Victoria’s Covid lockdown and rule changes explained

Can I go to the pub, get my haircut AND visit my mate’s place for a barbecue with friends? This is what Melburnians can and can’t do when lockdown lifts on Friday.

When does lockdown end?

Melbourne’s sixth lockdown will end at 11.59pm on Thursday. This coincides with having 70 per cent of Victorians aged 16 and over fully vaccinated. It means there will no longer be just five reasons to leave the home. A happy chief health officer Brett Sutton said: “There are better days ahead”.

What about the curfew?

The 9pm-5am curfew will be lifted, allowing Melburnians to leave the home at any time.

How far can I travel?

At 70 per cent, the roadmap originally planned to extend the travel limit from 15km to 25km. It will instead be scrapped, allowing Melburnians to travel freely across the city.

Can Melburnians go to the regions?

No. Movement between regional Victoria and Melbourne is still only allowed for permitted reasons, including care and work. The roadmap says Melburnians will be allowed to travel to the regions when the state hits 80 per cent fully vaccinated – either late October or early November.

Brunswick housemates Joel Witham, Fergus Smith-Merrett, Patrick Foley and Liam Harrington are excited to have visitors soon. Picture: Rebecca Michael

Can I have guests visit my house?

Under the new roadmap, 10 people (including dependants) will be allowed to visit your home per day.

Can I visit more than one friend’s home in a single day?

Yes, as long as neither friend has more than 10 people, including dependants, visiting their home on the same day you visit.

Do you have to be vaccinated to visit a friend’s home, or have them visit you?

It is “highly recommended” that anyone aged 12 and over be fully vaccinated for home visits. Premier Daniel Andrews said it wouldn’t be mandatory because it was “not something we can necessarily enforce”.

Can I hug and kiss family and friends when I visit them?

If you are fully vaccinated, Mr Andrews says you can behave “more normally than you have for a very long time”. So, it seems the answer is yes.

Leo and Max Picinich are excited about returning to school as lockdown restrictions ease. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

How many people can I catch up with outside?

As of next week, 15 people will be allowed to gather outdoors, regardless of vaccine status.

These gatherings no longer have to be made up of fully vaccinated people, but the Premier strongly recommends only the double-dosed gather in groups.

What’s happening with schools?

Melbourne students in prep to grade 2 are going back to school at least two days a week, this week. A staggered return to school for years 3-11 was due to start from October 26 but that has been brought forward to October 22.

When can I get on the beers?

Melbourne pubs, restaurants and cafes can open to 20 fully vaccinated people indoors and 50 fully vaccinated people outdoors.

It was expected that indoor service would not resume for another few weeks but the Premier has surprised the state with the promise of a cafe brunch in a matter of days.

Can I get a haircut?

Yes, hairdressing and personal care will be open for up to five fully vaccinated people at a time. Face masks must be worn by hairdressers and clients.

Cafes and restaurants in Melbourne are preparing to welcome back diners. Picture: Wayne Taylor

Am I allowed to attend my religious service?

Religious gatherings will be open for 20 double-dosed people indoors and 50 double-dosed outdoors.

As with as all indoor events, density limits will still be in place.

Why can restaurants open indoors when Victoria hits 70 per cent but shops can’t?

It’s not clear. Asked about the apparent contradiction, Mr Andrews said there were about 10 days between when Victoria would hit the 70 and 80 per cent milestones, and not everything could happen at once because we could “finish up with too much movement, too many cases, too many people becoming too sick and then it gets really, really challenging”.

Are there any changes to mask rules?

No. Masks will remain mandatory indoors and out.

Will kids in Melbourne now be allowed to knock on doors for Halloween trick-or-treating on October 31?

This isn’t clear, either. With home visits allowed from Friday, it seemed as though kids would be allowed to knock on doors to trick or treat. But Daniel Andrews was asked about this on Sunday and said: “I understand we were doing a click and collect Halloween this year. You can go to the front of the property but don’t enter the property”.

Households are encouraged to stock up on lollies and sweets for trick-or-treaters but not to let them through the front door.

When is Victoria estimated to hit the 80 per cent fully vaccinated target?

Victoria was originally scheduled to hit the milestone about November 5 but the state is now on track to do that almost a week earlier. Covid Live is projecting that it could be as early as October 31.

Previously, the government said Victorians would be allowed to have 30 people at home for Christmas? Will that be increased?

That’s yet to be decided.

What is the state government’s advice on booking international holidays for Christmas or over the New Year period?

Wait. The Premier said: “I want to see things firm up a bit on quarantine requirements on the way home. The borders are shut, you can’t leave without federal government approval at the moment, so you have to wait”.