Is it safe to go out to play chess tournaments?

Yes this is quite important, especially if you live in a country where the virus is running rampant.

I normally don't worry about it too much since my country is not doing too bad against it.

Which part of Australia do you live? 

If you live in Victoria, you are in some risk.!

I am in W.A , I am in very very low risk .

I think there is no new COVID cases in W.A for the last month, I think. 

You can always practice with online chess tournaments before OTB restarts again. Also, there is a tournament fundraiser coming up soon to help stop the spread of Covid-19(thereby helping resume OTB chess sooner). You can learn more about the tournament at gcctfundraiser.org. 

Depends. Do you live in Victoria, or do you live somewhere else in Australia?

I live in Victoria and we're on stage 4 restrictions. You can't leave your house unless it's for an essential reason. So no, it's absolutely not okay to be playing chess in person if you live in this state.

If you live in any other state though, then I'd say that going out to a chess club is fine. There are very few active cases in Australia (except for Victoria). We're doing very well as a country, so you're pretty safe. Maybe wear a mask though, just in case.

I am not from Victoria fortunately, but I am a currently studying there. Yeah Australia is doing well, at least most of the states are doing well. Yeah a mask is compulsory here.

Bad luck. I feel for anyone that's stuck in Victoria right now. Things just keep getting worse and worse. Today they announced a curfew, so you can't leave your house between 8pm and 5am

So yeah, unfortunately, you're just going to have to stick to online chess until all this is over.

I'm in the same boat. I really miss going out to my local chess club and playing some over-the-board blitz games. Hopefully by the start of next year, we'll be able to do that again.

I don't think it's safe to go outside until March (spring) comes.

Outside is fine, as long as you're not near anyone...

true. 

That depends. Sometimes it's fine if you are near people. And other times it's not. It depends on who you are near and what you are doing. For example if you are outside near people while rioting or protesting, then that's most likely going to be fine. But if you are outside near people at church or on  a beach or at a wedding, then that's going to be a problem. 

Part of the problem with the figuring out which activities are ok, and which aren't is the mixed messages when it comes to enforcement. 

wait, how is being near a riot "fine"? Isn't that dangerous because

1. the virus

2. the situation might escalate

Maybe you could have a church service during a riot...

It depends on who is evaluating the riot. If you or I, or most any reasonable person, were to evaluate the situation yes it would not be fine because of the potential to spread the virus and it could escalate. But, other people insist there is a first amendment right to do this and the virus is a secondary concern. Ironically many of the people who insist exposure to the virus at riots and protests is fine, are very concerned about the virus being spread at things like weddings, church, or the beach. 

I didn't even think of that. More practically, a wedding. 

I would love to go out and play chess tournament. I am tired of this fear mongering

Facebook? What's that? ;-)

Riots are always acceptable because when shouldn’t a brick be thrown? Give me one good reason not to throw a brick. I’m waiting.

Weddings simply lack the proper human to brick ratio.

We don't need to prove one more time that gravity still works...