Skip to main content
. 2020 Aug 18;99:95–119. doi: 10.1016/j.tranpol.2020.08.004

Table 1.

Summarising key events in ongoing COVID-19 timeline.

11-Apr-20 QLD Borders Tighten Entry passes required including for QLD residents VIC and NSW borders remain open; all others remain closed
14-Apr-20 COVIDSafe Announced Development of COVID-19 track and trace app announced
21-Apr-20 Medical Easing Restrictions on elective surgery will gradually ease from Tuesday 28 April
26-Apr-20 COVIDSafe Launched Uptake reaches 5 million by 5th of May (plateaus at this approx. number)
27-Apr-20 WA Easing (1) Indoor and outdoor non-work gatherings of 10
Outdoor training and recreational activities
28-Apr-20 SA Easing (1) Non-work gatherings of up to 10
Cafes and restaurants open limit of 10
1-May-20 NT Easing (1) Non-work gatherings of up to 10, Cafes and restaurants open limit of 10
Outdoor gathering restrictions relaxed, access given to NT Parks and Reserves
2-May-20 QLD Easing (1) Gatherings in home of up to 5 guests, limit of 10 on outdoor and large spaces
Recreational travel up to 150 km from home, cafes and restaurants open limit of 10
8-May-20 COVIDSafe Plan National Cabinet announces nationwide 3 step guidelines for easing restrictions
11-May-20 Schools Partially Reopen Most schools across Australia open for attendance of at least one day per week
15-May-20 NT Easing (2) Almost all activities resume, limited to 2 h and 4sqm rule applies
NSW Easing (1) Gatherings in homes of up to 5 guests, outdoor gatherings of up to 10
Cafes and restaurants can seat 10, places of worship open with limit of 10
18-May-20 WA Easing (2) Indoor and outdoor non-work gatherings of 20
Cafes, Restaurants, Pubs, Bars open with 20-person limit (with 4sqm rule)
TAS Easing (1) Gatherings in homes of up to 5 guests, outdoor gatherings of up to 10
Cafes and restaurants can seat 10, outside gyms allowed up to 10 people
19-May-20 100 Deaths Nationally
25-May-20 Schools Fully Reopen Most schools across Australia open for fulltime attendance
1-Jun-20 NSW Easing (3) Pubs, clubs, cafes, and restaurants limit of 50 customers
QLD Easing (2) Gatherings of up to 20 in homes and public spaces, gyms and non-contact sport allowed, Museums and galleries open, no limit on recreational travel
SA Easing (2) Non-work gatherings of up to 20
Cafes and restaurants open limit of 20, pubs and clubs remain closed
VIC Easing (1) Up to 20 people can gather at homes, indoor, outdoor, or public space gatherings
Cafes, Restaurants, Pubs, Bars open with 2 person limit (with 4sqm rule)
5-Jun-20 NT Easing (3) All but 4sqm resumes, some small venues allowed 2sqm per person
TAS Easing (2) Gatherings increase to 20 people at a time for indoor and outdoor
Visitors to households increase to 10 people at any one time
6-Jun-20 WA Easing (3) Revision of spacing to 2sqm, non-work gatherings limited to 200
Venues with appropriate space limit of 300, gyms, cinemas and galleries reopen
22-Jun-20 VIC Easing (2) Cafes, Restaurants, Pubs, Bars, museums, galleries have 50-person limit
Cinemas, concert venues, theatres open with limit of 50 (with 4sqm rule)
26-Jun-20 TAS Easing (3) Gatherings at households remain limited to up to 20 people
Space require now 2sqm, upper limit of 250 indoors and 500 outdoors
27-Jun-20 WA Easing (4) All existing gathering limits and the 100/300 rule removed
All events permitted except for large scale, multi-stage music festivals
29-Jun-20 SA Easing (3) No limit on non-work gatherings other than 4sqm rule
2sqm rule may apply to smaller venues, nightclubs remain closed
1-Jul-20 NSW Easing (4) All businesses, can reopen with exception of night clubs
No limit of numbers other than 4sqm rule being observed