RESTRICTIONS across Victoria will at 11.59pm tonight return to the settings in place at the beginning of summer.
The move to further ease restrictions follows a reduced exposure risk and low community transmission.
From 11.59pm tonight, masks will be only be required on public transport, in rideshare vehicles and taxis, in sensitive settings such as aged care facilities – and in some larger retail settings including indoor shopping centres, supermarkets, department stores and indoor markets.
While masks are no longer mandated in most circumstances, the wearing of masks is still recommended indoors or outdoors when distancing can’t be maintained.
Victorians will be able to host up to 30 people in their home per day. Outdoor gatherings in public places – the beach, the park – can increase to 100 people.
The planned increase for office workers to return to work can go ahead at 75 per cent across both public and private sectors from 11.59pm tonight. For most workers, this will mean returning to the office from Monday.
Density limits in pubs, restaurants and cafes will remain at one person per two square metres for both indoors and outdoors with no other cap, so long as electronic record keeping – a QR code – is used.
For small operations, there’ll be no density limits if the patron number is under 25 and they will still be required to keep records.
For beauty services, businesses remain at one person per two square metres – if they also introduce electronic record keeping. For businesses where that’s not possible, density limits of one person per four square metres will apply.
Retail businesses also remain at one person per two square metres and electronic record keeping is recommended where practical.
Funerals and weddings are subject to a density limit of one person per two square metres. The same rules will apply to nightclubs and our community facilities, like our libraries, RSLs, and community halls.
In gyms, the density limit remains one per four square metres – with exercise classes limited to 50 indoors and 100 outdoors.
The State of Emergency – which needs to be declared so the Chief Health Officer can issue directions to respond to the pandemic and keep Victorians safe – will be extended to 11.59pm on March 15.
Premier Daniel Andrews thanked every Victorian for making today’s announcement possible.
“I want to thank every Victorian for their patience,” he said.
“It’s been a hard slog, but Victorians are doing what they do best as we work to beat this virus: staying the course and looking out for each other.”
For more information on the new coronavirus settings visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au.
