The restrictions in place to keep Victorians safe from coronavirus will be eased in regional Victoria tonight, following advice from Victoria’s Chief Health Officer.
Victorians have done an incredible job keeping each other safe over the last week and our contact tracers are continuing to chase down cases.
Because of this, from 11.59pm tonight the five reasons to leave the home will be removed in regional Victoria and there will be no limit on the distance regional Victorians can travel from home. People will only be able to travel to Melbourne for a permitted reason and you must follow the Melbourne restrictions once there.
While having visitors to your home is prohibited, outdoor gathering limits can occur with up to 10 people, with infants under 12 months are not included in the cap.
Food and hospitality will open for seated service only, with a cap of 50 people per venue, subject to density requirements of 1 per 4sqm. Retail can also open and personal services such as beauty and tattooing can resume for services where masks can remain on.
Religious gatherings and ceremonies are permitted for 50 people, plus 1 faith leader, indoors or outdoors and gathering limits for weddings will be 10 people and for funerals to 50 mourners.
Junior outdoor community sport will return, and adults will be able to resume training and recreation outdoors. Outdoor pools (including swimming classes) can operate with a limit of 50 people and a density quotient of 1 person per 4sqm.
Outdoor entertainment – seated and unseated will have a patron cap of 50 people or 50 per cent of the venue’s seated capacity, whichever is lower.
While restrictions remain in metropolitan Melbourne, we need to ensure the virus does not travel into the regions, which is why businesses that are open in regional Victoria but closed in Melbourne – restaurants or beauty for example – must check the place of residence of everyone they serve.
We’re also expanding our Service Victoria QR requirements so that it’s mandatory to check in to retail settings such as supermarkets and shops – this will apply across the state. Customers must now check in whenever they attend a venue – the minimum of 15 minutes will no longer apply.
As these restrictions ease, we need regional Victorians to continue their COVIDSafe behaviours – most importantly to get tested if they have any symptoms at all, and get vaccinated if it’s their turn.
Quotes attributable to Acting Premier James Merlino
“Because of the incredible work of our public health teams and the Victorian community in slowing the spread of this virus, we’re now able to ease restrictions in regional Victoria.”
“This outbreak is an important reminder that while Commonwealth’s vaccine program continues to rollout, we are still living with this virus and we cannot afford any complacency to creep in – we must stay safe to stay open.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Health Martin Foley
“Victoria is vaccinating more people than any other state or territory and we’re continuing to ask Victorians – if you’re eligible please get vaccinated – it’s our only ticket out of the pandemic.”
Reviewed 03 June 2021