Northern Territory Government commences easing of Coronavirus restrictions on golf courses, gyms, pools, parks and gatherings

The Northern Territory Government has announced a three step 'roadmap' for the reopening of businesses and activities, including golf courses, swimming pools, parks, playgrounds and gyms.

Making the announcement yesterday, Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner advised that no new cases of Coronavirus recorded for more than three weeks there will be staged adjustments to current restrictions, which will come into effect from today with safe and simple outdoor activities (where physical distancing can be maintained at all times) the first to be allowed.

Chief Minister Gunner explained "today we make our first steps on the road to recovery, because we are the safest place in Australia, we can do this before the rest of Australia.

"The whole idea is get to as close to normal without putting you at risk and without putting some of Australia's vulnerable at risk.

"This new normal will be with us for a while."

From noon today, Territorians will be able to use public swimming pools, waterparks, go fishing with friends and play golf.

From midday on 15th May, they will be able to head back to the gym, borrow a book from a public library, get their nails done or dine at a restaurant or cafe.

On Friday 5th June, the Northern Territory Government will lift its two-hour time limit and ease its restrictions on indoor activities, which means people can get a tattoo, visit a nightclub, and play team sports.

However, Chief Minister Gunner urged Territorians to maintain a safe distance from each other, adding "if you want to stay the safest place in Australia, if you want to have a beer at the pub, to fish with your mates, to go to the gym, I need you to follow the rules and keep your distance.

"I'm not asking you to walk around with a tape measure, I'm asking you to use your common sense."

Looking beyond 5th June, Chief Minister Gunner said the Territory's Stage three was uncertain, and would depend on how well the nation recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Activities that Territorians can do as part of the three step roadmap include:

Stage one: from noon, Friday 1st May 2020:
• Exercise outdoors with other people such as yoga and bootcamp.
• Participate in non-contact, non-collision outdoor sports such as athletics, golf, tennis, swimming, shooting, archery, badminton, geocaching, paddling and lawn bowls. (Note: You cannot use a clubhouse facility to consume food or drink).
• Visit parks and reserves including campgrounds that are accessible from where you are without needing to enter a restricted area biosecurity zone.
• Swim in a lagoon at the waterfront, rivers and natural pools outside the biosecurity zones.
• Go fishing, boating, sailing with other people.
• Attend a public swimming pool, water park or recreational lake for swimming or water sports.

Stage two: from noon, Friday 15th May 2020, include:
• Participate in organised outdoor training activities for sporting clubs and teams.
• Operate or attend a studio that provides yoga, Pilates, Zumba, barre, dance classes.
• Operate or attend physical training activities indoors such as Cross Fit.
• Operate and attend a gymnasium.
All activities in Stage two must be undertaken in less than two hours.

As party of the announcement, the Northern Territory Government said all physical distancing must be maintained, indoors and outdoors, including:
• People maintaining a minimum space of 1.5 metres between themselves and others not from the same household.
• Reduce the size of gatherings.
• For those who need to be facing another person and be closer than 1.5 metres apart to minimise contact to less than 15 minutes.

Image shows Darwin's Bicentennial Park.