Chief medical officer Brendan Murphy has shed more light on the restrictions that could be lifted soon.
Speaking before the Senate committee on Thursday, Murphy said the medical advisory panel had been asked to consider the feasibility of easing some social distancing restrictions, and would report to National Cabinet on the matter in about three weeks.
Murphy said medical experts advised schools were safe to reopen.
“We all believe that schools are a safe environment to open,” he said.
“They can be made safer for teachers by excluding those that are vulnerable.
“We are encouraging schools to reopen. The Northern Territory has not closed at all. WA is planning to reopen. We understand the anxiety of some parents and teachers.”
Murphy also suggested “a first stage of relaxation” of social distancing rules would be viable with “some cautious measures”.
“There is great concern that if we relax too much too quickly, we could get a second wave,” Murphy said.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said social isolation measures could be eased if Australia achieved three goals – more widespread testing regime, improved contact tracing and localised response capabilities.
Murphy said increases in the number of people allowed in gatherings were among the matters under consideration. Community sports events and some retail activity would also be discussed.
“Certainly we would not be contemplating large-scale gatherings,” he said.
Restrictions on overseas travel would not be eased in the near future, Murphy said.
“The international situation at the moment is such that any relaxation of border measures would be very risky,” he said.
“I think it’s very hard to put a timeframe on anything at the moment. We are thinking in a planning framework of three to four months in terms of our next steps. Potentially looking at, ‘can we relax some distancing?’ But I wouldn’t be envisaging any material changes to border measures in that period.”
