Retail and hospitality to open under new restriction rules
Melburnians will be able to visit and welcome guests from another household, as well as eat out and go shopping when significant restrictions are lifted on Wednesday — but strict rules still apply. This is everything you need to know about the city’s big step from lockdown.
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Premier Daniel Andrews on Monday announced significant easing of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions across Melbourne.
Melbourne’s retail and hospitality industries will reopen from Wednesday under a two-phase easing of the city’s restrictions.
Restaurants, hotels, cafes and bars will reopen, with a maximum of 20 people indoors and up to 50 people outdoors.
Beauty and personal services will also reopen.
These are the changes.
FROM OCTOBER 28
SOCIAL
Can I have people to my house?
Two adults, plus their dependants, from one household can visit another home once a day. Visitors cannot be from multiple households.
“One household — two adults and dependants — to your household, once a day, and you can receive no other visitors, simple as that,” Premier Daniel Andrews said on Tuesday.
What about if we are in a park or public space?
Up to 10 people may gather outdoors form any number of households, or more than 10, if all from the same household.
HOSPITALITY
Are cafes and restaurants open?
Hospitality can reopen from Wednesday for seated dining/drinking.
Indoors has a cap of 10 people per space, with a maximum of 20 patrons per venue, subject to density requirements (1 per 4sq m).
Outdoor space has a cap of 50 patrons per venue subject to density requirements (1 per 2sqm)
SHOPPING AND RETAIL
What personal care services are open?
Beauty and care services like manicures, pedicures, waxing and tattooing can open where clients are able to wear a face covering.
What about other retailers?
Market stalls open for takeaway food and drink.
All other retail and shopping centres open subject to COVID-safe plans and density limits. Workers can return on Monday as a “dark opening” to prepare.
TRAVEL AND RECREATION
What are the reasons I can go out?
The four reasons to go out will be lifted and there will be no restrictions on reasons to leave the house.
How far can I go?
The 25km limit remains for the moment.
Can I travel intrastate for a holiday or to visit family?
You still cannot travel to regional Victoria.
Can I go to work?
You must continue to work from home if you can, with limited workforce restrictions for specified industries.
What about group sport and exercise?
Indoor sport and recreation eg: gyms is still not allowed.
Outdoor contact sport is allowed for under-18s and outdoor non-contact sport for adults who must maintain social distancing requirements.
Outdoor personal training and classes for up to 10 people per trainer can recommence; indoor open but heavily restricted.
Outdoor swimming pools can operate with up to 50 people depending on their size.
Outdoor public playgrounds and skateparks are all open.
Trampoline centres that are indoors remain closed.
CEREMONIES AND RELIGION
What are the new rules for weddings and funerals?
Weddings can have up to 10 people, including the couple, two witnesses. The celebrant is excluded from the count.
Funerals can have up to 20 mourners (infants under one-year-old not counted) plus those required to run the service.
Can I go to church?
Religious ceremonies can gather outdoors with up to 20 people, plus one faith leader. Private worship allowed for one household plus one faith leader.
ENTERTAINMENT
Will zoos and other attractions be open?
Non-seated outdoor spaces (eg: zoos/Sovereign Hill) can open with density caps depending on size.
Seated outdoor spaces open for up to 10 people per group and up to 50 per venue, but groups must maintain 1.5m social distance from each other.
Drive-in cinemas open but no sitting outside vehicles.
Retail betting venues open with restrictions.
FROM NOVEMBER 8
How far can I go?
The 25km radius is removed.
Can I go to regional Victoria?
Melbourne’s “ring of steel” will be removed and residents of metropolitan Melbourne can visit regional Victoria.
Can I go to the gym?
Gyms and fitness studios will reopen in Melbourne with a maximum of 20 people and
10 people per space.
Are cafes and restaurants open?
Restaurants hotels, cafes, bars will move to an indoor maximum of 40 with 10 people per space, outdoor maximum of 70 people with one person every 2sq m.
Can I go to church?
Outdoor faith gatherings can have a maximum 50 people plus one faith leader and maximum 20 people plus one faith leader.
What about funerals?
Funerals will have maximum 20 mourners indoors and maximum of 50 mourners outdoors.
What about group sport and exercise?
Non-contact sport for 18 and under and sports capable of 1.5m distance and can operate indoors. Indoor pools will be able to open for up to 20 people.
MORE NEWS
CHANGES COMING TO MELBOURNE’S RESTRICTIONS