COVID-19 Retailer Resource Hub

Restrictions Update

South-East Queensland Restrictions 

Restrictions will ease in all of Queensland from 4pm Friday 27 August 2021. 

Up to 100 people can gather in homes, with no limit for people gathering in public spaces. 

Businesses & Venues (Indoor premises)

Business and venues (including places of worship, convention centres, retail, dining, gyms, hairdressers, beauty and personal care services etc.) are allowed to operate with the following restrictions : 

• Indoor - 1 person per 2sqm or 100% capacity with ticketed and allocated seating with the COVI Safe Checklist. 
• Eating and drinking while standing allowed. 
• No restrictions on self-service food. 

Stadiums & Indoor & Outdoor Events

• 100% allocated seated and ticketed for stadiums
  • Patrons must wear a mask at all times, including when seated.
  • Patrons must be seated to eat and drink. Masks can be removed when eating or drinking.
• 100% allocated seated and ticketed capacity for indoor events or 1 person per 2sqm indoors. 
• No restrictions on outdoor events, however you are encouraged to wear a mask when you are unable to physically distance. 

Ticketed venues: 100% capacity with allocated seating (e.g. theatre, live music, cinemas, indoor sports, universities and other higher education institutions). 

Community sport: no restrictions. 

Mask mandates

Masks must be work when at stadiums, at an airport, and on a domestic or international flight departing or arriving in Queensland. 

South East Queensland - You must carry a face mask with you at all times when you leave home, unless you have a lawful reason not to. Public transport and ride share: must wear a mask including waiting for the transport in a public space such as a bus stop, taxi rank or train station. Outdoors: you must wear a mask when unable to stay 1.5m apart from people who are not part of your household. Indoors: you must wear a mask in indoor spaces (including workplaces, but not in your own home) unless it is unsafe or you can stay 1.5m apart from other people. This includes cafes, restaurants, pubs etc. unless eating or drinking, seated or standing. Schools: masks must be worn by teachers and staff (all schools), plus students in high school.  

Rest of Queensland - Everyone is encouraged to carry and wear a mask when physically distancing is not possible. 

Exceptions

There are some other exceptions to wearing face masks, including for children under 12 (unless they are at school in Grade 7) and people with particular medical conditions or disabilities.

If in doubt, wear a face mask. You must wear a face mask when leaving your home, if you cannot wear a face mask please do not leave your residence.

If you are an essential worker and you cannot wear a face mask due to a medical condition, you are strongly encouraged to stay at home and not go into your workplace, unless you are fully vaccinated.

Check In Qld App

In addition to the hospitality sector, from 1am Friday 9 July, the Check In Qld app will be mandatory for a number of new sectors. 

We note that our list is more prescriptive than what is currently on the Check In Qld app page – this list is what is outlined in the Restrictions on Businesses, Activities and Undertakings Direction. Businesses within a shopping centre require a QR code, and customers need to check in at the shopping centre and each business within the centre.

This includes:

• Retail food services including cafes, restaurants and fast-food outlets. This covers operations that may be part of another business, e.g. a restaurant in a casino or a café in a gallery, or a bar or restaurant at a theme park
• Pubs, licensed clubs, RSL clubs, function centres, bars, wineries, distilleries and microbreweries and licensed premises in hotels
• Venues that attract large crowds, such as stadiums, convention centres, theme parks, concert venues, nightclubs and cinemas
• Shopping centres
• Department stores
• Pharmacies
• Supermarkets, grocers, bakeries, butcher’s shops, fishmongers
• Convenience stores, delicatessens
• Post offices
• Customer service branches of insurers, hardware stores, furniture stores, electrical stores, recreational goods stores, clothing and footwear stores, newsagents, a part of a place engaged in agriculture or industry which sells to the public the produce or products of the business, and indoor and outdoor food, craft or other markets.
• beauty and personal care service, such as hairdressing, beauty therapy and nail services
• indoor events, such as cultural festival and expos
• outdoor events, such as fun runs and fetes
• leisure and recreation facilities, such as gyms, health clubs, indoor sports facilities and indoor pools
• short-term residential facilities such as hotels, boarding houses and short-term holiday rentals
• outdoor recreation, such as caravan parks, camping areas, zoos and aquariums
• public-facing government services, such as customer service counters in government buildings, galleries, museums, libraries and community centres such as recreation halls
• weddings, funerals and places of worship (only required if indoor)
• higher education institutions, such as universities, TAFEs and registered training organisations
• adult entertainment venues
• hospitals, residential aged care, disability service accommodation (applies to visitors, volunteers and contractors, not staff or patients/residents).

Queensland Border Bubble with Regional NSW reinstated

The Queensland Government has reinstated the border bubble with New South Wales where there are no cases, and where lockdowns have been lifted. Students and essential workers will be able to travel from the 12 New South Wales LGAs, where restrictions have eased, into Queensland. It’ll come into effect from 1am on Monday, 13 September 2021.

People crossing the border will still require a border pass and be able to meet certain requirements. 

Metropolitan Melbourne Lockdown 

Metropolitan Melbourne is under lockdown until 70% of the population have had at least one dose of vaccine. This is estimated to be around Thursday 23 September 2021.  

There are only six reasons to leave home:

• Getting the food and supplies you need,
• Exercising for up to two hours (increases to four hours from 11:59pm Friday 17 September),
• Care or caregiving,
• Authorized work or education if you cannot do it from home,
• To get vaccinated at the nearest possible location.
• Outdoor social interaction for up to four hours* (from 11:59pm Friday 17 September 2021).

*Outdoor social interaction means that one person may meet another person not from their household for a picnic, a walk, or another outdoor activity. Additionally, up to five adults (plus dependents) from a maximum of two households will be able to gather outdoors if all adults present have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Shopping and exercise must be done within 5km of your home or the nearest location. From 11:59pm Friday 17 September, this distance will be increased to 10km.

Exercise will be limited to just you and one other person, plus dependents if they cannot be left at home. If you live in a larger household such as a sharehouse, or with extended family, you can no longer exercise with all members of your household. From 11:59pm Friday 17 September 2021, two people will be able to train outdoors with a personal trainer.

Face masks will remain mandatory indoors (not at home) and outdoors unless an exception applies – this includes all workplaces and secondary schools. People will not be able to remove their masks to drink alcoholic beverages in public.

Private gatherings are not permitted except for an intimate partner or nominated person visits. Public gatherings are not permitted, and exercise is limited to two people.

Childcare and Early Childhood Care will remain open. Schools will close, with primary and secondary school students returning to remote learning – except for vulnerable children, and the children of authorised workers who can learn on site.

From 11:59pm Thursday, 2 September 2021, playgrounds will re-open – with strict rules to keep everyone safe. Playgrounds will be for children under 12 with only one parent or carer, and adults should not remove their masks to eat or drink. Playgrounds will also have QR codes for checking in.

In-home care – like babysitters – will also be expanded to school aged children but only if both parents are authorized workers.

At large scale construction sites, staffing must reduce to 25 percent or 5 workers on site, whichever is higher. 

Construction workers will now not be able to cross the metropolitan-regional boundary for work.  Tea rooms will need to close and food or drink will not be able to be consumed indoors at work. Worker shift bubbles must be in practice and all sites will require a COVIDSafe Marshal on site.

Authorised Worker Permits

Permits will be required to leave the house for authorized work for Metropolitan Melbourne and Shepparton.

Authorised workers will be required to carry permits when working, and when travelling for work, from 11:59pm Tuesday 17 August 2021. The permits need to be certified by an employer. Permits will be available on the coronavirus website before these directions come into effect.

Permits will also need to be carried by higher education students who are on the Authorised Provider list.

Curfew Imposed During Lockdown

A curfew that restricts Metropolitan Melbourne residents from leaving the home between 9pm and 5am will be imposed from 11:59pm Monday 16 August 2021 until the population reaches 70% of the first dose of vaccine, estimated to be around Thursday 23 September 2021. 

Metropolitan Melbourne includes: Banyule, Bayside, Boroondara, Brimbank, Cardinia, Casey, Darebin, Frankston, Glen Eira, Greater Dandenong, Hobsons Bay, Hume, Kingston, Knox, Manningham, Maribyrnong, Maroondah, Melbourne, Melton, Monash, Moonee Valley, Moreland, Mornington Peninsula, Nillumbik, Port Phillip, Stonnington, Whitehorse, Whittlesea, Wyndham (except little River), Yarra City, Yarra Ranges.

Retail Trade Restrictions During Lockdown

Non-essential retail will not be permitted to open. Essential providers are classed as:

1. a supermarket, grocery store, bakery, butcher, fruit and vegetable store or fishmonger
2. an indoor or outdoor market, but only to obtain groceries or fresh food
3. a restaurant, café, pub, bar or hotel, whether licensed or unlicensed, but only to the extent that: (a) it provides takeaway meals or drinks or a meal delivery service; or (b) it provides food or drink to the homeless
4. a bottle shop
5. a financial institution
6. consular and diplomatic services; or g. court, tribunal or commission services
7. a post office
8. a news agent
9. a pharmacy
10. a petrol station (including a petrol station that sells groceries)
11. vehicle and mechanical repair services
12. a pet store or veterinary clinic
13. urgent services necessary for the health and safety of any person, animal or premises
14. essential child protection activities
15. a childcare or family day care provider
16. a school, but only to the extent that education services are provided to the child of an essential worker or to vulnerable children
17. a ‘click and collect’ service.

If you work at an essential provider, you are classified as an essential worker and can attend work.

Cafes and restaurants will only be able to offer take-away and delivery services.

Masks

• Anyone 12 years and over must wear a fitted face mask whenever they leave their home, indoors or outdoors, unless a lawful exception applies.
• Face masks do not need to be worn indoors or outdoors if you are working alone unless another person enters that indoor or outdoor space.
• You can remove your mask in a public place when consuming food, medicine or non-alcoholic drinks.
• Face masks are recommended for primary school aged children, but they are not mandatory.

Ballarat 7-Day Lockdown 

From 11:59pm, Wednesday 15 September, 2021, Ballarat will enter a 7-day lockdown.

There are only five reasons to leave home:

• Getting the food and supplies you need,
• Exercising for up to two hours,
• Care or caregiving,
• Authorized work or education if you cannot do it from home,
• To get vaccinated at the nearest possible location.

Other restrictions align with the Metropolitan Melbourne as outlined above, except for the curfew. 

Restrictions eased at 70% vaccination for Metropolitan Melbourne & Ballarat

Due to the incredible efforts of the community in hitting the 70% vaccination target, restrictions will ease from 11:59pm Friday 17 September, 2021: 

• There is another reason to leave home: social interaction. This means one person may meet another person not from their household for a picnic, a walk, or another outdoor activity. Additionally, up to five adults (plus dependents) from a maximum of two households will be able to gather outdoors if all adults present have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
• 5km travel radius is expanded to 10km from your home– including shopping and exercise. If there are no shops within a 10km radius, you will be able to travel to ones closest to you.
• An extra two hours of exercise a day will be permitted – for up to four hours per day.
• Outdoor personal training will be allowed with up to two people plus the trainer.
• Outdoor communal gym equipment and skateparks will reopen.
• Child-minding for school-aged children will be permitted if only one parent is an authorised worker.
• Real estate inspections will resume by appointment only. To ensure they’re COVIDSafe, only people from the same household can attend the inspection appointment and the real estate agent must stay outdoors during the inspection.
• In order to continue working, construction workers state-wide will need to show evidence to their employer that they have had a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by 11:59pm Thursday, 23 September. 
• Up to five people will be able to attend an entertainment venue or physical recreation facility to broadcast a performance, class, or concert.

Read full list of state-wide restrictions here. 

Regional Victoria Restrictions

Lockdown restrictions will be lifted in regional Victoria from 11:59pm Thursday 9 September 2021, meaning the five reasons to leave the home will be removed in regional Victoria. Shepparton comes out of lockdown and joins the rest of regional Victoria from 11:59pm, Wednesday 15 September, 2021. There will be no limit on the distance regional Victorians can travel from home – other than restrictions on entry to metropolitan Melbourne.

The Authorised Worker list will no longer apply in the regions, meaning most businesses and venues can reopen with capacity and density limits. Regional Victorians will return to the rule ‘if you can work from home, you should work from home’ but office workers will be able to return up to 25 per cent or up to 10 people, whichever is greater.

Regional schools will reopen for onsite learning for Prep to Grade 2 and Year 12 students who live in regional Victoria, while remote learning will remain for all other levels. Onsite supervision at schools remains available for vulnerable children and children of essential workers in all year levels, including for students from metropolitan Melbourne.

Funerals will be permitted for up to 20 people and weddings will be permitted for up to 10 people, plus those required to conduct the service. Stricter limits will be in place for both weddings and funerals with people from Melbourne in attendance.

While restrictions remain in metropolitan Melbourne, businesses that are open in regional Victoria – such as restaurants or beauty services – must check the IDs of everyone they serve.

ALL RETAIL

All retail can open with a density quotient of 1 person per 4sqm. Check-in is still mandatory for all patrons. Masks are mandatory at all times and cannot be removed for eating/drinking in retail settings.

HAIRDRESSING, BEAUTY AND PERSONAL CARE

Open with a cap of 10 customers. Masks are mandatory at all times and must remain on for the duration of the service.

HOSPITALITY

Food and drink facility: Open for seated service only with maximum of 20 outdoors and 10 indoors subject to density limits.
Food courts: Open for takeaway service only. Masks must be worn at all times and cannot be removed for eating or drinking in retail settings.

Masks

• Anyone 12 years and over must wear a fitted face mask whenever they leave their home, indoors or outdoors, unless a lawful exception applies.
• Face masks do not need to be worn indoors or outdoors if you are working alone unless another person enters that indoor or outdoor space.
• You can remove your mask in a public place when consuming food, medicine or non-alcoholic drinks.
• Face masks are recommended for primary school aged children, but they are not mandatory.

Restrictions eased at 70% vaccination for Regional Victoria (except Ballarat)

From 11:59pm, Friday 17 September 2021, some restrictions will ease for regional Victoria (with the exception of Ballarat during their lockdown period): 

• gyms and outdoor and indoor pools (excluding spas, saunas and steam rooms) will reopen with limits and hydrotherapy and swimming lessons can occur. 
• Tour buses can operate up to 10 people.
• Construction workers can access priority booking (phone only) and can walk up without a booking for Pfizer during key times at the old Ford Factory in Campbellfield, the former Bunnings in Melton West, Eagle Stadium in Werribee and the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital.

Read full list of state-wide restrictions here. 

You must check-in everywhere you visit using the Service Victoria QR code app, no matter how long you spend at that location.

Transitional restrictions in effect for Perth and Peel

Transitional restrictions are in effect from 12.01am Tuesday, 6 July 2021 until 12.01am Monday, 12 July 2021 for Perth and Peel, as we continue our safe and sensible pathway to pre-lockdown life.  

People should return to work unless they are vulnerable, and mask-wearing requirements remain in place.

Regional travel is permitted with mask-wearing requirements, except to remote Aboriginal communities.

Business and venues

• 150 patron limit and 2sqm rule for:
  • Hospitality
  • Beauty/hairdressing
  • Public venues (swimming pools, recreation centres, outdoor playgrounds, museums)
  • Fitness venues (gyms, pilates, yoga, dance studios). Indoor and outdoor fitness classes permitted, masks mandatory except when doing vigorous exercise  
  • Nightclubs
  • Places of worship. 
• Maximum 50 per cent capacity for:
  • Major stadiums, including Optus Stadium, RAC Arena and HBF Park
  • Seated entertainment venues for performances at theatres, concert halls, and cinemas

Who is required to wear a mask?

In the affected regions face masks must be worn indoors, on public transport, and outdoors if social distancing cannot be observed.

Specifically, face masks must be worn in the following settings

• shopping (retail, supermarkets and shopping centres)
• on public/shared transport and waiting areas for public/shared transport
• weddings and funerals
• while waiting for takeaway food
• at workplaces.

Katherine lockdown extension

Lockdown in the Katherine remains until 12 pm Friday 20 August 2021.

Effective from 12.00pm on Thursday 19 August 2021, the below areas will enter a full lockdown for 24 hours:

• Municipality of Katherine including Tindal

Residents from affected areas must stay at home for the 24-hour lockdown period and people are only permitted to leave home for the following five reasons:

1. Medical treatment, including COVID testing or vaccination
2. For essential goods and services, like groceries and medications
3. For work that is considered essential and cannot be done at home
4. For one hour of outdoor exercise a day within 5 km from your home in the company of no one other than the following:
   • if the person resides alone – one other person
   • if the person does not reside alone – one or more of the other persons residing at the same premises
5. In case of an emergency or if there is family violence or to provide essential care to a loved one or dependent who cannot support themselves and co-parenting arrangements.

For everyone in the lockdown area, masks must be worn if you leave your place of residence for one of these five reasons.

Your place of residence is where you live right now.

Masks must be worn at all times when leaving home.

All businesses, retail outlets, hospitality venues, gyms, pools and community centres are closed. Cafes and restaurants are able to offer take-away and delivery services. Schools will be closed except for the children of essential workers.  Childcare centres will open only for the children of essential workers.

• List of essential workers

Anyone caught breaching directions – including not wearing a mask – faces a $5,000 fine.

Police will be establishing interception points to control travel in and out of these regions.

Territorians in the lockdown areas should not travel – including out of the Territory – unless it is for one of the five reasons.

Non-Territorians in the lockdown areas are permitted to leave the Territory by air only.

It is an offence not to comply with CHO Directions and fines will be issued for those failing to follow lockdown directions.

Greater Darwin lockdown lifting 

Lockdown in the Greater Darwin Area ends at 12pm Thursday 19 August 2021. Restrictions will stay in place after the lockdown lifting until 12pm, Thursday 26 August 2021. 

Restrictions for Greater Darwin

Restrictions will be in place until 12pm on 26 August 2021 for high-risk activities to reduce the risk of COVID-19 in our community. This date has been chosen as it represents one replication cycle, or 14 days from the first positive case in the Territory.

All businesses and places where customers and clients visit need to use a check-in system, like The Territory Check-In App. Pen and paper will still be permitted. You are required to check in everywhere you go, no matter how long you spend at that location.

From 12pm today there will be no restrictions on the reasons to leave home if you live in Greater Darwin but staying COVIDSafe remains important.

Travel

• Travel is permitted outside of Greater Darwin - a mask must be worn when you cannot maintain a physical distance of 1.5m.

Face masks

• Face masks must be worn in public when you cannot maintain a physical distance of 1.5m.
• Wear a mask at places like the supermarket, shopping centre, the hairdresser and beauty salons.  Wear a mask when out for dinner but it can be removed when seated and eating and drinking.
• Masks are not required at work where physical distancing of 1.5m can be applied.
• Workers who come into close contact with patrons, or who work in environments where physical distancing of 1.5m cannot be applied will need to wear a mask. This includes people who work in retail, hospitality, the beauty sector and customer service industries.
• Masks must be worn on public transport, taxis and ride-share services

• You do not need to wear a mask when at home

Visitors at home

• You can have up to 10 people visit your home at a time, not including household members.

Businesses

• All businesses and places where customers and clients visit must use the Territory Check-In App and be able to comply with physical distancing and mask wearing requirements.
• Hospitality venues are open for seated service only. Patrons will be required to wear a mask when they go to the bar to order but this can be removed when seated and eating and drinking.

Gatherings

• Private gatherings may occur including weddings and funerals.
• Physical distancing and mask wearing is required.
• Guests should practice high levels of personal hygiene including hand washing and sanitising.
• Guests should not attend if sick.

Events

• Big events must have a QR Code system in place and be able to comply with physical distancing and mask wearing requirements.
• Markets are a high-risk site and will remain closed.

Sport

• Indoor exercise including at gyms, Zumba, barre, pilates and yoga studios will remain closed.
• Non-contact sports permitted. This includes golf, tennis, cricket and swimming.

Place of Worship

• Places of worship will open. A check-in system should be used, masks must be worn and physical distancing applied.

Education and childcare

• Schools, vacation care and childcare centres will open 20 August 2021. Mask requirements apply to people aged 12 and over.

Testing

It’s important that if you have any symptoms that you get tested for COVID-19, particularly if you have been in the Greater Darwin area since 21 June 2021.

To arrange a COVID test, book online or contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 1800 490 484 and stay isolated until you receive a negative result.

If you have symptoms regardless of where you are living, you are urged to get tested,

A hotline has been established to provide information about the lockdown arrangements: 1800 193 111 operating between 8am – 8pm daily.

Check-in everywhere, every time

The Territory Check-In App will become mandatory for use in all NT businesses, shopping centres, venues and events. Pen and paper will still be permitted. You will be required to check in everywhere you go, no matter how long you spend at that location.

Restrictions and responsibilities

Premier Steven Marshall has announced a 7-day lockdown for South Australia from 6pm on Tuesday, 20 July 2021 until midnight Tuesday, 27 July.

The state will move to Level 5 Public Activity restrictions:

• 1 per 4sqm density limit
• Stay at home unless leaving for one of the five essential reasons; essential work, providing healthcare for a vulnerable person, essential shopping, medical reasons (including vaccination and testing) or to exercise
• Mandatory mask use when outside the home.
• Closure of community activities.
• Masks are essential in all high-risk indoor settings (except school and offices), on public transport and outside where social distancing is not possible.

From 12:01am Wednesday, 28 July 2021, the state will be easing restrictions: 

• Hospitality, retail, construction and all business to reopen
• Density limit of 1 person per 4 sqm
• Seated food and beverage consumption (indoors and outdoors)
• Home and private gatherings maximum 10 people (including
  household members)
• Weddings and funerals maximum 50 people
• Masks required for:
  • High-risk settings, health care services, personal care
    services and on passenger transport services
  • Strongly recommended in other settings where you cannot
    socially distance
• Gyms can reopen with 1 person per 8 sqm
• Schools to reopen.

From 12:01am Thursday, 5 August 2021, the state will be further easing some restrictions: 

• Density limit increases to 50% capacity, a 1 per 2 sqm limit. 
• Gyms will move to a 1 per 4sqm density limit. 

Non-essential retail

Under South Australia’s Level 5 restrictions, the following places are deemed essential retail and are permitted to open:

• a grocery store, supermarket, butcher, bakery, fruit and vegetable store or fishmonger , including delivery services associated with such stores;
• an indoor or outdoor market, but only for the purpose of the sale of groceries or fresh food and not for the purposes of the sale or supply of food or
  beverages prepared on site (whether for consumption on site or take away);
• a restaurant, café, bar, hotel, club or winery but only for the purposes of the provision of takeaway food or beverages or a meal delivery service;
• a bottle shop;
• financial institution;
• a post office;
• newsagent;
• pharmacy;
• hardware store;
• petrol station;
• distribution centre;
• retail good workers supporting the operation of online or phone ordering and collection or delivery of retail orders;
• a pet store;
• a veterinary clinic and related services (such as on farm visits and animal care services), where a genuine animal welfare issue exists or for the
  purpose of artificial insemination of an animal;
• an abattoir, meat, seafood or poultry processing plant.

Personal care services such as hairdressers, barbershops, beauty and nail salons, tattoo parlours, wellness centres/day spas/massage parlours, saunas/bathhouses and any other place which beauty therapy/tanning/waxing/piercing/body modification takes place not permitted. 

COVID SAfe Check-In

All defined public activities and general retail industry premises must have a completed COVID Safe Plan and have an approved contact tracing system enabled.

All people entering the place must upload their relevant contact details to the approved contact tracing system. This upload is automatic when you use the COVID SAfe Check-In to scan the QR code.

For more information, visit the COVID Safe Checkin page.

Activities that require a COVID Marshal

A COVID Marshal is required for the following prescribed operations:

• The onsite purchase and consumption of food or beverages (indoors or outdoors).
• Religious or faith-based ceremonies (other than wedding ceremonies or funeral services).
• Supermarkets and hardware stores.
• Gatherings of 51-150 people at residential premises.
• Distribution centres (including associated transport operations).
• Gymnasiums and fitness centres.
• Swimming pools used by the public.
• Sporting clubs.
• Any activity where a COVID Management Plan is required.
• Public assemblies.
• Any operation which may be defined by the state coordinator.

ACT LOCKDOWN

The ACT lockdown has been extended until 11:59pm Friday 15 October, 2021.

From 5:00pm Thursday 2 September 2021:

• one household (any size) or up to 5 people can gather outdoors for up to 2 hours for exercise or non-organised recreation.
• outdoor playgrounds will reopen where people can maintain physical distancing. Enclosed playgrounds will need to apply the one person per four square metre rule.
• the number of people able to attend a funeral increased to no more than 20 people (excluding the people necessary to conduct the funeral).
• the number of people able to attend a wedding increased to no more than 10 attendees (excluding the celebrant, but including persons being married and two witnesses).
• other religious ceremonies which are time critical are permitted to go ahead with no more than 10 people (excluding those conducting the service).
• the recommencement of services that operate outdoors and where physical distancing can be maintained, such as outdoor maintenance and gardening and dog grooming services.
• ACT schools will continue with remote learning for the rest of Term 3. All ACT public schools and Early Childhood Education and Care services, including out of school hours care, will remain open for children of parents and carers who cannot work from home and vulnerable children.

During lockdown, people can still only leave their homes for essential reasons. 

The six essential reasons you can leave your home during this lockdown are:

• to buy essential groceries and medicine
• to access essential healthcare including in-home care
• for essential work
• to exercise outdoors for one hour per day in your region
• to get a COVID-19 test
• to get a COVID-19 vaccinated.

You can view more details on the reasons you can leave home here.

General retail will be closed, and hospitality venues will only be able to operate takeaway services. Businesses that has to remain open are urged to actively prevent any browsing in their stores.

From 11:59pm on Friday 17 September 2021, small businesses who are currently permitted to operate a click and collect or click and deliver service can to have up to 5 people in the business at any one time, or one person per four square metres (whichever is lesser). Activities must accord with COVID-19 Requirements for Click and Collect Services for non-Essential Retailers.

Mandatory mask wearing will also be reintroduced in the ACT, meaning everyone must have a mask on them at all times. 

A reminder for all to use the Check In CBR app at such as critical time to assist contact tracers.

ACT BUSINESS LOCKDOWN RESTRICTIONS

The refinements to the Public Health Direction will come into effect as at 11.59pm tonight, Friday, 27 August 2021. The adjustments are being made to make it simpler for businesses to manage and conduct their business safely during the lockdown. These changes have been communicated directly to NRA CEO Dominique Lamb by the ACT Government, but may take some time to be updated on the ACT COVID-19 website.

Essential retail businesses
To provide further safety to employees of essential retail services, the following essential businesses will be required to operate through a click and collect service or click and deliver, with only the minimum number of employees necessary to be present on site to fulfil the services:

• Hardware and building supplies
• Agricultural and rural supplies
• Pet stores
• Businesses that predominately sell essential office supplies.

Tradespeople will be able to continue to enter hardware and building supply stores.

The above-mentioned essential retail businesses will also be required to develop a COVID Safety Plan and have this plan in place by Friday 3 September 2021. Developing and following a COVID Safety Plan will be an important step in keeping your staff and patrons safe as we continue to manage the impacts of COVID-19 on our community.

Non-essential retail businesses
The refinements will allow non-essential small and local retail businesses to operate a click and collect or click and deliver service, with no more than five people permitted to be present at the business at any one time,  or one person per four square metres (whichever is lesser).

The definition of a small and local retail business is one that, at 12 August 2021, had 20 or fewer full time equivalent staff working for the business. This includes the owner or operator. Any casual or part time employees are taken into account as a fraction of a full time equivalent.

All other non-essential businesses
The refinements will enable all other ACT businesses, which have not been permitted to operate under the current Direction, to have up to two people enter the business premises for the following reasons:

• for essential maintenance work or other work to ensure the safety of the premises
• as required or authorised by law
• for emergency purposes, for example, operating critical systems such as alarms, monitoring, cold storage, and utilities
• to accept deliveries that cannot reasonably be delayed or diverted to another premises, or
• to provide an urgent and essential service for the administration of the business, which cannot be undertaken at home, for example, administering payroll.

Further information on permitted activities and which businesses can operate during the lockdown is available on the ACT COVID-19 website.

Face mask usage in the workplace

It is currently mandatory for people aged 12 and over to always wear a face mask when leaving home, including in workplaces. To clarify workplace arrangements, a person may remove their face mask when performing essential work in an indoor space, but only when:

• in an office where no other people are present; or
• when sitting or standing at a workstation in an office; and
• 1.5 metres away from any other person.

As soon as a person is no longer alone or is moving, they must again wear their face mask.

Business owners are required to take all reasonable steps to ensure employees are wearing masks appropriately in the workplace.

If you are over the age of 12 years old you must have a mask with you when leaving your home, including in workplaces.

Exemptions to these requirements include:

• If the person has a physical or mental health illness or condition, or disability, which makes wearing a face mask detrimental to their condition.
• If the person is consuming food, drink or medicine.
• If the person is communicating with a person who is deaf or hard of hearing and visibility of the mouth is essential for communication.
• Due to the nature of a person’s essential work.
• Because of an emergency.

Check In CBR app

From 12 noon Thursday 15 July 2021, it will be mandatory to use the Check In CBR app on Canberra’s buses, light rail, taxis and rideshare and all retail settings.

Register your business or venue to use the Check in CBR app

List of essential workers

Employers need to determine whether an employee is essential. Prior to entering their workplace, individuals must advise their employer that they are subject to ‘Stay-at-Home’ requirements.  Workplaces may have their own entry requirements and approval processes and these should be complied with.

If an employer approves an employee to attend the workplace, they must wear a mask at all times.

Employers may wish to consider conducting their own risk assessments prior to any affected individuals attending the workplace.

No current restrictions