September 20, 2024

Victoria eases Covid-19 restrictions as state records seventh consecutive day with no new local infections

Victoria #Victoria

Victoria will ease Covid-19 restrictions with health officials describing the state’s current Covid-19 situation as “stable”.

After seven consecutive days of no new infections in Victoria the state will ease the following rules from 11.59pm on Thursday:

  • Masks will continue to be required indoors and in public facing settings unless an exemption applies.
  • Masks no longer required at schools for students and staff.
  • Masks no longer required at workplaces, particularly if you don’t interact with the public. For example, in offices and factory settings.
  • Workplaces, including entertainment, retail, hospitality, gyms, physical recreation, community facilities, creative spaces, galleries, places of worship can host one person per 2sq m provided that Covid-19 check-in marshals are onsite.
  • Dance floors will be allowed with a Covid check-in marshal but no more than 50 people on the dance floor at any one time.
  • Limit on private gatherings in place with up to 15 people able to attend a home per day.
  • Crowd numbers will increase at public events. Outdoor stadiums can increase up to 75 per cent of their capacity with a cap of 40,000 people.
  • Indoor stadiums can open to 75 per cent of their capacity with a 7500 person cap.
  • Theatres will also be able to open to 75 per cent of their capacity with a cap of 2000 people.
  • The restrictions are expected to apply for 14 days and could be subject to change if the Covid-19 situation worsens.

    Despite easing restrictions Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley urged Victorians not to become complacent.

    “With the slower than forecasted rollout of the commonwealth vaccination program and the reduction in travel caps yet to take effect from the national cabinet decision and the outbreaks in interstate jurisdictions to our north, all mean that our public health experts have urged us and recommended that we continue to act carefully and cautiously,” he told reporters.

    Red travel zones remained in place for greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast, Shellharbour and Wollongong.

    Brisbane, Moreton Bay and the Sunshine Coast were also deemed red zones, while the rest of NSW was orange, including the ACT.

    Victorian officials also said the Perth and Peel metropolitan regions in WA and both Darwin and Alice Springs were orange zones. And further into Queensland, Townsville, Magnetic Island and Palm Island and also the local government areas which included Ipswich, Logan, Redland, Gold Coast, Lockyer Valley, Noosa, Scenic Rim and also Somerset were all orange zones.

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