Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has announced that from 11.59pm Wednesday 17 February restrictions will ease across the state.
Key changes include:
- No restrictions on reasons to leave home.
- Schools to open on Thursday.
- Retail, hospitality and beauty to reopen.
- Return to workplaces at 50% capacity.
- 5 visitors to the home and public gatherings of up to 20.
Keep reading for a full list of restrictions and changes.
Social
- No restriction on reasons to leave home but stay safe.
- Public gatherings: Up to 20 people can gather outdoors from any number of households, infants under 12 months are not included in the cap.
- Visitors to the home: Up to 5 visitors can visit a home in a day (infants under 12 months are not counted in the cap).
Face masks
- Must be carried at all times. Mandatory when inside public spaces and outdoors when cannot maintain 1.5m physical distancing.
- Any person diagnosed or suspected of having COVID-19, or who is a close contact of someone diagnosed with COVID-19, must wear a face covering if leaving home/accommodation for a permitted reason, such as medical care.
Education
- Schools, childcare, early education and adult education are open.
Work
- Workers may attend onsite as required. On-site office work capped at no more than 50 per cent of a workforce on-site (both public and private sectors).
Eating and drinking out
- Density quotient of 1 per 2sqm for indoor and outdoor hospitality venues. Up to 25 patrons are permitted in a venue before the density quotient applies.
Exercise and recreation
- A density quotient of 1 per 4sqm applies to each space.
- Gym and exercise classes limited to 50 people (excluding anyone necessary for running the class). COVID Marshals required when gyms are staffed. At times when gyms are unstaffed, a density quotient of 1 per 8 sqm applies.
- Up to a maximum of 100 patrons for outdoor fitness classes (excluding anyone necessary for running the class) with a density quotient of 1 per 2sqm.
- Indoor pools, spas, saunas, steam rooms and springs open with a density quotient of 1 per 4 sqm.
- Outdoor pools open with a density quotient of 1 per 2 sqm.
Ceremonies and special occasions
- No maximum wedding attendee caps indoors or outdoors.
- No maximum funeral attendee caps indoors or outdoors, density quotient of 1 per 2sqm applies when using electronic record keeping.
- For weddings and funerals held at a private residence, the private gathering limit of 5 people applies.
Eating and drinking out
- Up to 25 patrons are permitted in a venue before the 1 per 2sqm
- density quotient applies.
- No requirement for seated service.
- Density quotient of 1 per 4sqm on a dancefloor up to a maximum of 50 people.
Community venues, including libraries and toy libraries
- No patron caps with a density quotient of 1 per 2sqm, subject to use of electronic record keeping.
Shopping, hairdressing and personal care
- Density quotient of 1 per 2sqm for retail.
- Hairdressing, beauty and personal care services open and face masks required but can be removed if necessary for beauty services.
Care facilities and hospitals
- One household may visit a patient once per day. Exceptions continue to apply. Symptomatic individuals (e.g. sore throat), close contacts and returned international travellers excluded from visiting.
