COVID-19 – Easing Restrictions with a New Remote Communities Framework

COVID-19 restrictions in remote communities

COVID-19 has spread across the world and made many people sick. Australia has been successful in both ‘flattening the curve’ and keeping the virus out of our remote communities. Some areas are now beginning to take careful steps to ease some of the restrictions that have helped stop the spread of the virus. In other areas restriction will need to continue longer to protect people and culture.

Remote Framework

Governments and community leaders were worried about what would happen if there was a COVID-19 outbreak in a remote community. Restrictions were put in place on travelling to some remote communities, which meant people couldn’t enter these designated areas without first self-isolating. This was done to stop people, including tourists, from bringing the virus into communities, and so far this has worked. If COVID-19 gets into remote communities, it will be hard to get rid of and could make people very sick.

The Government, with leaders in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, have designed a framework to help governments and communities make decisions about when to lift restrictions in remote areas. The focus is keeping everyone safe.

The restrictions will stay in place until 18 September, unless communities and governments agree to lift them earlier. Some communities are working with governments to lift the restrictions while keeping communities safe.

More information on the remote framework is available on the health.gov.au website under ‘Resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and remote communities’.