Australians have mostly obeyed tough social restrictions to stop the spread of coronavirus, now they want to see the road to normality.
Brisbane restaurant, cafe and bar owner Giuseppe Petroccitto knows the government's tough social restrictions are killing his business, but doesn't want them eased too soon.
The Santa Monica Group chief executive – who runs the popular Santa Monica restaurant and bar and Bar Pacino in Brisbane's central business district – is just hanging on since his core businesses were shut down last month to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Giuseppe Petroccitto, left, and his father Jim are eager to reopen their popular Santa Monica restaurant and bar in Brisbane but still think caution is needed in easing restrictions. Paul Harris
He has kept a coffee "shack" open at Santa Monica, but sometimes he wonders whether it's worth it, given he's selling only 50 coffees a day. He used to sell 500.
Some staff at his two venues have been stood down indefinitely and some put on the federal government’s JobKeeper payment. Some weeks he clears $500 from his venues, other weeks he makes only $50.
As Australians wait to find out what social restrictions will be eased in coming weeks, Petroccitto says cafes should be opened sooner rather than later. But he implored governments to hold fire on giving the green light to restaurants and bars.
"I think there should be a point where cafes are back to service office workers in the city to get people re-conditioned to going back to work," he told AFR Weekend.
"But I'm still of the belief that bars and restaurants with the full sit-down service should be left alone until we can fully come back. I don't think drip-feeding people back will work."
Like most, Petroccitto is waiting for the week beginning Monday, May 11, when we will find out how much of our life and daily routines can return to normal.
While most families and businesses have diligently observed social restrictions imposed by federal and state governments to stop the spread of the coronavirus – which has forced them to work and school from home, and virtually abandon friends and elderly relatives – there is a limit to how much they can tolerate.
This is especially pertinent as new cases of COVID-19 in Australia are now in the single-digits each day. Some states, such as Queensland, have had two days of no new cases this week.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison acknowledged the public health versus social order dilemma on Thursday.
He said while Australians had done a great job in "flattening the curve" – adopting social distancing and acquiescing to almost draconian lockdowns –there was a public expectation there would be soon be an easing of restrictions.
This would include the base restrictions set by the national cabinet and anything above that set by individual states or territories.
How much Australians will be able to progress along the path to normality will be determined at the national cabinet in the second full week of May.
You have to start with the low-hanging fruit, like schools or groups together which doesn’t really affect transmissions.
— Allen Cheng, professor of epidemiology
"What we are seeking to do is focus on those activities that are low health risk and more high economic value. My priority is to get people back to school and get people back to work," he said.
"In terms of the broader social restrictions overseen by the states, I think there is a reasonable expectation from the public – based on the tremendous patience and discipline they've shown – that they will get some relief on those fronts as well."
Morrison pointed to the Queensland Chief Medical Officer's decision on Thursday to increase the number of people allowed at funerals from 10 to 20 as a sign of sensible and prudent decision-making.
The first cabs off the rank for the easing of social restrictions appear to be community sports, retail centres such as shopping centres and increasing the size of social gatherings.
How large the groups that will be allowed to move around outside is yet to be decided, but most are hoping it will be increased by up to 10.
The ban on more than two people being outside for exercise has frustrated most, especially as police have been heavy-handed in enforcing it.
A 16-year-old learner drive in Melbourne was fined for taking driving lessons with her mum (police eventually dropped the fine), while images of police driving through public parks in inner-Sydney moving people on outraged many.
Over the Easter break, Queensland Police slipped back to the dark old days of the Bjelke-Petersen era, stopping lone cyclists on the outskirts of Brisbane and asking what suburb they were from – warning them to "stay in their suburb".
That said, groups of mostly young people thumbed their noses at authority – confirming the view they weren't taking the coronavirus outbreak seriously – by swarming to Sydney's Bondi Beach last month. Bondi and a string of other beaches in Sydney – as well as three beaches on the Gold Coast – were closed to stop gatherings, as authorities scolded the public for not adhering to the 1.5-metre social distancing rules.
But by and large, Australians have adhered to social restrictions which has helped reduce the infection rate to low. Countries around the world have adopted different strategies, including Sweden, which has kept its bars and restaurants open.
Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy says any easing of social restrictions will be done carefully. Alex Ellinghausen
Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy on Friday said any easing of social restrictions decided on May 11 would be done "gently, carefully and cautiously" – and only after proper testing and surveillance systems are in place.
Bondi Beach is reopening to the public next week and authorities are hopeful that people will continue to do the right thing once restrictions are eased.
The issue of reopening schools remains a vexed one across states.
Morrison and Murphy say there are no health reasons that mean schools shouldn't open, but teachers' unions in NSW, Victoria and Queensland are pushing back hard against the idea of a full or staggered reopening of classes.
Professor of epidemiology and preventative medicine at Monash University Allen Cheng admits it's a delicate balancing act easing restrictions while trying to avoid any further spread of the disease.
"You have to start with the low-hanging fruit, like schools or groups together which doesn't really affect transmissions but is good for society to be lifted," he says.
"There is no magic number on how many people can be in a group or at a funeral or wedding. You have to draw the line somewhere."
Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you.
Fetching latest articles
The Daily Habit of Successful People