Canberran weekends are starting to take on their usual shape, with restrictions easing and activities returning to normal despite the increasingly bracing weather.
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But with a significant shift planned for next Friday that will see larger indoor activities and a further range of sports permitted, some caution remains in the community.
Andrew and Jan Lockley, who enjoyed fish and chips by the shores of Lake Burley Griffin on Saturday afternoon with long-time friends Steve and Tanya Keeling, reflected on the significant shifts in social activities since March.
In April, the Lockleys ate their fish and chips in their car to avoid being moved on if they sat outside.
As soon as restrictions lifted to allow for friends to visit each other at home, the Keelings came over to visit.
"I'm looking forward to eating in a restaurant again but I'm letting all the people who desperately want to do that go in the first couple of months," Mrs Lockley said.
Mrs Keeling said she enjoyed the opportunity to be more social again but was still keen to avoid large crowds and still look extra precautions when in public.
"I think I'm still quite concerned about a second wave," Mrs Keeling said.
The group said they had all adjusted to speaking through video calls and, while there was still a need to be careful in public, you could not discount the importance of social interactions.
In Ainslie, neighbourhood friends Louis Watts, 11, Sophie Watts, 8, and Callum Bodenschatz, 12, spent the early afternoon jumping on a trampoline.
It's a far cry from their meetings during the pandemic when their parents marked out socially distanced places on the park at the front of their neighbouring houses.
A significant relaxation of restrictions was announced on Friday by the ACT government, which will allow 100 people in indoor spaces from noon, June 19.
Cinemas, concert venues and theatres will also be able to reopen, while churchgoers will be allowed to return to services.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr on Friday said the early relaxation of restrictions followed national successes in suppressing coronavirus cases.
"The dedication that the community has shown in adhering to physical distancing has put us in this very strong position," Mr Barr said.
"The pandemic is not over, but the situation today is more positive for Australia."
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Hundreds of international students may also be able to return to the ACT next month, under a pilot program to be run in the territory.
"We've done a lot of work with the universities over the last six weeks or so to have a really well-developed proposal that's been before the Commonwealth," Mr Barr said.
Students would be required to quarantine for two weeks and follow health screening and COVID-19 testing procedures.
Jasper Lindell
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
