Coronavirus restrictions in regional Victoria explained
Do you need a COVID Safe plan for your farm? Can you go for a drive to get out of the house? How far can you travel from home? Your Stage 3 coronavirus lockdown questions answered.
REGIONAL Victoria is now under Stage 3 “stay at home” coronavirus restrictions.
It means you can only leave your home for four reasons.
SHOP for food and essential goods or services.
PROVIDE care, for compassionate reasons or to seek medical treatment.
EXERCISE
WORK or study, if you can’t do it from home.
But there are still questions about what you can and can’t do, and how these restrictions apply to farmers.
Here’s what we know.
DO I NEED A COVID SAFE PLAN FOR MY FARM OR BUSINESS?
Permitted work premises in metropolitan Melbourne must have a COVIDSafe Plan to continue their operations under Stage 4 restrictions. It must be approved for implementation from 1:59am, Saturday 8 August 2020.
In regional Victoria, a COVIDSafe Plan is mandatory for high-risk industries and advised for all other permitted work.
Failure to comply could result in an on the spot fine of up $9,913 and up to $20,000 for serious offences.
Templates and guidance is available on the Business Victoria website.
This has changed from Friday, when Business Victoria and Agriculture Victoria said every workplace still operating in Victoria with more than five employees had until 11:59pm Friday 7 August to put in place a COVID Safe Plan.
HOW FAR CAN I TRAVEL FROM MY HOME?
Victorians under Stage 3 restrictions are being asked to use common sense and not to travel any further than they need to for the four reasons to leave home.
If you can do an activity closer to home, you must. For example, if you live in Torquay, you can’t go to the Otways for a walk.
IF I LIVE IN REGIONAL VICTORIA AND WORK IN MELBOURNE, WHAT RULES APPLY TO ME?
You can travel to Melbourne for work if you cannot work from home and you carry the employer-issued worker permit (mandatory under Melbourne’s Stage 4 restrictions), or identification if you are a health worker, law enforcement worker or emergency worker.
IF I LIVE IN MELBOURNE AND WORK IN REGIONAL VICTORIA, WHAT RULES APPLY TO ME?
You can travel to regional Victoria for work if you cannot work from home and you carry the employer-issued worker permit (mandatory under Melbourne’s Stage 4 restrictions), or identification if you are a health worker, law enforcement worker or emergency worker.
DO I HAVE TO WEAR A FACE MASK ON FARM?
You do not need to wear a face covering if you are working on your own farm alone or with family members from your household.
If you work on a farm that is not your own, you must wear a mask unless a lawful exception applies.
If you’ve got staff or you’ve got people coming to your property, you must wear a mask.
WHEN DO I HAVE TO WEAR A MASK?
You must carry a face covering with you when leaving home, even if you don’t need to wear it while undertaking your current activity. For example, you can take your face covering off to eat or while you are running, but you must carry it with you and put it back on when you finish.
Approved reasons for not wearing a mask:
• Infants and children under the age of 12 years.
• A person who is affected by a relevant medical condition, including problems with their breathing, a serious condition of the face, a disability or a mental health condition.
• Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication.
• Persons for whom wearing a face covering would create a risk to that person’s health and safety related to their work, as determined through OH&S guidelines.
• Persons whose professions require clear enunciation or visibility of their mouth. This includes teaching or live broadcasting.
• Professional sportspeople when training or competing.
• If you are working on your own property with members of your household, but no staff or contractors are on site.
• When you are doing any exercise or physical activity where you are out of breath or puffing. Examples include jogging or running, but not walking. You must carry a face covering on you and wear it when you finish exercising.
• When directed to remove the face covering to ascertain identity.
• When you are travelling in a vehicle by yourself or with other members of your household.
• When consuming food, drink or medication, including when seated at a restaurant where permitted.
• When undergoing dental treatment or other medical care to the extent that the procedure requires that no face covering may be worn.
• During emergencies.
WHAT IMPACT WILL RESTRICTIONS HAVE ON SALEYARDS?
Local councils and saleyard operators will decide on saleyard operations, taking into account legal direction on the number of people at sales, prescribed physical distancing and hygiene requirements, risks in their areas and supply chains.
Alternative selling options, including direct consignment to abattoirs and online selling platforms, continue as usual.
CAN I GO FOR A DRIVE?
You can go for a drive but you must stay in regional Victoria and cannot get out of your car unless its for one of the four permitted reasons under Stage 3 restrictions.
You can have passengers in your car from your household.
CAN I USE A TAXI OR UBER?
Yes, but you and the driver must wear a mask and maintain social distance by sitting in the back seat. You can only be in a ride-share car for the purpose of one of the four permitted reasons to leave your home.
ARE DRIVING LESSONS ALLOWED?
Yes with a driving instructor or member of your household. You cannot take a driving test.
CAN I PLAY FOOTY?
All community sport – both training and competition – is banned.
When it comes to Australian rules, while senior Victorian country competitions’ 2020 seasons had already succumbed due to coronavirus restrictions, the news regional Victoria was going back to Stage 3 restrictions has resulted in any remaining junior football competitions, many of which were only a few rounds into their seasons, being cancelled or suspended.
WHAT OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES ARE ALLOWED?
Outdoor activities such as fishing, hunting, boating, surfing, recreational diving, horse riding, tennis and golf (but not at driving ranges) are allowed. But rules include:
• You can only do these activities outdoors, with one other person or your household members. (The DHHS has also said that in the case of personal training or horse riding, an instructor can also be added to that number).
• These activities should be done at the closest available locations to your home;
• You must be able to maintain a 1.5 metre distance from others;
• Do not share or rent equipment, and shared facilities (except toilets) cannot be used.
Indoor sports centres are closed, as are some outdoor facilities.
HOW MANY CORONAVIRUS CASES ARE THERE IN REGIONAL VICTORIA?
See our cases breakdown by local government area here.
The Weekly Times is currently seeking clarity on further farming related questions and will update accordingly.
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