Mask rules to be eased in Victorian offices

Victorians are in for a small reprieve when it comes to mask-wearing, but hopes for big changes to Covid restrictions have been dashed.

Masks will no longer be required in offices and footy crowds will be boosted under a further easing of restrictions to be unveiled this week.

Under the changes – confirmed by senior government sources – workers will be free to remove their masks in offices, with health authorities confident that QR codes and staff rosters can be used for contact tracing in the event of an outbreak.

Footy crowds will also be increased to 75 per cent capacity.

The 50 per cent capacity cap on theatre shows is also expected to be boosted.

Victorians will still have to wears masks in somes settings.

Other restrictions, including the limits on public and private gatherings, could still be eased, with senior ministers and health authorities in ongoing discussions about potential changes.

The easing of mask restrictions – expected to come into effect from midnight on Thursday – could prompt the return to the CBD of thousands of workers.

The easing is expected to be announced by the state government as early as Wednesday.

But masks will still be required to be worn in other indoor settings such as on public transport. Business and industry groups have blamed the requirements for slowing Melbourne’s economic recovery.

Premier Daniel Andrews on Tuesday all but confirmed that Victoria was ready to relax coronavirus rules after the state recorded its sixth consecutive day of no local cases.

Premier Daniel Andrews is set to unveil the new restrictions on Wednesday.

Small Business Australia executive director Bill Lang said the government should implement policies that would return people to the CBD.

“While we are all about keeping the community safe, as anyone who has been asked to work an extended shift wearing a mask will tell you, it’s a bloody horrible experience and there is no question that mask-wearing is an enormous deterrent on people working an eight-hour shift in an office,” he said.

Footy crowds are set to be increased.

“If we do not get people back into our offices, our city bars, restaurants, cafes and retail outlets will not survive ... it is time to de-mask to save our city.”

But Sydney’s lockdown will be extended for seven days until July 16, with children forced to learn from home next week as health authorities grapple to contain the Covid outbreak.

Premier Daniel Andrews said he didn’t expect Sydney’s red zone status to be downgraded “anytime soon”, after 18 new Covid-19 cases – including 11 people who were in isolation for their infectious period – were recorded in NSW on Tuesday.