COVID-19 Stage 3 easing of Restrictions

Household visitors

Gatherings at households – including shacks – remain limited to up to 20 people at any one time, not including residents of the household. You should not visit others or have visitors to your home if you are unwell.

Read more about Physical distancing.

Gatherings

The number of people permitted at businesses/activities (other than households) is now determined by the density of the area, up to a maximum of:

250 people for an undivided space in an indoor premises; and500 people in an undivided space outdoors.

Maximum density limit is one person per 2 square metres.

Where the number of people permitted according to the density limit is less than the gathering limit, the lower number applies.

All people in any single undivided space count towards the maximum number of people permitted. For example, staff in a restaurant; spectators at a pool; and athletes and coaches at a sporting facility are all counted within the maximum number of people permitted in that space.

For mixed use venues with multiple indoor or outdoor spaces, the gathering cap (250 people for indoor, or 500 people for outdoor) applies separately to each single undivided space. For example, a large hotel with multiple, separate indoor spaces (eg conference room, bar, restaurant, foyer, beer garden), is permitted to have up to 250 people for each of these spaces (the density limit applies).

The limits outlined above do not apply to the following specified premises, but the number of people on these premises should not exceed the total number specified in the occupancy permit for the premises under the Building Act 2016. The specified premises are:

Airports and premises used for public or commercial transport.Medical or health service facilities, including veterinary facilitiesDisability or aged care facilitiesPrisons, correctional facilities, youth justice centresCourts or tribunalsParliamentSchools, universities, education institutions, childcare facilities, child and family centresPremises that deliver services and support to disadvantaged community members, eg those providing homeless accommodation, boarding houses, emergency/social housing, child safety services, foodbanks, employment services, and migrant and refugee assistanceIndoor and outdoor spaces where people are transiting throughEmergency services.

Read more about Gatherings, density limits and physical distancing.

Business restrictions

Businesses permitted to reopen:

Indoor amusement parks, play centres, arcadesSaunas, spa baths, flotation tanks and bath housesGarage sales, car boot sales, second-hand goods salesStrip clubsCasinos and gaming venuesIndoor zoos (in addition to predominately outdoor zoos)StadiumsMarkets and food vans at marketsProvision of services to a person by a sex worker, within the meaning of the Sex Industry Offences Act 2005Food courts (now includes dine-in)Night clubs (for seated service of alcohol only).

Patrons must be seated in premises where alcohol is sold, meaning activities that are not seated (eg pool, dancing, karaoke, darts) are not permitted. Seated activities, such as quiz nights and bingo, are allowed, as long as patrons remain seated for these activities.

Patron numbers at these and other businesses will be determined by gathering limits, where the maximum density limit permits.

Where practicable, business operators, staff, volunteers and attendees should maintain a distance of 1.5 metres from other people.

The maximum number of people permitted on a premises includes staff, volunteers, children and babies.

Read more about Gatherings, density limits and physical distancing.

Read more about Business restrictions.

Sport, exercise and recreation

Gathering limits will be 500 people (including athletes and support staff) in an undivided space outdoors and 250 people for an undivided space in an indoor premises, or a maximum of one person per 2 square metres under the density limit, whichever is less.

Sporting activities permitted based on Level C of the AIS Framework for Rebooting Sport, meaning the following are permitted:

full contact trainingfull competition sport (contact and non-contact)use of change rooms and other shared facilities.

Larger teams should consider maintaining some small group separation at training and non-essential social gatherings should be limited.