The ACT’s playgrounds and parks are to be reopened on midnight Friday (15 May) and limited library services are to be available from Monday (18 May) as COVID-19 restrictions ease across the Territory.
Minister for City Services, Chris Steel said that the ACT Government was pleased to reopen public spaces but urged the community to take personal responsibility for maintaining strict hygiene and social distancing.
“We ask that Canberrans using these reopened public spaces stay vigilant by washing hands and wiping any equipment, distancing yourselves from others and avoiding crowding,” Mr Steel said.
“Families visiting playgrounds do so at their own risk,” he said.
“Parents must ensure their children wash their hands before and after use, as if the last child using it had the virus.”
Mr Steel reminded the community that from this Friday, limits on all outdoor gatherings remained at a maximum of 10 people, including children.
He said that on Monday, Libraries ACT would initially reopen three of its branches, Dickson, Gungahlin, and Woden, with others to follow at a later stage.
“Restrictions around the number of people visiting at one time will be in place… and time limits for visits will also apply,” he said.
“Library patrons will be asked to keep their visit to under 30 minutes and at this stage we cannot allow people to sit down inside the branches unless they have pre-booked one of the 30 minute computers.”
Mr Steel said some public reserves and open spaces would reopen on Friday including playgrounds; outdoor fitness stations; skate parks; dog parks; barbeques; and Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.
