Coronavirus: Warm welcome to Victorian summer rules

It is nearly March but Victoria returned to COVIDSafe summer settings at midnight.

The MCG during the round one AFL match between Hawthorn and Brisbane in March last year. Picture: AAP

It is nearly March but Victoria returned to COVIDSafe summer settings at midnight with more visitors allowed in homes, more opportunities to be mask-free in public and 75 per cent of workers returning to the office.

Despite two local cases being recorded on Thursday, the classification of the cases as close contacts already in hotel isolation paved the way for the easing of ­restrictions.

One of the most popular ­announcements was a 50 per cent cap on fans at AFL games at ­Marvel Stadium and the MCG, in time for the Carlton-Richmond season-opener on March 18.

“(It’s) something approaching normal, which is something that Victorians have absolutely earned,” Premier Daniel Andrews said.

Victorians will now be required to wear masks only on public transport, in rideshare vehicles and taxis, aged-care centres and in large retail centres.

Victorians can now host up to 30 people per day in the home and 100 people can gather outdoors.

“It’s with confidence we can ­return to those COVIDSafe summer settings. None of it is possible without the extraordinary efforts from every Victorian,” Mr ­Andrews said.

Density limits remain for pubs, restaurants and cafes, beauty services, retail business, gyms, funerals and wedding and nightclubs and community centres, such as libraries, RSLs and halls.

From March 27, all businesses using electronic record-keeping such as a QR code system will be required to use a system that ­integrates with the Victorian ­government contact-tracing system. The State of Emergency has been extended to 11:59pm, March 15.

Mr Andrews said he was pleased with the steady progress of vaccinations in Victoria, with about 3000 vaccinations since the beginning of the week.

The Premier said he and his family planned to all get the vaccine, however he would wait to be vaccinated behind those deemed a priority frontline group.