Australia has seen updated restrictions and lockdowns in certain states and territories in response to the increasing cases of COVID-19 and the emergence of the more contagious Delta variant. Alternatively, some regions have their hospitality and entertainment venues operating at full capacity.
The Australian Institute of Food Safety (AIFS) continually monitors the COVID-19 restrictions as they evolve across Australia and provide the updates to food businesses as they develop. Here is a complete guide to everything you need to know about the current restrictions in each state and territory as of September 2, 2021.
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory is under lockdown until September 17, 2021. People ages 12 and older must wear a mask whenever leaving home.
Supermarkets, take-away services, retail shops and restricted businesses such as restaurants, pubs and entertainment venues must collect contact tracing information using the Check In CBR app.
Lockdown Restrictions
- Cafés, restaurants, pubs and food courts are closed except for take-away or delivery, with the exception of cafés at a hospital, aged care facility, correctional centre or services providing food or drink to those experiencing homelessness.
- Licensed venues are closed except for take-away.
- Nightclubs are closed but can trade as an off-licence venue.
- Entertainment venues such as cinemas, clubs, theatres, casinos and concert venues are closed.
- Essential retail is open, but should provide click-and-collect arrangements wherever possible.
- Up to 10 people (limit excluding the celebrant) can attend a wedding starting at 5:00pm on Thursday, September 2.
- Up to 20 people (limit excluding those conducting the service) can attend a funeral starting at 5:00pm on Thursday, September 2.
New South Wales
Greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains and Wollongong, is under lockdown until at least the end of September 2021. Regional NSW is under lockdown until at least 11:59pm on Friday, September 10. Face masks must be worn whenever you leave home, with the exemption of children under 2 years old. Children ages 2 to 12 years old are not required to wear masks but are strongly encouraged to do so.
Most businesses, including entertainment facilities, hospitality venues, hospitals and businesses that provide a service to the public must collect contact tracing information using the Service NSW COVID Safe check-in app.
Lockdown Restrictions
- Restaurants, pubs, registered clubs, microbreweries, distilleries and casinos are closed except for take-away food and drink.
- Nightclubs are closed.
- Entertainment venues such as cinemas, theatres, music halls and concert halls are closed.
- Retail shops that sell mostly food and drink, including supermarkets, grocery stores, butchers, bakeries, liquor stores, fishmongers and fruit and vegetable stores are open. Only 1 person per household per day is permitted to leave home to shop for the needs of the household. Exemptions are allowed for people with dependants that cannot be left home alone.
- Weddings can be held with up to 5 guests (limit excluding those conducting the service) starting at 12:01am on Friday, September 3. Restrictions apply in Greater Sydney.
- Funerals can be held, with up to 10 people (limit excluding those conducting the service) allowed to attend an indoor or outdoor funeral or memorial service or gathering afterwards. Funerals cannot take place at a private residence.
Northern Territory
Hospitality and entertainment venues such as restaurants, cafés, pubs, cinemas, theatres, stadiums and nightclubs are open. For venues that are hosting an event for more than 500 people, a COVID-19 Safety Plan must be approved. There are also no restrictions for retail shopping, weddings and funerals. People should still practise physical distancing and proper hygiene measures to help limit the spread of COVID-19, including:
- Hand washing, or using hand sanitiser if hand-washing facilities are not available
- Distancing 1.5 metres from people they don’t live with
- Avoiding crowds at the beginning or end of events
Businesses must collect customer contact tracing details as part of the COVID-Safe Check-In system, review their COVID-19 Safety Plan every 6 months and appoint a COVID safety supervisor.
Queensland
People ages 12 and up in South East Queensland must wear a face mask until 4:00pm on Friday, September 10 at certain settings including indoors, outdoors when you can’t stay 1.5metres from people not in your household and stadiums. In the rest of Queensland, people ages 12 and up must wear a face mask at stadiums and airports.
Entertainment venues, supermarkets, hospitals, aged-care facilities and indoor and outdoor events must collect contact tracing information from staff and patrons using the Check In Qld app.
Ongoing Restrictions
- Ticketed venues such as cinemas, theatre and live music can operate at 100 percent capacity with allocated seating.
- Restaurants, cafés and pubs are open with 1 person per 2 square metres, or 100 per cent capacity with ticketed and allocated seating.
- Self-service food is allowed.
- Retail food services must collect contact information for take-away customers.
- Weddings and funerals are allowed, with a capacity limit of 1 people per 2 square metres rule or 200 people or 100% allocated seated and ticketed capacity applied — whichever is the greater.
South Australia
South Australia is currently under Level 1 restrictions. People ages 12 and up must wear face masks at all high-risk settings, including indoor public spaces and fitness facilities, healthcare services and aged-care facilities.
Ongoing Restrictions
- Communal dining is not permitted.
- You are allowed to consume food and drink while seated.
- Supermarkets and places where food is served must have a COVID marshal.
- Retail and entertainment venues must have physical distancing and contact tracing measures in place.
- Weddings and funerals can be held, with a 50-person capacity at venues if there's no more than 3 people per 4 square metres. Events at private residences have a capacity limit of 20 people.
Tasmania
People ages 12 and older in Tasmania may be required to wear a face mask for certain events and gatherings and should check with event organisers before attending.
Entertainment venues, markets, food courts, supermarkets, restaurants, cafés, pubs, licensed venues and other retail food businesses must collect contact details of patrons ages 16 and up using the Check in TAS app.
Ongoing Restrictions
- Restaurants, cafés, food courts, pubs, clubs and bars have a density limit of 1 person per 2 square metres with a capacity limit of up to 250 people per undivided indoor space and up to 1,000 people per undivided outdoor space.
- Dine-in patrons must provide contact tracing details.
- Entertainment venues such as nightclubs, theatres, casinos and stadiums are open.
- Up to 100 people can dance and drink standing up at indoor venues.
- Up to 250 people can dance and drink standing up at outdoor venues.
- Retail stores and markets are open.
- Weddings and funerals can be held as long as capacity and density limits are followed. Up to 100 people are allowed at a wedding on a residential property.
Victoria
Victoria is currently under lockdown, with a curfew in place from 9:00pm to 5:00am each day in Metropolitan Melbourne. Peoples ages 12 and older must wear face masks whenever leaving home.
Retail, food and drink facilities must collect contact tracing information from staff and patrons using the Service Victoria QR Code app.
Lockdown Restrictions
- Entertainment venues such as clubs and casinos are closed.
- Restaurants and cafés can only provide take-away services.
- Essential retail services are open, with a capacity limit of no more than 1 person per 4 square metres.
- Weddings are not allowed. Exemptions may be made for end of life or deportation reasons and are limited to 5 people.
- Funerals are allowed with a limit of 10 people (limit excluding those conducting the service and children under 12 months).
Western Australia
All hospitality and entertainment venues are open at full capacity in Western Australia. However, businesses must ensure that:
- There is a COVID Safety Plan in place and they are maintaining a contact register.
- A COVID Event Checklist is completed for events with 500-2,500 patrons.
- A COVID Event Plan is completed for events with more than 2,500 patrons.
Food and licensed venues, supermarkets, cinemas, theatres and other entertainment venues must collect contact tracing information using the SafeWA check-in app.
