Victoria’s Restrictions eased with 90 per cent vaccination
Confused about what’s changed since Friday’s easing of restrictions? Fear not and read on, as we summarise all you need to know.
Almost all restrictions have eased for fully vaccinated Victorians, but some COVID-19 risks still remain. There are things we can all do to make ourselves and others safer.
Business Restrictions
In line with the Victorian Government’s announcement, nearly all remaining restrictions have been lifted statewide for fully vaccinated people from Friday 19 November – reaching Phase D of the National Plan.
This means that from Friday 19 November 2021:
The vaccinated economy will remain, as will face masks in some settings.
There will be no caps or density limits for cafés and restaurants.
Indoor dance floors will reopen.
Non-essential retail settings across Victoria will join the vaccinated economy. It will only be open to people who are fully vaccinated or have a valid medical exemption, and children aged under 12 years and two months.
All indoor and outdoor events with less than 30,000 fully vaccinated attendees will be able to proceed with no special approval. A COVIDSafe Plan is required.
Major events like the Boxing Day Test and the Australian Open will be able to proceed at full capacity, subject to the approval of the MCG and Melbourne Park’s COVIDSafe Plan.
For a more detailed overview of the restrictions, please see the updated phase D table.
Staying COVIDSafe
Remember these COVIDSafe principles:
Wear a mask if you can’t socially distance, have any symptoms, or if you are with people who may be vulnerable to COVID-19.
Masks are required indoors at retail, health, care and justice facilities, at primary schools, and on public transport, taxis and rideshare. Visit the coronavirus face masks page for information about where masks are required.
You can reduce risks by maintaining 1.5 metre distance from others where possible, using hand sanitiser and practising good hygiene. Ventilation and air filtration help. Consider opening windows to let the fresh air blow through or catching up with friends outside.
If you have COVID-19 symptoms or if you have been advised to get tested by a contact, workplace or school, get a COVID-19 test and isolate until you get a negative result.
If you have COVID-19, or you are a household contact, you need to quarantine. If your symptoms get rapidly worse, please seek help. Visit the hospital if it’s an emergency.
Remember to check in everywhere every time using the Service Victoria App.
Get vaccinated to protect yourself, your loved ones and your community. If you aren’t fully vaccinated, you’re at a much higher risk of going to hospital. Book an appointment today.
Vaccination requirements
Many venues can only open for people (including workers) who are fully vaccinated or excepted.
Fully vaccinated means someone who:
has received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, or
has a valid medical exemption, or
is under the age of 12 and two months.
This overview lists venues you can only attend or work at if you are fully vaccinated.
Many workers are also required to be fully vaccinated if they are leaving home for work, regardless of whether their place of work is open for fully vaccinated patrons. See more information about workers required to be vaccinated.
Going out
Venues you can attend if you are fully vaccinated include:
food and drink venues (eg. restaurants and pubs)
nightlife venues (eg. bars and nightclubs)
entertainment venues (eg. cinemas, zoos)
events (eg. festivals, fun runs and conferences)
tourism venues (eg. walking tours, buses)
casinos and gaming venues and adult entertainment venues
If you don’t meet the vaccination requirements, you can’t enter these venues.
Vaccination requirements don’t apply to food and drink venues operating for takeaway only.
Getting active
If you are fully vaccinated, you can attend sporting and recreation facilities (eg. sports grounds, gyms and swimming pools) and sporting events.
If you don’t meet the vaccination requirements, you can’t enter.
Vaccination requirements don’t apply to people involved in community sport (eg. a local footy match) or people using swimming pools for essential medical care like hydrotherapy.
Getting goods and services
Venues you can attend if you are fully vaccinated include:
non-essential retail stores (eg. books and jewellery shops)
personal services (eg. a hairdresser and beauty parlour)
community premises (eg. a library) and creative arts premises
real estate services (inspection and auction)
If you don’t meet the vaccination requirements, you can’t enter.
If vaccination status isn’t being checked:
real estate inspections can go ahead by private appointment for a single household, and the estate agent does not enter the premises during the inspection.
community facilities can host essential public support groups, support services and health services in limited numbers.
Vaccination requirements don’t apply to essential retail stores (eg. supermarkets, post office).
Seeing others
There are no limits to the number of people you can gather with in your home or in public places (eg. a park or a beach), though it is recommend that everyone who you are gathering at your home or in a public place is fully vaccinated.
Weddings, funerals, and worship
If everyone present is fully vaccinated, you can host or attend weddings, funerals, and religious ceremonies at places of worship with no limits on density or attendance.
If vaccination status isn’t being checked, these events are restricted to one person per 4 sqm up to a maximum of 50 people per facility. The cap at funerals doesn’t include those required to conduct the funeral and the cap at weddings doesn’t include the marrying couple, celebrant, or photographer.
Work, education, and childcare
Workplaces are open, but you must be fully vaccinated if:
you are working somewhere that’s only open for fully vaccinated people (eg. restaurant), or
if you are a worker or volunteer who is required to be vaccinated if working outside home.
Schools, childcare centres, and early childhood education are open to all ages. Masks must be worn indoors at school by staff, visitors, and students in primary school.
f you are fully vaccinated, you can attend adult education facilities (eg. university, TAFE). If you are not fully vaccinated, you can’t enter unless it cannot be taught online.
Travel
There are no limits on travel or accommodation in Victoria.
Vaccination requirements still apply to relevant settings within an accommodation complex, such as a restaurant or a gym.
There are no limits on leaving Victoria, but travel may be impacted by rules at your destination. Check before you book. When you return, you must obtain a permit from Service Victoria and follow your permit conditions and requirements.
High-risk settings
There are limits on attending high-risk settings, even if you’re fully vaccinated.
Residents at care facilities can have up to five visitors per day including dependents for any reason. We strongly recommend that all residents and visitors are fully vaccinated.
Visitors to hospitals are still limited to a small number of circumstances, such as end-of-life.
See Visiting hospitals and Visiting care facilities below for more information.
Masks are still compulsory indoors in many settings. See Face masks - when to wear a face mask for more information on where masks are required.
Local Exposure Sites
Check the COVID-19 website for full details including locations, days and times www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/exposure-sites
If you have been to an exposure site, isolate, get tested, and stay isolated until you receive a negative result.
Remember to check exposure sites daily.
For all testing locations, opening hours and wait times, visitwww.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/where-get-tested-covid-19