Coronavirus Stage 4 restrictions: what you can and can’t do in Victoria
An 8pm curfew is in effect, non-essential business are being closed and there are new restrictions on schools, shopping and exercise.
Victoria has moved into Stage 4 lockdown in a bid to control a second coronavirus wave which has swept through Melbourne. Residents of 31 local government areas have been placed on Stay at Home restrictions, with an 8pm curfew enacted. Today, Daniel Andrews will also order non-essential businesses and services to close. Here’s everything we know so far.
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WHICH BUSINESSES ARE BEING FORCED TO CLOSE?
Retail and administration businesses and some manufacturers will be shut down in Victoria for at least the next six weeks, under the Andrews government’s Stage Four restrictions.
Announcing the measures on Monday afternoon, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the changes, in addition to the previous restrictions, would mean about 1 million fewer Victorians would be moving around the state for work.
The population of greater Melbourne is about 5.2m, while the population of Victoria is about 6.5m.
Mr Andrews announced three lists: businesses which will remain open unimpeded, those which will close, and those which will continue to operate under “significantly different” conditions.
Supermarkets, grocery stores, bottle shops, pharmacies, petrol stations, banks, newsagencies, post offices and all organisations involved in the frontline response to coronavirus will remain open.
Retail, some manufacturing and administration businesses must close from 11:59pm on August 5, unless they have specific circumstances that mean they need longer to shut down safely.
Retail stores will be permitted to operate contactless ‘click and collect’ and delivery services with strict safety protocols in place, and hardware stores such as Bunnings can remain open onsite, but only for tradespeople.
The abattoir industry - which has been at the centre of at least half a dozen large COVID-19 clusters - will be forced to scale back production by a third and comply with restrictions on the number of workers allowed onsite, based on the minimum required to operate safely. Mr Andrews said the statewide changes are expected to see the workforce scaled back by two-thirds.
All open businesses and services, including food production, waste collection and supply chain logistics businesses - where much coronavirus spread has been occurring - will have to enact a “COVIDSafe plan”.
Warehousing and distribution centres in Melbourne will be limited to no more than two-thirds the normal workforce allowed onsite at any one time.
On major construction sites “the absolute minimum (staffing levels) required for safety, “but no more than 25 per cent of the normal workforce” will be allowed onsite.
Workplaces which continue to operate will be required to mandate extra personal protective equipment as well as staggering shifts and breaks, communicating health declarations and providing support for sick workers to ensure they stay home.
STAGE 4 CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS:
From 6pm on Sunday, August 2, the Victorian government announced the commencement of new coronavirus restrictions in Victoria, which will continue for six weeks to 11.59pm on Sunday, 13 September.
• The area that moved to Stage 4 ‘Stay at Home’ restrictions is comprised of the 31 metropolitan Melbourne local government areas (LGAs).
• The metropolitan Melbourne LGAs are: Banyule, Hume, Moreland, Bayside, Kingston, Mornington Peninsula, Boroondara, Knox, Nillumbik, Brimbank, Manningham, Port Phillip, Cardinia, Maribyrnong, Stonnington, Casey, Maroondah, Whitehorse, Darebin, Melbourne, Whittlesea, Frankston, Melton, Wyndham, Glen Eira, Monash, Yarra, Greater Dandenong, Moonee Valley, Yarra Ranges, Hobsons Bay.
• Changes include requirement for face coverings, hygiene measures, record keeping, density and physical distancing requirements. Final changes subject to advice of the Chief Health Officer.
• The restrictions that apply to the area where you live follow you if you leave that area, unless the area you are entering has tighter restrictions in which case you must observe those.
From today ALL Victorian residents must wear a face covering when leaving home, unless an exception applies. Fines will apply if you don’t wear or carry a face covering with you, unless you have a lawful excuse for not wearing one.
— VicGovDHHS (@VicGovDHHS) August 3, 2020
More: https://t.co/v3jOO1x0hF#COVID19Vic pic.twitter.com/gyXTqaAHct
RESTRICTIONS APPLYING TO METROPOLITAN MELBOURNE FROM 6PM SUNDAY AUGUST 2:
Under what circumstances are you allowed to leave your house?
• Stay at Home, except for four reasons: necessary goods or services; medical care or compassionate reasons; exercise, work and education if necessary.
• Shopping for food and necessary supplies will only be allowed to occur within 5km of your home, or at the nearest available supermarket, limited to one person per household, once per day
• Exercise will also be limited to within 5km of your home. Exercise can continue to occur with only one other person, and will be limited to once per day, for a maximum of one hour.
• A curfew will apply from 8.00pm to 5.00am each night, with exceptions for work or medical care and caregiving.
Exemptions include visiting a person with whom you are in an intimate personal relationship, including outside metropolitan Melbourne.
You cannot leave metropolitan Melbourne for exercise. You may only leave metropolitan Melbourne for shopping for food and essential supplies if within 5 kms.
Are gatherings of people allowed?
• Private: no visitors.
• Public: up to 2 people maximum, including a member of your household.
What are employers’ obligations?
• Work from home: Must not allow employees to work from workplace if reasonably practicable to work from home
How will schools operate?
• Remote learning statewide, including Year 11 and 12s, except for vulnerable children and children of permitted workers.
• Specialist schools open for vulnerable children and children of permitted workers. (from Wednesday, 5 August)
• Childcare and kinder: closed, except for vulnerable children and children of permitted workers (from 11.59pm, Wednesday 5 August).
• Higher education and TAFE: remote learning and training only
Are any sporting activities permitted?
• Community sport: closed
• Indoor sport and recreation: closed.
• Outdoor sport: only allowed to exercise with one other person or a member of your household.
• Recreation: activities such as fishing, golf, boating, tennis, surfing and drive range shooting are not allowed.
• Outdoor sporting facilities: closed.
• Swimming pools: closed.
• Playcentres: closed.
• Playgrounds: closed.
Which shopping, retail and personal services will remain open? Which businesses will close?
• Supermarkets, grocery stores, bottle shops, pharmacies, petrol stations, banks, newsagencies, post offices and all organisations involved in the frontline response to coronavirus will remain open.
• Restaurants and cafes: take away within 5kms of home and delivery only.
• Pubs, bars, clubs, nightclubs: closed, liquor stores open
• Food courts: closed.
• Beauty and personal care services: closed, including hairdressers.
• Saunas and bathhouses: closed.
• Auction houses: operate remotely.
• Real estate auctions and inspections: operate remotely, and inspections by appointment.
• Markets stalls: stalls can operate for provision of take away food and drink only.
• Markets and shopping centres: open, subject to density quotient, but people can only visit for necessary goods and services.
• Some retail stores are permitted to operate contactless ‘click and collect’ and delivery services with strict safety protocols in place.
What other workplaces and industries are considered essential, non-essential services ?
• Construction: construction of critical and essential infrastructure permitted, including critical repairs to residential premises On major construction sites the absolute minimum (staffing levels) are required for safety, with no more than a quarter of the normal workforce will be allowed onsite.
• Mining and farming, including agriculture and aquaculture food suppliers: allowed to continue operating.
• Meat industry: abattoirs forced to scale back production by a third and comply with restrictions on the number of workers allowed onsite. Butchers remain open.
• Manufacturing: Some manufacturing businesses which produce non-essential items will close. Businesses involved in fields such as medical production, including masks and protective clothing as well as medicines and “paper products” – toilet paper – for households - remain in operation. .
• Road, rail and air transport: to remain open.
• Wholesale warehouses and motor vehicle repairers: remain open.
• Banking and communication services: kept running.
• Banking and communication services: kept running.
• Pest-control and building cleaning services: remain open.
• Special services helping the vulnerable and elderly: to continue.
• Gambling and brothel services: closed.
Are entertainment facilities open for business?
• Libraries and community venues: to host an essential public support service or funeral only.
• Galleries, museums, zoos: closed.
• Outdoor amusement parks and arcades: closed.
• Indoor cinemas: closed.
• Drive-in cinemas: closed.
• Concert venues, theatres, auditoriums: closed.
• Arenas and stadiums: closed.
• Casinos and gaming: closed.
• Brothels, strip clubs and sex on premise venues: closed.
The #virtual #world will definitely kick into gear now with another #sixweeks of #lockdown - so here are some #virtual #tours by the @NGVMelbourne to do while in your bubble! See @BeMelbourne for more: https://t.co/j5geEy7xwq pic.twitter.com/85DgkpfSqZ
— BeMelbourne (@bemelbourne) August 3, 2020
What are the rules regarding ceremonies?
• Religious ceremonies and private worship: broadcast only, limit of five people.
• Weddings: not permitted (from 11.59pm, Wednesday 5 August).
• Funerals: up to 10 people, plus those conducting the funeral.
Attending a funeral is a permitted reason to leave home and a permitted reason to leave metropolitan Melbourne.
What forms of travel are permitted?
• Travel in a vehicle with a person outside your household not permitted, with some exceptions.
• Travel within Victoria outside metropolitan Melbourne: allowed for work, education (if necessary), and care/compassionate purposes only.
• Holiday accommodation and camping: closed except for residents, emergency accommodation, or work purposes.
• Second place of residence – You cannot visit second place of residence with limited exceptions (e.g. emergency or maintenance; shared custody; to stay with intimate partner who does not live with you).
STAGE 3 RESTRICTIONS APPLYING TO REGIONAL VICTORIA INCLUDING MITCHELL SHIRE LGA FROM 11.59PM WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5:
Under what circumstances are you allowed to leave your house?
• Stay at Home, except for four reasons: necessary goods or services; medical care or compassionate reasons; exercise, work and education if necessary.
• Exemptions include visiting a person with whom you are in an intimate personal relationship, including inside metropolitan Melbourne.
Cannot enter metropolitan Melbourne for exercise or recreation.
Are gatherings of people allowed?
• Private: no visitors.
• Public: up to 2 people or household members only.
What are employers’ obligations?
• Work from home: Must not allow employees to work from workplace if reasonably practicable to work from home.
How will schools operate?
• Remote learning statewide, including Year 11 and 12s, except for vulnerable children and children of permitted workers (from Wednesday, 5 August)
• Specialist schools remain open for all children.
• Childcare and kinder remain open for all children.
Are any sporting activities permitted?
• Community sport: closed.
• Indoor sport and recreation: closed.
• Outdoor sport: only allowed to exercise, or activities such as fishing, golf, boating, tennis, surfing with one other person or household members, provided 1.5
metre distance can be maintained.
• Outdoor sporting facilities: closed, except for facilities where public gathering and physical distancing limits can be adhered to and there is no use of shared equipment or communal facilities (e.g. tennis courts, golf courses).
• Swimming pools: closed.
• Playcentres: closed.
• Playgrounds: closed.
Which shopping, retail and personal services will remain open?
• Restaurants and cafes: take away and delivery only.
• Pubs, bars, clubs, nightclubs: closed, bottle shop and take away only.
• Food courts: closed.
• Beauty and personal care services: closed, apart from hairdressers.
• Saunas and bathhouses: closed.
• Auction houses: operate remotely.
• Real estate auctions and inspections: operate remotely, and inspections by appointment.
• Markets stalls: stalls can operate for provision of take away food and drink only.
• Markets and shopping centres: open, subject to density quotient, but people can only visit for necessary goods and services.
• Other retail: open, subject to density quotient, but people can only visit for necessary goods and services.
Are entertainment facilities open for business?
• Libraries and community venues: only to host an essential public support service, or a wedding or funeral .
• Galleries, museums, zoos: closed.
• Outdoor amusement parks and arcades: closed.
• Indoor cinemas: closed.
• Drive-in cinemas: closed.
• Concert venues, theatres, auditoriums: closed.
• Arenas and stadiums: closed.
• Casinos and gaming: closed.
• Brothels, strip clubs and sex on premise venues: closed.
What are the rules regarding ceremonies?
• Religious ceremonies and private worship: broadcast only.
• Weddings: up to 5 people (couple, two witnesses and celebrant) .
• Funerals: up to 10 people, plus those conducting the funeral.
Attending a wedding or funeral is a permitted reason to leave home. Attending a funeral is a permitted reason to enter metropolitan Melbourne.
What forms of travel are permitted?
• Travel within regional Victoria: allowed for work, education (if necessary), necessary good and services and care/compassionate purposes only.
• Holiday accommodation and camping: closed except for residents, emergency accommodation, or work purposes.
• Second place of residence – You cannot visit second place of residence with limited exceptions (e.g. emergency or maintenance; shared custody; to stay with intimate partner who does not live with you).
*Source: The Victorian government
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