The Easter long weekend falls from April 10 to April 13.
In any other year, and under the circumstances we’ve come to know as “normal”, this time would typically be spent alongside family and friends with an Easter egg hunt, long lunch, or a road trip to a holiday home up or down the coast.
This year, however, things are looking a little different as Australia goes through its strict lockdown in an effort to flatten the curve and reduce the number of COVID-19 cases.
While there has been some confusion to result from the many and frequent national addresses around what we can and cannot do on a national and statewide level, the answer to the question of whether or not we can look to go away in the Easter break has now been answered. And it’s a hard no.
We must avoid complacency. Please continue to follow the health advice around social distancing, washing your hands & not leaving home unless you absolutely need to. Stay updated: 👉https://t.co/ka9q1ClOKn & 13 77 88. pic.twitter.com/RFtU9xFhk5
— Gladys Berejiklian (@GladysB) April 3, 2020
“People should not be going away for Easter holidays,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in an address last week. “People should not be getting in their cars and going to other places.”
These included going out to obtain food or medicine, exercising and travelling to and from work. Unnecessary domestic travel was not one of the 16 excusable reasons.
“Australians must avoid all non-essential domestic travel. Social distancing is slowing the spread of coronavirus and it’s important that this continue at Easter,” the current advice on the Australian Department of Health website reads.
“Australians should stay at home this Easter and not undertake holiday travel.”
There is currently a ban on all overseas and non-essential domestic travel, as well as state-by-state restrictions around travel to rural communities.
The maximum penalty for breaching the rules is $11,000, six months in prison, or both. But police can, and have already begun to, issue on-the-spot fines of $1,000.
The current health crisis is evolving rapidly. If you suspect you or a family member has coronavirus you should call (not visit) your GP or ring the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.