Daniel Andrews flags changes that could see Covid rules scrapped

Premier Daniel Andrews has flagged a major announcement which will make sweeping changes to restrictions.

Victorians can prepare for a new round of eased restrictions as the state prepares for a winter with Covid in the community.

Premier Daniel Andrews has indicated that changes are on the way as case numbers stabilise.

Industry figures expect that hospitality and retail density limits, dance floors restrictions and QR codes will be among the first rules to be wound back.

Mask mandates are also expected to be eased in a step-by-step process, starting with despised requirements for masks in office settings.

Daniel Andrews is expected to wind back certain Covid-19 mandates by the end of the week. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

“I hope to be able to make some really important announcements about rules (and) about normalising this virus,” Mr Andrews said on Wednesday.

It is expected the changes could come into effect on or around March 1 – when New South Wales will wind back a bevy of restrictions.

Getting workers back to the office is a key aim as business leaders call on the government to ice work-from-home requirements.

Requirements for masks in office settings are expected to be the first to go. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Sarah Matray

Mr Andrews has also walked back from expectations international arrivals will be required to have a third dose of vaccine to be allowed in the state.

Despite initially pushing for the change, Mr Andrews conceded it would be impractical.

“There comes a point where things become impractical and you’ve got so many systems operating at once that it doesn’t really work,” he said.

“Some things are workable and some things aren’t, it gets hard to justify.”

Just 52 per cent of Victorians over the age of 18 have received a booster shot.

The nation’s chief medical officer Paul Kelly told a Senate estimates hearing on Wednesday he wasn’t in favour of mandating vaccinations.

“Philosophically and professionally, I’m not in favour of mandating anything including vaccinations,” Mr Kelly said.

Originally published as Daniel Andrews flags changes that could see Covid rules scrapped