House parties, nightclubs and concerts are back but will be different in Australia’s Queensland

SYDNEY, Jun 30, 2020, SHM. House parties, nightclubs and large concerts will return to Queensland on Friday after stage three restrictions were brought forward, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

From noon on Friday, 100 people will be allowed to gather indoors and event attendance can swell to 10,000 people if venues have a COVID-safe plan.

Deputy Premier and Health Minister Steven Miles said Queenslanders would be able to have a beer at the bar, play the pokies, order a counter meal or go to the casino.

“For small businesses like restaurants and cafes, for couples getting married, for young people wanting to celebrate their 21st at home, for community sporting teams and their spectators, for sports fans, museum-goers and event managers, life has gotten easier,” he said.

“Kids’ sport will be back, contact sport will be back, as well as spectators.

“I know many parents like me who will be looking forward to busy Saturdays racing from one soccer field to another.”

The limit on patrons will rise at the state’s pubs, clubs, restaurants and cafes as well.

There will be no maximum of number of people per space, provided venues have four square metres of floor space per patron.

Smaller venues, with a floor space between 100 and 200 square metres, will be allowed to welcome up to 50 people through the doors.

“For example, a 100 square metre cafe can currently have 25 patrons, with five of them in a separate area; now they can have up to 50 patrons,” Mr Miles said.

“All of these new restrictions, though, require ongoing adherence to physical distancing.”

Stage 3 measures include allowing:

Private gatherings of up from 20 to 100 people in homes
Wedding attendance of 100 people
Contact indoor and outdoor community sport with an approved plan
More events, with events of more than 10,000 people requiring a COVID-safe plan approved by the Chief Health Officer; and
Additional venues such as casinos and food courts to reopen.

Nightclubs will reopen but all patrons must be seated, so packed dance floors remain off-limits.

The state government will open the borders to other states from Friday, July 10, provided travellers complete a border declaration stating they have not been to local government areas in Victoria in the previous 14 days.

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