COVID restrictions: The rule change bringing Christmas cheer back to Victoria
Victorians will be given more freedoms in a matter of hours, with great news on the way for families ahead of Christmas. These are the restrictions set to be rolled back on Sunday.
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Victorians can look forward to large family gatherings in their homes on Christmas Day with coronavirus restrictions likely to be eased again in the next month.
The Sunday Herald Sun can also reveal that the state government will announce that masks will no longer be necessary outdoors from Monday as long as people keep a safe distance from each other. But masks will still have to be used indoors.
Changes to be announced Sunday also include increases to gathering limits allowing up to 10 visitors in a home and groups of 50 outdoors.
But authorities are confident that they will be able to increase the limit on gatherings in home further in time for Christmas, with up to 20 expected to be allowed at indoor gatherings.
The easing comes as there is now just one active case of coronavirus remaining in Victoria, and a new permit scheme will be introduced to control the flow of those coming in from South Australia.
Premier Daniel Andrews will today announce that pubs and cafes will have their capacity constraints lifted to 100 people indoors and 200 people outdoors, subject to density requirements, while cinemas and theatre caps will also be boosted.
Arcades and amusement parks will be able to reopen and Melbourne’s iconic Luna Park is set to throw opens its door next weekend.
Weddings and funerals will be allowed to hold up to 100 members of the public, with one person for every four square metres at venues.
It is understood the state’s one remaining positive coronavirus case is set to be discharged from hospital in the coming days, a significant milestone in Victoria’s efforts to contain the disease.
Health Minister Martin Foley said on Saturday the person was recovery slowly and being treated cautiously.
“We remain patient,” he said.
“Its been quite some weeks now. Elderly people with other pre-existing conditions are particularly prone to this incredibly infectious virus.”
There have been no new coronavirus cases for 23 consecutive days after the Department of Health and Human Services ruled that a woman in her 80s who recorded a weak positive test on Thursday did not have COVID-19.
In response to the discovery of traces of the virus in the Altona sewage catchment, a new pop-testing site has been set up at Featherbrook Reserve in Point Cook.
“Anyone in those Altona or surrounding catchment areas with even the slightest of symptoms, get tested and get tested today,” Mr Foley said.
No positive cases of the virus were discovered after a similar testing blitz in Portland and Benalla that was also triggered by wastewater results.
International arrivals are also set to return to Victoria in 15 days but it is not yet clear how the new version of the bungled hotel quarantine scheme will work.
The Andrews Government is yet to detail whether it will send some residents into home isolation, as flagged in the hotel quarantine inquiry’s interim report, and how security will be managed at quarantine centres.
Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien said it was vital authorities make use of police, ADF personnel or other highly-trained officials.
“That’s where the mistakes were made last time, we can’t afford to go back there,” he said.
A new permit system will be used to restrict anyone entering Victoria from South Australia as the state works to contain its own coronavirus outbreak, with police and authorised officers in charge of enforcement at airports and spot checks.
The Andrews Government will make the permits available on the Service Victoria website but the restrictions will not apply to those in the current 70km cross-border bubble.
A state government spokeswoman said exemptions would also apply such as for emergency services and for those living on a property that extends across both sides of the border.
“People who have visited a SA high risk exposure site will not be allowed to visit Victoria unless an exemption is granted by the Chief Health Officer,” she said.
RESTRICTIONS TO BE EASED SUNDAY UNDER CURRENT ROAD MAP
– Public gatherings of up to 50 people and up to 10 visitors inside a home.
– Gyms and indoor community sport can have up to 100 people
– Large sporting venues open with 25 per cent limit on capacity
– No cap on outdoor pools and up to 50 people at indoor pools, with density quotas
– Playcentres and trampolining venues capped at 50 people with groups up to 20
– Weddings and funerals allowed with up to 100 members of the public, except for private homes
– Increased caps for indoor and outdoor religious gatherings
– Pubs, restaurants and cafes can have 100 people indoors and 200 outdoors, with density limits
– Masks can be removed if needed for facial waxing, facials, beard trims and piercings
– Cinemas and other sit-down venues can have
25 per cent capacity up to 100 people
– Galleries and museums set to open with limits, more details on Sunday
– Amusement parks, escape rooms and other indoor entertainment to open
– Casino and electric gaming caps to increase with density rules
– Indoor and outdoor real estate auctions permitted
– Accommodation bookings can have up to 10 people from any household
– Outdoor tourism sites open with density limits, indoor with 25 per cent capacity up to 100 people
READ MORE:
THE BIG WINNERS IN VIC’S UPCOMING BUDGET
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