What are the new rules for regional Victoria?

The government has announced some eased restrictions for regional Victoria, effective from 11.59pm on Thursday, but Shepparton will still say under the same restrictions as Melbourne.

In this article you will find a rundown of the new rules for regional Victoria. It will be updated as new information becomes available, so please check back regularly.

Reasons for leaving home

The five reasons for leaving home will be removed, and the distance limit of five kilometres will no longer apply.

However, there will be restrictions on travel to metropolitan Melbourne.

Private gatherings are still banned, so no home visits unless it’s for intimate partners or a “single bubble”.

Schools

Schools will reopen for face-to-face learning for prep to grade 2, and year 12 students who live in the regions, but remote learning will apply for all other year levels. The exception for the children of authorised workers will still apply for those year levels.

In Melbourne, single parents will now be able to access childcare, whether or not they are an authorised worker. That is the only change to Melbourne’s restrictions.

Teachers who work in both the regions and Greater Melbourne will have to undergo two PCR tests a week.

Work

The authorised worker list will no longer apply in regional areas, so most — but not all — businesses and venues can open with density and capacity limits.

If you can work from home you should continue to do so, but up to 25 per cent of staff can return to offices, or up to 10 people if there are fewer than 40 staff.

Funerals and weddings

Funerals will be permitted for 20 mourners and weddings can be held with 10 people, plus those required to conduct the services. Stricter limits will apply if people from Melbourne attend.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews at his press conference in Melbourne on Tuesday.Credit: Chris Hopkins

Hospitality and entertainment

Restaurants and cafes can open with density limits for seated service. Ten people will be allowed indoors and 20 outdoors. Retail, hairdressing salons and beauty services will also reopen with density limits and masks must be worn during service.

Indoor fixed-seat entertainment venues can open for a maximum of 20 people per space and outdoor fixed-seat entertainment venues can host up to 25 per cent capacity or 300 people, whichever is fewer.

Amusement parks can open with a maximum of 25 per cent capacity.

All venues and services will need to check IDs to ensure people do not travel from Melbourne to the regions.

Community sport and outdoor recreation

Community sport can return to training with minimum possible numbers and outdoor recreation can recommence with up to 20 people per facility.

Outdoor pools are open for a maximum of 50 people.

Outdoor playgrounds, communal gym equipment and skate parks will open, while outdoor personal training with a maximum of 10 people can take place.

Real estate

Private inspections will be allowed with a maximum of 10 people plus a real estate agent and auctions can be held with a maximum of 10 people.

Travel and accommodation

Regional residents can travel across regional Victoria, but travel to Melbourne has to be for authorised reasons, including accessing services not available in the regions, care or compassion or seeing an intimate partner.

Accommodation bookings are permitted for single regional households, or for regional intimate partners or “bubble buddies” travelling together.

Regional people going to the alpine resorts need to have a negative COVID-19 test in the 72 hours before travel.

Still closed

Gyms, nightclubs, karaoke and adult services are still closed in the regions.

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