in terms of travel to the NT.

All areas in Queensland currently lockdown are also now declared hotspots.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Restrictions in Perth and Peel will be eased as planned from midnight tonight after Western Australia recorded no new coronavirus cases.

Masks will still be mandatory indoors but won't be outside where physical distancing is possible or when undertaking vigorous exercise.

There is a 30 person limit in all homes and indoor private gatherings, while outside that limit is extended to 150.

Indoor and outdoor fitness classes will resume. Weddings and funerals will be allowed to go ahead with up to 150 guests. Outdoor gatherings can take place with up to 150 people without a COVID event plan.

Places of worship can open as long as the two square metre rule and 150 person limit is observed. Hospital patients and residents in aged or disability care can have four personal visitors per day.

https://twitter.com/MarkMcGowanMP/status/1411913164799676417

Masks will still be mandatory for staff and visitors at major West Australian stadiums such as Optus Stadium and RAC Arena, which can operate at 50 per cent capacity.

Seated entertainment venues like theatres, concert halls and cinemas will be able to operate at a maximum 50 per cent capacity.

Anyone who has been in the Perth or Peel regions since Sunday June 27 and has travelled to another region must also wear a mask to the above locations.

There are still exposure sites listed on the WA Health website where people must get tested and monitor for symptoms.

Queensland is classified as medium-risk with travellers now required to have an exemption to cross the border.

Returning WA travellers will be granted an exemption on compassionate grounds but must still undergo 14 days of quarantine.

A hard border is in place for people from New South Wales.

ACT

Face masks are now required in certain public settings within the ACT.

While there is currently no community transmission, masks will add another line of defence as we work to keep COVID-19 out of Canberra.

The ACT has now declared NSW, the NT, Queensland, Victoria and New Zealand as areas of concern.

A health worker at the Bondi covid testing site.

Non-ACT residents who have been in the Greater Sydney, Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour regions of NSW are not permitted to travel into the ACT unless they have an approved exemption.

The same restrictions apply to people in the NT and Queensland who have visited listed exposure sites.

In addition, anyone hoping to travel from Victoria into the ACT will need to complete an online declaration form within 24 hours prior to arrival.

TASMANIA

From 2pm AEST July 5, Tasmania will remove the high risk declaration for Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

The lifting means people from those areas can travel to Tasmania without quarantining.

There are still specific premises in WA and the NT which are considered high risk.

A decision on visitors from Queensland is expected later today.

Most NSW residents are restricted from entering Tasmania unless approved as an essential traveller.

The state has also closed its borders to Greater Darwin and most of Greater Sydney.

Anyone who has been in any of the NSW LGAs listed as high-risk on or since June 21 have been told to isolate immediately and arrange a COVID-19 test.

"You need to be tested at least five days after you left the high-risk LGA and will be able to leave isolation if you receive a negative result," the health department said in its latest alert.

Anyone who has visited a high-risk LGA, including returning Tasmanians, is no longer able to enter Tasmania unless approved as an essential traveller.

For the NT, Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield have also been listed as high risk with travel restrictions now in place.

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