Regional Victoria coronavirus restrictions eased in move to step three
Regional Victorians have regained some freedom, with coronavirus restrictions eased to step three on the Andrews Government’s road map out of lockdown. Here’s what you need to know.
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CORONAVIRUS restrictions in regional Victoria will be eased, with Premier Daniel Andrews announcing the regions will move to the third step on his road map out of lockdown from midnight tomorrow.
“I am absolutely delighted to be able to announce that regional Victoria from 11:59pm tomorrow night will be able to take the third step in our safe and steady road map to COVID normal,” Mr Andrews said.
“It’s a massive thing. It is such good news. I am so so pleased and proud of every single regional Victorian who has stayed the course, followed the rules, got tested.”
For the third step, regional Victoria was required to have a daily average of less than five new cases over 14 days — currently a daily average of 3.6 — and 0 cases with an unknown source (“mystery” cases) for 14 days across all regions.
Victoria has one mystery case which will fall out of the 14-day period by the end of today.
The third step on the regional road map sees no restrictions on reasons to leave home, allows public gatherings of up to 10 people outdoors and a “household bubble” with one nominated household allowing up to five visitors from that household at a time in your home.
Regional Victorians will also be allowed to travel across regional Victoria with tourist accommodation also open, within caps as per the social bubble.
Cafes and restaurants move from takeaway and delivery only to indoor and outdoor seated service with a group limit of 10 and density limits.
Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra said the move was a “shot of hope” for every Victorian.
“The quickest way back for any business is not just government grants, it’s actually to be able to trade,” he said.
“For businesses to be able to reopen to a level of normality, for hospitality to be able to open again at the levels they are able to, for tourism operators to get a signal that not only can you open up for regional Victoria, but hopefully metro Victoria is not too far away … we think this is a massive step forward.”
Property inspections and auctions can move from online to private inspections by appointment only and outdoor auctions subject to gathering limits.
Outdoor contact and non-contact sport can resume for under 18s and outdoor non-contact sport only for adults, with gathering limits.
Weddings are allowed with up to 10 people, funerals up to 20 people and outdoor religious gatherings for up to 10 people.
Beauty and personal care services will also be available with a face covering.
Mr Andrews said every business across regional Victoria will be required to have a COVID-safe plan and those plans will be enforced from 28 September.
A return to school will be staggered over the first two weeks of Term 4.
The next step on the road map out of lockdown is labelled the “final step”, which requires no new cases for 14 days statewide.
Data from the Department of Health and Human Services reveals 38 regional local government areas are already meeting the threshold for the final step.
SCHOOL
A return to school will be staggered over the first two weeks of Term 4.
“We will have more to say about the exact age groups and year levels that will be coming back over those first two weeks of Term 4, but essentially all classes, all schools across regional Victoria will have as close to a normal Term 4 as we can possibly deliver,” Mr Andrews said.
HOSPITALITY
Only table service will be allowed and there will be a two-hour limit on bookings.
Indoor service venues can open with a cap of 10 seated patrons per space, subject to a one person to four square metre density rule. There is a maximum of two inside spaces per venue.
“So, for larger venues, that would be 20 people inside,” Mr Andrews said.
Outdoor service venues will have a cap of 50 seated patrons per space, subject to density requirements of one person per two square metres. Group limits of 10 apply as well.
Tables will need to be 1.5m apart.
“So, for many larger venues, they will be able to have up to 70 people seated at any one time,” Mr Andrews said.
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