Yahoo Movies Covid Victoria restrictions explained: new coronavirus rules for Melbourne and regional Vic
Victoria has announced a further easing of Covid restrictions in Melbourne after residents spent a week in a state of semi-lockdown.
The following coronavirus rules apply in greater Melbourne and regional Victoria.
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When can I leave my house?
People in Melbourne and regional Victoria can leave home for any reason.
How far can I travel from home?
The 25km travel limit has been scrapped and Melburnians can travel freely in the state. However, anyone going to regional Victorian Alpine Resorts must have had a Covid test within 72 hours and show evidence of a negative result to enter the ski field.
Regional Victorians have no restrictions on how far they can travel within regional Victoria and can now go in and out of greater Melbourne.
What are the rules for exercise?
There is no time limit on exercise.
What are the rules for wearing face masks?
Masks must be worn indoors except for in your home – unless you have a medical exemption.
Masks no longer need to be worn outdoors unless 1.5m of physical distancing cannot be maintained.
Can I have visitors to my house?
Two visitors a day are allowed to homes in Melbourne. People in regional Victoria are allowed to have up to five visitors and their dependants – once per day.
Related: Covid travel restrictions: where you can and can’t go within Australia
Can I travel interstate?
Each state and territory is updating guidance on travel rules individually:
What about public gatherings?
Public gatherings up to 20 people are allowed in Melbourne from Friday, up from the current maximum of 10 people.
In regional Victoria, the maximum has increased from 20 to 50 people.
What is happening with schools?
Schools in Melbourne and regional Victoria have resumed face-to-face learning for all students.
Childcare, early learning centres and kindergartens are open.
Can I dine in at a restaurant or cafe?
Cafes, restaurants and pubs are open – with strict safety measures like density limits, seated service and QR codes in place. Up to 150 people per venue will be allowed, but no more than 75 indoors.
In regional Victoria, they are open for seated service only, with the maximum patron cap lifted to 300. Group sizes of a maximum of 50 are allowed and density of one person per four square metres.
Are the shops open?
In Melbourne and regional Victoria, retail is open with a density of one person per four square metres.
Across Victoria all venues are now required to make people sign in to the Service Vic QR code app.
What about weddings, funerals and religious services?
In Melbourne, weddings are limited to 20 people. Dancefloors are not permitted.
At funerals no more than 75 people are able to attend. Religious gatherings of a maximum of 150 (75 max indoors) are permitted.
In regional Victoria, up to 50 people are allowed to go to weddings from Friday. Funerals can have no more than 100 people, but children under 12 months do not count in this cap.
What about aged care and hospitals?
Across Victoria, no visitors are allowed at aged care facilities except for limited reasons. There will be no visitors to hospitals allowed except for end of life, if you’re a partner during the birth of your child, or a parent accompanying a child.
Can I go and get vaccinated?
Yes. The Victorian government has expanded the eligibility to include those aged between 40-49 for state-operated vaccination sites. People in this category can now call the hotline on 1800 675 398 to book an appointment.
What about heading back to the office?
In Melbourne if people can work from home they must work from home. However, workplaces can have up to 50% of staff in the office, or a maximum of 20 people, whichever is greater.
In regional Victoria, if people can work from home they must work from home, but workplaces can have up to 75% of staff in the office, or a maximum of 30 people, whichever is greater.
Due to the unprecedented and ongoing nature of the coronavirus outbreak, this article is regularly updated to ensure it reflects the current situation at the date of publication. Any significant corrections made to this or previous versions of the article will continue to be footnoted in line with Guardian editorial policy.
