Victoria lifts lockdown restrictions tonight
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Thanks to the state’s public health teams and citizens, the Victorian Government will be lifting a range of lockdown restrictions across the state starting tonight.
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer revealed that the lockdown will be lifted state-wide from 11:59 pm tonight after a reduction in community transmission of coronavirus in Victoria.
With thousands of Victorians still in quarantine, Minister for Health Martin Foley reminds citizens to remain vigilant by checking in, wearing a mask and getting vaccinated as the state cautiously opens up again.
Starting at 11:59 pm tonight, Victorians will be able to leave their homes for any reason. Restaurants and cafes can also reopen for seated service.
The following facilities are also allowed to open in line with density limits:
- Retail
- Beauty and personal care
- Entertainment venues
- Community facilities
- Live music venues
- Dance classes
- Physical recreation facilities
Once lockdown restrictions have been lifted, the Authorised Worker List will no longer apply. Businesses and venues will be able to reopen with capacity and density limits of 1 person per 4sqm.
Workers will be able to return to their offices with a capacity of up to 25 per cent or up to 10 people, whichever is greater. The state government, however, encourages those who can work at home to work at home.
Schools within the state will also reopen for onsite learning, allowing students to can get back to their classrooms starting tomorrow.
Public gatherings of up to 10 people will be allowed. Infants under 12 months are not included in the capacity limit. Home gatherings are still not permitted after the lift due to the significant transmission risk seen throughout the pandemic.
The Victorian Government has also stated that its citizens will only be able to book accommodation with their household, intimate partner or single bubble person. Visitation to ski fields will be allowed but, due to the higher risk in these settings, entry to Victoria’s alpine resorts will require a COVID test and receipt of a negative result within 72 hours prior to visiting. Children under 12 years of age are not required to be tested.
Weddings and funerals are expected to have a maximum of only 50 people, including those conducting the events. Infants under 12 months are not included in the capacity limit for both.
After the lifting of the state’s lockdown restrictions, Victorians are still required to wear masks both indoors and outdoors unless an exception applies. This decision came about from a recent Burnet Institute study showing that masks played a huge role in slowing the spread of the virus in 2020. Private residences are exempt from this rule.
Since COVID-19 case numbers in Sydney remain high, the Victorian Government will be tightening its cross-border bubble with NSW to reduce the risk of another significant incursion from the state.
The City of Wagga Wagga, Hay Shire Council, Lockhart Shire Council and Murrumbidgee Council will be included under the Extreme Risk Zone from 11:59 pm tonight, in line with the rest of NSW. Residents of the aforementioned areas will need a Specified Worker Permit, transit permit, or an exemption to enter Victoria.
“To every Victorian who checked in with our QR system, who got tested and quarantined, and stayed home to slow the spread of this virus, thank you – it’s because of you we’ve able to get on top of this Delta outbreak and open up our state,” Premier Daniel Andrews said.
Eliza is a content producer and editor at Public Spectrum. She is an experienced writer on topics related to the government and to the public, as well as stories that uplift and improve the community.
