As some states across the country enjoyed their first taste of social freedom in weeks at the weekend, for many living in border towns it was more a case of confusion than celebration.

If you thought there were a lot more people around lately, you're not wrong. More and more people are out on the streets in Melbourne, anticipating an easing of coronavirus restrictions once the State of Emergency ends on May 11.

More than $15 million could have been lost from the Wimmera Southern Mallee economy as a result of events being cancelled because of the coronavirus.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the National Cabinet's plan to reopen Australia, but it will be up to each state and territory to decide how to roll it out. Here's what will change (or not) where you live.

Bottle shops in Darwin have eased voluntary restrictions on the sale of cask wine, saying Government policies have made them superfluous. But the move has prompted criticism from police, and a major supermarket giant has already backtracked.

One of the region's major dams is already at half capacity and with another dry spring forecast, Seqwater warns mandatory water restrictions could be in place by mid next year.

As Stanthorpe faces running dry within months the local council discusses its options with the Queensland Government and gets set to impose heavy water restrictions.

MORNING BRIEFING: Police charge a man in Parramatta after finding tools to make a homemade bomb in his backpack, while Sydney residents can soon expect formal water restrictions as dry conditions continue.

Few large sectors have been hit as hard by the coronavirus-related economic fallout as restaurants, bars and coffee shops. Many have closed temporarily. Some have shifted to delivery or to-go orders. An increasing number are closing permanently.

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) detailed guidelines on Friday for the state to begin reopening next week under strict restrictions.

By Nicole Nixon

Update 6:25 p.m.

As California prepares to enter the first phase of its economic reopening, the state released new guidelines Thursday, both for businesses wanting to expand operations and for counties looking to loosen restrictions on residents.

Moving into phase two “does not mean a return to normal,” said California Health & Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly. “We know that COVID-19 is still spreading.” 

Beginning Friday, some businesses in the retail, manufacturing and logistics sectors will be allowed to reopen, though retail stores can only provide curbside services.

Businesses have to meet a checklist before reopening. It includes:  

• Performing a detailed risk assessment and implement a site-specific protection plan
• Training employees on how to limit the spread of COVID-19, including how to screen themselves for symptoms and stay home if they have them
• Implementing individual control measures and screenings
• Implementing disinfecting protocols
• Implementing physical distancing guidelines

Businesses will have to meet certain industry guidelines for COVID-19 safety as well. The guidelines instruct manufacturers to limit person-to-person contact during production by installing shelving or other “transfer-aiding materials,” for example.  

Retailers are encouraged to prioritize product delivery and pickup. They are also instructed to cut in-store maximum occupancy numbers by half.  

Still, some businesses are still being expressly prohibited from reopening during phase two, including bars, gyms, nail salons, movie theaters and theme parks.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said there’s a reason nail salons are not included in phase two: “This whole thing started in the state of California — the first community spread —  in a nail salon,” he said.

The infection happened despite sanitation measures normally seen in nail salons, including alcohol-based products and nail technicians wearing masks and gloves. 

“I’m very worried about that,” Newsom said. 

How counties can get approval to reopen

While some counties have pressured the governor to allow them to reopen their local economies more broadly, others — including Yuba, Sutter and Modoc counties — didn’t wait for permission. 

Counties and their local health officers are now being given latitude to allow some other sectors to reopen, including malls, car washes, pet grooming, offices and dine-in restaurants — if they meet strict criteria. 

It includes additional surge capacity in local hospitals, the ability to conduct a minimum 15 tests per 100,000 residents daily and going 14 days without a COVID-19 death in the county, among other things.

It could be a long time before more populous counties get there. Dr Peter Beilenson, director of health services in Sacramento County, said the county meets all criteria except for that and having enough contact tracers (15 tracers per 100,000 county residents). 

“We expect to have the appropriate amount of contact tracing staff within the next two weeks,” Beilenson said in a statement to CapRadio. “In the meantime, we encourage everyone to continue following the safe social distancing and other guidelines provided in the Public Health Order.”

Counties that do meet the criteria must consult with the California Department of Public Health and submit their own local reopening plans to the state. Those plans must include what sectors and public spaces the county will allow to reopen, and a contingency plan for modifying local health orders if the disease begins to spread. 

Last month, Newsom unveiled six key indicators that will help him decide when to move the state into each new phase of reopening. They include the state’s testing capacity, hospitalization rates and ability for businesses and public spaces to implement health measures like sanitation and social distancing, among other things. 

The governor noted that he may tighten the statewide stay-at-home order again if the disease begins spreading as restrictions loosen. 

The novel coronavirus pandemic has been a challenge for dozens of metropolitan district board candidates across Colorado as they grapple with stay-at-home orders and social distancing impacting their campaigns.

Police in Greenwood Village are increasing patrols around the Tri-County Health Department after authorities say someone sent a threatening email to the office's receptionist that warned of a looming "civil war" over ongoing coronavirus restrictions.

Four players on his team tested positive for COVID-19.

1. The best secret spots to visit in Australia after coronavirus restrictions ease  Daily Mail
2. Coronavirus Australia: World reacts to Scott Morrison’s bold plan  NEWS.com.au
3. How travel will resume around Australia as coronavirus restrictions ease in each state and territory  ABC News
4. Scott Morrison opens the door for international students to return to Australia  SBS News
5. Coronavirus lessons Australia must learn as lockdown restrictions are lifted  NEWS.com.au
6. View Full coverage on Google News

1. Coronavirus cases continue rise due to meatworks cluster as Victorians wait for restrictions to be eased  ABC News
2. Coronavirus: Victorian restrictions in place, Daniel Andrews waits  NEWS.com.au
3. 'Only ones who can’t celebrate Mother’s Day': Liberal MPs and senators critical of Victoria lockdown  Sydney Morning Herald
4. Government tries to play down 'childish' coronavirus attack on Victorian premier  SBS News
5. Cedar Meats outbreak reaches 75 as authorities investigate animal cruelty  The Age
6. View Full coverage on Google News

1. Coronavirus restrictions to lift in NSW from Friday, but will not be following all National Cabinet measures  ABC News
2. Berejiklian's roadmap to freedom in NSW  Sydney Morning Herald
3. Mother's Day state by state: What can and can't you do?  The Canberra Times
4. Permission to mingle: NSW will ease lockdown laws on Friday  Daily Telegraph
5. NSW to ease lockdown restrictions from Friday  The Age
6. View Full coverage on Google News

Germany's federal and state governments have agreed to further tighten restrictions on public life. Here's an overview of what's now allowed and what's not.

All of Germany is looking forward to Easter this year, with hopes that the government will soon be able to loosen coronavirus restrictions. But will it? And if so, which ones? By DER SPIEGEL Staff

The NBA has told teams they can reopen their practice facilities May 8 under certain restrictions if they are in a state where public health guidelines allow it.

Social distancing should continue through the summer, White House advisor Deborah Birx said Sunday, and other experts warned against states' moves to lift restrictions.

Trump can't 'reopen' the economy, but Republican governors can follow his lead. If they do, Newsom must continue to protect Californians.

Baltic states agreed each 'had successfully managed the spread of Covid-19 and trust each other's health care systems'

The government's current travel advice prevents mainstream tour operators running trips and invalidates the holidaymaker's insurance

LOCKDOWN measures have broken motorists' "car dependency" habits and the changes could even be "permanent" for many after restrictions have lifted, according to an expert.

Officials had asked Governor Gary Herbert to lower the threat level in southwest Utah. He did not.

A coronavirus mortality model projects that nearly 135,000 Americans will die from COVID-19 by early August. The data has been revised and is now almost double previous projections, pushing the death toll in the US to over 200,000 by August.

While acceptable as a short-term mitigation strategy, the stay-at-home restrictions cannot be the long-term solution to this crisis.

Some stores opened today, some will open soon at Hamilton Town Center. Each store has its safety precautions ready, shoppers work to stay safe, too.

The governors of Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky have been in close contact throughout the coronavirus pandemic and are coordinating stay-at-home orders.

Restaurant owners are discussing what could change after coronavirus restrictions lift in Indiana. Here are some changes that could be on the way.

The sports bar and restaurant owned by former Colts football player and Super Bowl champion Gary Brackett is closing.

With most stores remaining closed, Greenwood Park Mall reopened to the public on the first day of Phase 2 of Gov. Holcomb's coronavirus pandemic plan.

L.A. tenants will soon have the right to sue landlords who violate restrictions the city has put in place during the coronavirus crisis.

More beaches, trials and parks opened as officials ease coronavirus restrictions

Measures will be relaxed from Monday, but the densely populated capital faces continuing curbs.

By easing distancing measures, the Greater Montreal area could experience a substantial increase in the number of deaths per day due to the coronavirus, according to a new document published by the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ) in collaboration with experts from Laval University.

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The post REPORT: US slams new restrictions on journalists from this country appeared first on Dennis Michael Lynch.

The following article, Woman Shoots Three Teenage McDonald’s Workers For Telling Her She Couldn’t Eat In Dining Room Over COVID19 Restrictions, was first published on 100PercentFedUp.com.

An angry Oklahoma woman shot at a group of teenagers working at a local McDonald’s after they explained to her that the dining room was closed due to coronavirus restrictions. 32-year-old Gloricia Woody was arrested by the Oklahoma City Police and charged with the shooting. From the Oklahoma City Police -Last night, officers were called […]

Continue reading: Woman Shoots Three Teenage McDonald’s Workers For Telling Her She Couldn’t Eat In Dining Room Over COVID19 Restrictions ...

The Government issued directions in the Gazette today to close bars and premises selling liquor for 14 days from 6pm on April 3.

The Secretary for Food & Health issued the directions in accordance with the Prevention & Control of Disease (Requirements & Directions) (Business & Premises) Regulation.

The directions include the closure of bars and pubs, as well as any part of a catering business premise or a clubhouse mainly used for the sale or supply of intoxicating liquors for consumption.

The new measures were introduced due to the emergence of 62 confirmed COVID-19 cases related to the bar and band cluster with further spread to an additional 14 cases who had not visited bars.

The Government on April 1 introduced directions on the closure of karaoke, mahjong-tin kau and nightclub establishments as well as the suspension of karaoke and mahjong-tin kau activities in catering premises and clubhouses.

It has also been reviewing the feasibility of relevant measures and will make timely adjustments according to the latest developments of the disease.

Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) director, Dr Carissa Etienne, is warning that lifting COVID-19 restrictions too soon could accelerate the spread of the virus and open the door for a dramatic upsurge in countries of the region. The warning...

LONDON — Britain’s minister for the environment, food and rural affairs says Prime Minister Boris Johnson won’t be announcing immediate changes to the country’s coronavirus lockdown when he addresses the nation on Sunday....

DOVER, St Mary: Residents of Epsom and Dover in St Mary are on edge, but have accepted quarantine measures imposed by the Government to curtail the spread of the dreaded coronavirus in that parish. Security checkpoints at both ends of the parish...

One of the least developed countries in sub-Saharan Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has experienced significant migration outflows and inflows tied to political and economic crises in recent decades. While most Congolese migrants head to neighboring countries, destinations have diversified, with an uptick in those leaving for opportunities in Europe and beyond. This country profile explores historical and contemporary patterns of migration to and from DR Congo.

California, Iowa, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island are among states that are loosening coronavirus restrictions Friday to gradually revive their economies.

Over the past decade, state and local policymakers have increasingly stepped into the void left by Washington over legislative reform of the immigration system and have enacted their own policies, particularly in regard to illegal immigration. This article explores this trend of increased activism and examines whether restrictive state immigration laws have had an effect on the size of immigrant populations at the state level.