What are stage 4 coronavirus restrictions and what could those measures look like for Australians?

By Lucy Sweeney and Scott Mitchell

Updated about 2 hours ago

PHOTO: New Zealand has already enacted "stage four" restrictions, forcing people to stay at home. (AP: Mark Baker)

Government officials have warned Australians not to get complacent about coronavirus just because it's Easter.

Amidst concerns that people may not be able to resist bending the rules to catch up with family and friends, leaders have said measures could be further tightened if infections spike or too many people flout the rules.

In Victoria, Premier Daniel Andrews has suggested this may see the state move into "stage 4" restrictions.

So what does 'stage 4' actually mean?

Well, the Federal Government hasn't publicly issued a breakdown of what happens in each stage of restrictions.

It does have an emergency response plan for the coronavirus that broadly outlines which bodies are responsible for issuing public health measures and what needs to happen before Australia moves to "targeted action" and "standdown" stages.

But there are no specifics that set out who has to self-isolate, for how long, what people are allowed outside for, or how long quarantine should last.

This would be difficult for the Federal Government to do because, according to the emergency plan, state governments are at liberty to enforce rules at different times depending on how COVID-19 is spreading in their state.

But talking about "stages" is the language many Australian government officials (both state and federal) have been using to describe what's happening as restrictions are scaled up in response to the virus.

It's also the way some international governments are talking about their response to the pandemic, and is a handy way to compare what's happening in Australia to how things work overseas.

So where are we at now?

As of Easter Saturday, April 11, the rules in place at a federal level are:

• No indoor or outdoor gatherings of more than two people unless you're all part of the same household
• People should not leave their house except for essential reasons: to shop for food or other essentials, attend work or education (if you can't do this from home), exercise, or for medical care or compassionate needs
• Some state borders are closed except for people with exemptions for essential travel
• There can be a maximum of one visitor (not a member of your household) to your home — but some states are taking a less strict approach to this rule
• People must maintain a 1.5-metre distance from each other if they are in contact with members outside their household (ie. going to the shops, the workplace, out for exercise)
• Many non-essential venues are now closed to the public. Restaurants and cafes are only allowed to offer take away or home delivery, while pubs, gyms, cinemas, casinos and places of worship are closed. Some non-essential retailers are still allowed to be open as long as they comply with social distancing measures
• All travellers arriving in Australia must go into 14 days of self-isolation at a designated quarantine facility.END=GOLDEN AMITABHA MONASTERY=VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=THICH CHAN TANH.AUSTRALIA,SYDNEY.12/4/2020.