Roadmap Out: Headline Measures Fact Sheet
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Roadmap toRoadmap a COVIDSafe Australia: Out: Headline Headline Measures Fact Sheet Measures A fact sheet tracking the easing of restrictionsFact Federally Sheet and by State and Territory. Included in this is National Cabinet announcements, State and Territory roadmaps to recovery and information in relationMonth, to schools Date,, border 2017 closures , social distancing and travel restrictions. Natalie Chynoweth November 2020 Current as at 13th November 2020 Roadmap Out: Headline Measures Fact Sheet Factsheet as at 13 November 2020 Contents 1. Framework for National Reopening – 23 October 2020 ................................................................. 3 2. National Cabinet announcements ................................................................................................. 6 3. State and Territory Individual Roadmaps .................................................................................... 32 QLD Roadmap - updated 1 October 2020 ....................................................................................... 32 WA Roadmap - updated 19 October ............................................................................................... 33 ACT Roadmap – updated 9 October ............................................................................................... 34 VIC Roadmap – 27 October ............................................................................................................ 35 State & Territory Statements on Roadmaps Out: Easing Restrictions .............................................. 36 4. Definition of Vulnerable Groups - Federal statement ................................................................... 59 5. Federal Travel Restrictions ......................................................................................................... 60 Federal statements ......................................................................................................................... 60 6. Schools, Higher Education and TAFEs ....................................................................................... 63 Federal Statement ........................................................................................................................... 63 State & Territory Statements- Schools............................................................................................. 65 Roadmap Out: Headline Measures Fact Sheet | as at 13 November 2020 P a g e | 2 1. Framework for National Reopening – 23 October 2020 Roadmap Out: Headline Measures Fact Sheet | as at 13 November 2020 P a g e | 3 Roadmap Out: Headline Measures Fact Sheet | as at 13 November 2020 P a g e | 5 2. National Cabinet announcements Note: For Cabinet Announcements prior to 16th April please refer to previous versions of the Headline Measures Fact Sheet (noting date of publication). 13 November – *National Cabinet Statement to be added once released. 23 October – The National Cabinet met again today to discuss Australia’s COVID-19 response, recent progress following the Victorian outbreak, easing restrictions (including international border measures), helping Australians prepare to go back to work in a COVID-safe environment and getting the economy moving again. National Cabinet continues to work together to address issues and find solutions to the health and economic consequences of COVID-19. Australia has done well on both the health and economic fronts compared to most countries around the world. There continues to be differences in testing rates between states and territories, and National Cabinet agreed on the importance of enhanced testing. More than 8.4 million tests have been undertaken in Australia. National Cabinet noted the increase in COVID-19 cases in many countries and the comparative strength of Australia’s effort in addressing COVID compared to most other developed economies. National Cabinet noted the 2020-21 Budget and the collective work needed across the Federation to facilitate economic recovery measures. National Cabinet thanked the Council on Federal Financial Relations for its work and noted further work is underway to coordinate the federation-wide economic response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to drive a more productive economic recovery. National Cabinet will meet again on Friday 13 November 2020. Framework for National Reopening - A COVID Normal Australia The Commonwealth, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory agreed in-principle to a new ‘Framework for National Reopening Australia by Christmas’ (document attached), building on and enhancing the 3- Step Framework for a COVID Safe Australia developed in May 2020. Western Australia did not agree to the National Framework for Reopening, specifically the domestic border and international arrival proposals. The Framework will provide the Australian community and businesses with a way forward where Australians can live and work in a COVID Normal Australia, recognising that the highly infectious nature of COVID-19 means that it will be present until a COVID-19 vaccine is found. The Framework underscores the need for continued health vigilance while providing a path to easing the physical and mental burden on Australians. The Framework will establish an updated Common Operating Picture with strengthened criteria to ensure that health systems are prepared and detailed information is publicly available on COVID-19 conditions. The criteria take into account the National Hotel Quarantine Review by Ms Jane Halton AO PSM and will be informed by further work underway by Australia’s Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel AO on digital contact tracing and public health systems, and advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC). The Commonwealth and seven states and territories agreed to finalise the Framework by the next National Cabinet meeting on 13 November 2020 and ensure that a new Common Operating Picture is publicly available by 1 December 2020. The Commonwealth and seven states and territories agreed that reopening by Christmas under the Roadmap Out: Headline Measures Fact Sheet | as at 13 November 2020 P a g e | 6 Framework sets a pathway for the removal of domestic border restrictions where it is safe to do so, and with free movement of people and freight consistent with National Cabinet’s strategy of suppression with a goal of no community transmission. Improving Quarantine Systems Ms Jane Halton AO PSM presented the final report of the National Review of Hotel Quarantine (document attached). National Cabinet thanked Ms Halton for the extensive work undertaken to review the hotel quarantine system in seven of eight states and territories. Ms Halton noted that quarantine constitutes a first line of defence in preventing the importation of COVID-19 into Australia. While the quarantine system should be managed to limit breaches, the robustness of a second line of defence (testing and contact tracing) is essential as it is not possible to manage a quarantine system that is completely error free. There must also be a third line of defence - physical distancing, hygiene and health system capacity. National Cabinet agreed to publish the National Review of Hotel Quarantine and to implement recommendations, noting that the Commonwealth and the Northern Territory had already established an emergency-surge quarantine capacity supported by the Northern Territory at Howard Springs. National Cabinet agreed to keep working on risk stratification as an appropriate approach to progressively increasing the number of international arrivals to Australia in a COVID-safe manner, including Australians returning home. Potential alternative approaches could include quarantine such as home quarantine, on farm quarantine, quarantine by universities and private providers, and use of technology and expanding international travel arrangements with very low risk countries and cohorts. As noted by Ms Halton and AHPPC, alternatives to hotel quarantine for low risk cohorts can also free up significant capacity in Australia’s hotel quarantine system for returning Australians. National Cabinet noted that any changes to quarantine settings for international arrivals must be done in a way that maintains health considerations as an absolute priority. Australians returning home National Cabinet noted that there are a significant number of Australians wishing to return home from overseas, with the Commonwealth already taken steps to further support those facing personal hardship. National Cabinet agreed that all jurisdictions would continue to work towards enabling more Australians to return home. Existing international air passenger arrival caps will continue until 21 November 2020, with ongoing review by National Cabinet. National Cabinet noted that a number of the states and territories will support the Commonwealth in increasing the number of vulnerable Australians returning home. This includes the Commonwealth- Northern Territory arrangement to provide 500 beds at Howard Springs, with the first flight dedicated to vulnerable Australians arriving in Darwin today. A further arrangement, soon to be finalised with the Australian Capital Territory, will support 150 returning Australians every 16-18 days. In addition, a limited and dedicated number of spaces will be provided on existing international commercial services for vulnerable Australians where possible. This includes an additional: • 140 arrivals per week into Perth; • 100 arrivals