App key to your freedom
Many bans could relax
THERE is no end in sight to bans on international travel and mass gatherings but Scott Morrison has offered a path back to domestic travel, elite sport and reopening pubs, cafes and restaurants.
The Prime Minister yesterday gave his most detailed blueprint yet for easing the coronavirus shutdown but warned the “ticket out” was for “millions and millions and millions” more Australians to download the COVIDSAFE app.
“(Downloading the app) is your ticket, that is Australia’s ticket to a COVID-SAFE Australia where we can go about the things that we love doing once again,” he said.
Despite the app being downloaded more than 2.8 million times in just three days, the uptake is still well below the 40 per cent – or about 7 million downloads – authorities consider effective for boosting their contact-tracing capability to effectively handle likely further outbreaks.
Mr Morrison said downloading the app was voluntary but tied it directly to the National Cabinet’s decision on May 11 about any possible easing of restrictions.
“If you want to return to a more liberated economy and society, it is important that we get increased numbers of downloads when it comes to the COVIDSAFE app,” he said.
But he warned that even if restrictions were rolled back from the current baseline, life would not return to “exactly like it was before”.
He said it was still too risky to resume international travel and he could not see border restrictions lifting anytime soon with the exception of New Zealand.
“But I look forward to the time when Australians can travel again within Australia,” he said.
“I look forward to the time where they can sit down to a meal at a restaurant or a cafe or in a pub again.
“I look forward to the time where they can see, whether it is the AFL, the netball, or the NRL, or whatever code it is they support, and being able to watch that again.
“But I can’t see them going along to a game for a while (or) those larger mass gatherings.”
He also did not believe large religious services would be possible in the near term but left the door open for people to return to places of worship for private prayer.