Masks will no longer be mandatory in Victorian schools and private workplaces from Friday, as part of the latest easing out of lockdown restrictions.
Key points:
- Masks will still be needed in public indoor spaces
- Stadiums will be allowed to reach 75 per cent capacity up to 40,000 people
- Private household gatherings will remain restricted to 15 people per day
Health Minister Martin Foley confirmed the changes would take effect from 11:59pm Thursday.
Masks will continue to be required in "indoor, public-facing settings" unless an exemption applies.
But they will not be needed in schools and workplaces where staff are not interacting with the public, such as factories or offices.
A range of venues across Melbourne will also be able to apply the same density limits as those in regional Victoria, which is one person per 2 square metres with no overall cap.
ABC News: Joseph Dunstan
)That relaxed density limit is only allowed if a COVID check-in marshal is on site to make sure people are checking in.
Venues affected by that change include hospitality, gyms and physical recreation venues, community facilities, creative studios and places of worship.
Crowd numbers for the AFL will increase, with stadiums able to fill to up to 75 per cent of their capacity, with a cap of 40,000 people.
Mr Foley confirmed the number of people allowed to visit a household each day would remain restricted to 15.
"What we have learned over the course of this pandemic is that our homes, whilst we think they're our castles and they're the places where we assume we're the safest, they're also the places where we let our guard down and we've seen transmission occur on many times," he said.
"It's a number that the public health team are comfortable with and also by freeing up retail, by freeing up public gatherings, the view is that that will give us enough of an alternative location where people can gather safely with QR codes, with density quotients in place."
The next stage of restrictions will remain in place for 14 days, subject to public health advice.
ABC News: Danielle Bonica
)Health official warns 'significant risks' remain
The state has now recorded a full week without any new local COVID-19 cases.
Acting Chief Health Officer Deb Friedman said she was very pleased the state would be able to take the "cautious steps" to eased restrictions.
"These steps are taken recognising the incredible achievements that Victorians have made in overcoming the recent outbreaks," she said.
Dr Friedman noted that there had been two "incursions" from interstate outbreaks in the past fortnight and it only took one undetected case to set off a local cluster.
"One infectious case going undetected in the community for a few days is something that we really don't want to contemplate currently," she said.
The Acting CHO said there would be "a lot of people returning from red and orange zones" over the next fortnight, which would pose a heightened risk for the state.
"So we're going to watch this closely with a view to remove restrictions as soon as possible," she said.
Dr Friedman said of 365 returned visitors from hot zones checked on by the Australian Defence Force on Tuesday, just four were intentionally not isolating.
On Tuesday, COVID-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar warned authorities may make it harder for Victorians to return from interstate if some people continued to flout the rules.
The state processed 27,498 test results on Tuesday, which Dr Friedman described as "outstanding".
There were 15,784 vaccination doses delivered at state-run sites.
Former premier pushes for new protocols ahead of Australian Open
A day after the Australian Formula One Grand Prix was cancelled, former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett has called for new quarantine protocols ahead of the Australian Open in January next year.
Mr Kennett said international players who had been fully vaccinated should not have to quarantine if they tested negative before their flight, then again after arriving.
"I suspect a lot of the leading tennis players will not submit themselves to another 14 days in quarantine," he said.
"So, unless we have a more flexible protocol or unless we get vaccinated, I mean then I think there is a real risk the tennis Open will be either reduced in size or cancelled.
"I hope it doesn't happen. But we can't go on the way we're doing now and if, in fact, you allowed Victorians or New South Welsh people to return to the country having been vaccinated and tested negative, there is an incentive for all of us to get vaccinated."
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Victoria eases COVID-19 mask rules in workplaces after going a week without new local cases - ABC News
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