Great news for business as entertainment and retail re-open from Friday
City and country Victoria will reunite under the same COVID-19 restrictions from Friday, Premier Dan Andrews announced on the weekend.
From 6pm Friday, the border around Melbourne will be dropped, allowing Victorians to travel anywhere in the state ahead of the Melbourne Cup weekend.
Masks will no longer be mandatory in outdoor settings where social distancing is possible and entertainment and retail venues can re-open.
More than 73 per cent of Victorians aged 16 and above have now had both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, and Friday should see us hit 80 per cent fully vaxxed.
Mr Andrews also unveiled the plan for once 90 per cent of Victorians aged 12 and above have been vaccinated, a milestone expected to be hit on Wednesday, November 24.
At the 90 percent point, there will be no caps or density quotients in any settings, and masks will only be mandatory at certain high-risk settings.
There’s some great news for business, so what will change for you at 6pm Friday? Here’s our summary:
All of Victoria will be on the same settings, so Metro Melburnians (that includes we in the City of Melton) can leave the metro area. The border around Melbourne will be dropped, allowing Victorians to travel anywhere in the state.
Masks will no longer be mandatory in outdoor settings where social distancing is possible. They will still be required inside, including in workplaces.
Victorians are urged to work from home if they can, but they are allowed to go onsite if they are fully vaccinated.
Proof of vaccination or a valid exemption will be needed to access most settings. Children under the age of 16 will not have to show proof of innoculation.
Indoor retail can reopen.
Pubs, restaurants and cafes can open for seated service for more people indoors. They will be allowed one fully vaccinated person per 4 square metres indoors and one fully vaccinated person per 2 square metres outdoors — with a cap of 500 people.
For indoor seated venues such as cinemas and theatres, there will be a 75 per cent capacity limit and a maximum of one person per 4 square metres allowed, up to 1,000 people. For non-seated indoor entertainment venues, that same density quotient of one person per 4 square metres applies, without a patron cap.
Outdoor seated and non-seated entertainment venues, including stadiums, zoos and tourism attractions, will be open with a limit of 5,000 — subject to density quotient — where staff and patrons are fully vaccinated.
Most indoor settings, gyms and hairdressers will open with no caps, subject to density quotient limits and if all staff and patrons are fully vaccinated.
Events such as music festivals will be able to host up to 5,000 attendees, subject to any restrictions related to the venue.
Weddings, funerals, and religious services will return for fully vaccinated people indoors and outdoors, subject to density quotients. Caps of 30 people will apply for weddings, funerals and religious gatherings if vaccination status is unknown.
Private gatherings will still be limited to 10 people, including dependants, until we reach the 90 per cent vaccination target, but from next weekend up to 30 people, including dependents, will be able to gather outside.
The next milestone in the roadmap will be when Victoria hits the 90 per cent double dose vaccination target for Victorians 12 years and over — predicted to be as early as Wednesday, November 24.
Here’s what will change when we reach 90 per cent double dose vaccination:
Masks will only be mandatory indoors in some high-risk settings such as hospitals, aged care, public transport and justice and correctional facilities.
There will be no limits to the number of people who can gather in the home and outdoors.
On-site work can return for anyone fully vaccinated.
Venues will be able to operate at maximum capacity subject to vaccination requirements and COVID-safe measures.
All non-essential retail staff and their patrons will need to be vaccinated.
Unvaccinated people will still be able to visit essential stores like supermarkets and pharmacies.
There will be no restrictions for indoor and outdoor events provided they follow COVID-safe rules including vaccination requirements.
Events with significant numbers of children may not be able to operate at full capacity while vaccines remain unavailable for children.
There will be some caps for religious ceremonies, weddings and funerals where vaccination status is unknown.
State significant venues hosting major events will need to have one-off approval of their COVID-safe venue plan.