What the ACT's COVID lockdown reopening plan means for residents and businesses

After nearly two months bunkered down, they will finally be able to visit a friend or family member's house from this weekend.

It's the first step in the ACT's path out of lockdown, with big changes to kick in on October 15 and October 29.

But Chief Minister Andrew Barr on Monday said authorities would observe how the virus spreads throughout October and November, but was cautiously optimistic.

"Our hope is that Christmas will look more normal for everyone," he said.

There's good news for café and retail owners, park lovers, and wedding guests. But you'll be waiting a while to visit museums and galleries.

Of course, it could all change if COVID-19 gets out of control. But for now, here's what Canberrans can look forward to.

Key dates:

More and more over time.

Household visits return from Friday night, when you'll be able to have two people over. That limit applies whether or not your guests are from the same household.

On October 15, five people will be able to visit the same household at any one time. That rises to 10 people by the end of that month.

Children are included in those limits.

Back to the wilderness.

You'll be able to spend four hours outside for recreation from Friday, up from two. And you'll have more options, too; nature reserves and national parks also open.

You'll have to limit your picnics to five people for now. But that changes on October 15, when you can gather in groups of 25 outdoors. That number jumps to 30 on October 29.

Not for a few weeks.

You'll be able return to your favourite bar, restaurant, or café from October 15. They'll only be able to seat 25 people indoors (or one guest for every four square metres). If they choose to operate outdoors, that rises to 50 people. They can't do both.

But it's still a wait if you want to go to the movies, cinema or gallery. They won't reopen until the end of October.

That's when indoor events with fixed seating will be able to operate at 75 per cent capacity, up to 500 people. Unfixed seating events will need to be socially distanced, up to 150 people.

Nightclubs, a superspreading location for this outbreak, won't reopen until November or early December.

Schools reopening will be staggered.

Year 12 students will return for practical lessons and exams from Tuesday next week.

They'll return for on campus learning, along with year 11s, from October 18.

On October 25, early childcare and pre-schooling returns. Schools will also welcome back kindergarteners, and those in year 1 and year 2. Years 6, 9, and 10 will also return to campus.

From the first day of November, year 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8s return to the classroom. Normal out of school hours care programs also resume.

Changes coming soon.

All non-essential businesses can operate click and collect, and click and deliver services from Friday.

It's a maximum of five staff members until October 15, when that number doubles. That's also when hairdressers and beauty salons reopen, to five customer at a time.

All retail will resume on October 29, provided businesses maintain the "one person per four square metres rule".

Outdoor boot camps and PT sessions resume on Friday, but at a maximum of two clients.

Gyms reopen on October 15 with the same distancing requirements as indoor cafés. But classes don't return until the end of October, and only at a 20-person capacity.

That's when organised sport also makes a comeback, up to 25 people before density limits apply.

Swimming pools will open for lessons up to 25 people on October 15. From October 29, 25 people people can visit without attending a lesson.

Dancefloors are back.

From October 15, up to 25 people will be allowed to attend a wedding. But guests will have to stay sitting while eating and drinking. Dancing is allowed.

Up to 50 will be allowed to attend funerals, or one person per four square metres.

From October 29, a maximum of 100 will be allowed to attend either, provided they are outdoors at a density of one person per two square metres.

That's not entirely up to the ACT.

Currently, residents of 10 postcodes outside the territory are allowed to cross the border. Those settings will remain until October 15 at least, but could change after that.

Hotels and motels, campgrounds, and caravan parks in the territory open from October 15.

We're told broadly there'll be "less restrictive" travel in our region from October 29, but whether you can travel interstate will be shaped by other states.

International travel will resume later but, again, that's subject to the Commonwealth reopening the border.

In short, yes.

There is no end date for masks indoors, and Chief Minister Barr confirms they'll be required for an "extended period".

But you won't need to wear them outdoors from October 29.

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