From 11.59 pm 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.
1- While having visitors to home is prohibited, outdoor gathering limits can occur with up to 10 people, with infants under 12 months are not included in the cap.
2- 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.
3- 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.
4- 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.
5- 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.
Acting Premier James Merlino said, “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.”
While restrictions remain in metropolitan Melbourne, just to ensure the virus does not travel into the regions businesses that are open in regional Victoria but closed in Melbourne for example restaurants or beauty must check the place of residence of everyone they serve.
This will apply across the state
Victorian government is expanding Service Victoria QR requirements so that it’s mandatory to check in to retail settings such as supermarkets and shops. Customers must now check in whenever they attend a venue, the minimum of 15 minutes will no longer apply.
As these restrictions ease, health authorities want 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.
Minister for Health Martin Foley explained, “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.”