Amicus response to COVID-19

Update: Victoria moves to Last Step restrictions from 11:59pm 22 November 2020.

What’s changing?

• There are no restrictions on reasons to leave home.  During the Last Step restrictions on gatherings remain in place.
• There will be a phased return to workplaces.
• Contact and non-contact sport and recreation can resume for all ages, with limits applying to numbers of people. 
• Shops, recreational facilities, entertainment, hospitality and cultural venues will be open, although there are still restrictions. These include operating with a COVIDSafe Plan, density limits (the number of people allowed in a venue depends on its size so that people can keep at least 1.5 metres distance apart), record keeping and cleaning.
• There are no restrictions on reasons to leave home.  During the Last Step restrictions on gatherings remain in place.
• There will be a phased return to workplaces.
• Contact and non-contact sport and recreation can resume for all ages, with limits applying to numbers of people. 
• Shops, recreational facilities, entertainment, hospitality and cultural venues will be open, although there are still restrictions. These include operating with a COVIDSafe Plan, density limits (the number of people allowed in a venue depends on its size so that people can keep at least 1.5 metres distance apart), record keeping and cleaning.

Masks:

Face masks remain mandatory in some settings, unless you have a lawful reason not to wear one

• face masks are no longer mandatory when you are outdoors, if you can stay 1.5 metres away from people that you don’t live with
• use of face masks outdoors is required if you are unable to stay further than 1.5 metres away from people you don’t live with, such as at public transport stations, outdoor markets, walkways and thoroughfares. Face masks remain mandatory when indoors – for example the supermarket or on public transport.
• you must continue to carry a face mask with you at all times.

Seeing friends and family:

• leave home – no restrictions on reasons to leave home or distance but stay safe
• public gatherings – up to 50 people outdoors
• visitors to the home – up to 15 visitors per day, can be from different households
• visiting hospitals and care facilities: no restrictions on purpose, number of visitors or length of time for visits. Hospitals and care facilities set rules for visitors

Education and childcare:

• childcare – open
• schools – on-site learning for all with safety measures in place​
• adult education – students and staff return to campus for summer semester

Work and business:

• staged return to the workplace for small, medium and large companies with staggered arrival and exit times. Up to 25 per cent of staff may attend onsite
• work from home to continue for anyone else

Find out more about:

• Industry restrictions roadmap: Victoria

Shopping, personal services, eating and drinking out: 

• restaurants, cafes, pubs, bars and nightclubs can open for outdoor and indoor seated service of food or drink. Indoor seated service for up to 150 people depending on the size of the venue. Outdoor seated service for up to 300 people (with a total venue limit of 300).  Nightclubs may open for seated service only. There is no limit on the size of the group you can sit or dine with.
• for hospitality venues with less than 200sqm of floorspace indoors, the two square metre rule should be applied indoors with up to of 50 patrons allowed. QR codes must be used for venues using the small indoor venue density quotient. For venues with 200sqm of indoor floorspace or larger, the four square metre rule must be applied with up to 150 patrons allowed.
• retail – all open
• beauty and personal care – clients can remove their masks for services such as facials, beard trimming and facial waxing, tattoos and piercings.  Masks should only be removed for the duration of the service.  Beauty and personal care services can be provided to clients in the home.
• real estate – open with a COVIDSafe Plan.  Cap on the number of people attending inspections and auctions, up to 20 people for an inspection, subject to the four square metre rule and for auctions, up to 50 people from any number of households.
• brothels, sex on premises and adult entertainment venues – open with limits

Ceremonies and special occasions:

• weddings – allowed with up to 150 people, smaller venues will have fewer people.  There is a maximum of 15 visitors if the wedding is held in a private residence
• funerals – allowed with up to 150 people, smaller venues will have fewer people.  There is a maximum of 15 visitors if the funeral is held in a private residence
• religion – public worship can occur with to 150 people allowed indoors.  Up to 300 people allowed outdoors.  Religious ceremonies can either be held outdoors or indoors, not both at the same time Smaller venues will have fewer people.

Entertainment, leisure and travel:

• travel within Victoria – allowed
• entertainment – indoor and outdoor venues open with the four square metre rule applied and patron caps. Staged return to events. Large events considered on an individual basis, based on requirements and epidemiology at the time.
• bands and music subject to venue limits and COVIDSafe requirements
• casinos open  with patron limits. Electronic gaming venues with up to 150 per venue with every second gaming machine disabled. There is no longer a limit on the time you can spend in a gaming venue.
• karaoke bars – open with patron limits of up to 150, the four square metre rule applied, and group sizes of 20
• arcades, bingo centres and escape rooms can open for up to 150 people. Smaller venues will have fewer people. Groups limited to 20.
• amusement parks – open with four square metre rule applied, limits on groups and the number of patrons
• community facilities including libraries can open for up to 150 people indoors and up to 300 people outdoors, subject to the four square metre rule. Groups are limited to 20 people indoors and 50 people outdoors.
• accommodation – open. Group bookings of a household and up to 15 people.
• tourism groups and transport – groups of 20 indoors and in enclosed transport,  groups of 50 if outdoors or in open transport