Coronavirus: Canberra eases some social distancing restrictions

Chief Minister Andrew Barr has announced new guidelines for Canberrans, saying the territory had done exceptionally well and exceeded expectations.

He also confirmed the government was "preparing to move to face-to-face delivery during Term 2 if the circumstances allow us to do that sensibly". Younger children and those at key points of their education were likely to return first. However, no changes were announced on schooling.

The changes to restrictions are:

Mr Barr and Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister Yvette Berry said in a statement that relaxation of further restrictions would be a gradual process and "we will need Canberrans to continue playing their part to prevent a new wave of cases".

"We need to ensure that, as we respond to the pandemic, restrictions have to be sustainable in the long term," they said.

They said allowing shopping for non-essential items would support shops as they re-opened with appropriate physical distancing.

"Many retailers voluntarily closed their doors to support community efforts to suppress the virus. Soon many will re-open and the community is encouraged to support them whilst maintaining physical distancing," they said.

"Restrictions on gatherings inside the family home will be relaxed to allow families to visit each other with two adults plus children able to visit outside of those who ordinarily live in a property.

"With travel restrictions eased in NSW, Canberrans should only travel outside of the Canberra region to visit family and friends in small groups while maintaining physical distancing. As much as possible, travel outside of the Canberra region should be carefully considered, as someone bringing the virus into the Territory from interstate remains one of the biggest threats to the ACT.

In an ACT Legislative Assembly select committee hearing on Friday afternoon Mr Barr was asked if the territory would adopt a Northern Territory-style approach and provide a staged timeline as to when restrictions would be eased.

He said the ACT would work in line with national cabinet and would not pre-empt whether it would take a similar approach.

"I commend the Northern Territory for their efforts in suppressing the virus, but obviously the epidemiology is different in states and territories," Mr Barr said.

"That's something we would endeavour to provide but we don't know where this pandemic will go next."

Mr Barr also told the committee he did not want to overwhelm the public with information.

"I don't want to make announcements everyday given the volume of information could be overwhelming," he said.

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The ACT has no active cases of coronavirus, as of 2pm on Friday.

Mr Barr and Ms Berry said the government was looking at how and when schools could return to face-to-face learning.

"We are doing this work in consultation with teachers and their union, school leaders, parent representatives and non-government schools. Our approach to this will need to be workable for teachers and schools, where physical distancing requirements for adults in schools is closely aligned with the advice for adults outside of the school environment."

Schools were prepared to do all Term 2 online, but were preparing for the possibility of a return to face-to-face learning.

"This is likely to involve a staged return in public schools, beginning with younger children who need more hands on support for learning and secondary students at key points in their learning journey, such as year 7 and year 12," they said.

"Teachers and school leaders will also need some time before students return to prepare and plan staggered lunch breaks, for example. Parents will have plenty of notice of these changes."

Ms Berry there was no time frame yet as to when students might be able to head back to the classroom, however Mr Barr flagged further announcements following national cabinet meetings next week could mean the beginning of that transition.

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It comes as some independent schools have announced a May 11 return. Canberra Grammar School will begin a staggered return to face-to-face teaching adopting the NSW model. All Marist College students will head back to campus also on May 11.

Association of Independent Schools ACT executive director Andrew Wrigley said a range of approaches were being taken and schools were looking at transitioning back "earlier rather than later" in line with health advice.

He said the majority of parents had been overwhelmingly in support of a return to classroom teaching.

Mr Barr said further work on developing national guidelines would be worked through by the national cabinet at meetings next Tuesday and Friday.

Among the topics on the agenda would be the possibility of allowing groups of up to 10 people to gather.

Mr Barr reiterated every step needed to be measured due to the risk of a second wave.

"It's going to be more when further outbreaks occur rather than if they do," he said.

"We have to be able to respond in a splash."

"Or else everything we have achieved in the last six weeks will have been thrown out the window."