COVID-19 restrictions have now eased in Ballarat and regional Victoria, allowing many businesses to reopen and people to reunite.
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However, there has remained some confusion surrounding exactly what a 'social bubble' means.
Unlike the first major lockdown, there are greater restrictions on exactly who can come to you home.
Basically, only one 'social bubble' is allowed to your home and vice-versa.
But, what exactly is a social bubble?
The following information comes from a Department of Health and Human Services website.
Social bubbles and visitors to your home
Restrictions from 11:59pm 16 September
- Any household in regional Victoria can form a household bubble with another household.
- Up to five people from that household can visit you at your home as part of the bubble.
- You can visit the household you form a bubble with at their home. Up to five people from your household can visit.
- You cannot have visitors to your home who aren't in your bubble.
- If you live with more than five people, or want to form a bubble with a household that is more than five people, then you can. But only five people can visit at one time, in addition to the people who normally live in the household.
- You don't need to wear a face covering when your bubble visits you at home. If you have formed a bubble with someone who is at higher risk of becoming very sick with coronavirus (COVID-19) you should consider wearing a face covering to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus (COVID-19) to them.
- Babies under 12 months of age are not included in the five-person visitor cap.
- If you have formed a 'single social bubble' then you can continue to see the person in your household bubble.
- If the person that you have formed a single bubble with lives with other people, then you can choose to expand your bubble to the members of their household. This means that you can have up to five visitors from the household that you have formed a bubble with.
- You can only form a bubble with a household who lives in regional Victoria.
- The household you form a bubble with needs to be the same household throughout the Third Step.
- Your household bubble must be exclusive. The household you form a bubble with can't form a bubble with another household.
- You cannot have a single bubble and a different household bubble.
How many visitors can I have to my house?
You can form a bubble with another household and up to five people from that bubble can visit you at home. You cannot have visitors to your home who aren't in your bubble.
People outside your bubble can still enter your home for care or other compassionate reasons, and for work or education services.
What does a 'household bubble' mean?
The household bubble concept is a way to allow Victorians to start seeing friends or family while balancing the coronavirus (COVID-19) transmission risk.
From 11:59pm 16 September, anyone in regional Victoria can form a household bubble with another household in regional Victoria.
You can have up to five people from your bubble visit your home.
The person or household you form a bubble with needs to stay the same throughout the Third Step. You do not need to wear a face covering while the people in your bubble visit your home or while you visit them at their home. You do need to wear a face covering while you travel to their house or if you are in public with them.
Who can be in my bubble?
You can form a bubble with anyone in regional Victoria. You cannot form a bubble with someone who lives in metropolitan Melbourne.
I've already formed a single social bubble - can I choose different people to form a household bubble with?
Wherever possible, you should continue with the same person when forming a household bubble. If this is not possible, you can nominate different people to form a household bubble with.
Your new household bubble will replace your current single social bubble and must be maintained for the remainder of the Third Step.
Does the bubble have to be the same person or household? Can I choose one other person per week/fortnight?
The household you choose to form a bubble with needs to be the same household throughout the Third Step.
Can you be in household bubble and see an intimate partner?
Yes, you can have an intimate partner and be in a household bubble. An intimate partner is independent of a household bubble.
If your intimate partner is at your home with you, they do not count towards the total of the five allowed visitors from your household bubble.
How can I keep myself and my bubble safe?
When you form a bubble with a person or household, it is even more important you take extra steps to keep each other safe.
Only include people in your bubble when you are both safe and healthy. If anyone within your bubble feels unwell, they must immediately isolate at home and get tested. You must not visit that person or have that person over to visit if either of you are unwell.
You should keep at least 1.5 metres distance between you during visits. You should wash your hands regularly and coughing and sneezing into your elbow or a tissue.
To protect the health of the people in your bubble you need to agree who you will see when you catch up with friends or family outside. This should include keeping a list of the people you see.
The more people you interact with, the higher the risk of coronavirus (COVID-19) transmission.
Can my bubble be someone who lives in Melbourne?
No, you cannot form a bubble with someone who lives in metropolitan Melbourne.
How many times a day can I leave home to see my bubble? Can I stay overnight?
There are no restrictions on the number of times you can see the people in your bubble. You can stay overnight or have up to five visitors from your bubble stay overnight at your house.
As always though, Victorians need to continue to use common sense and stay safe.
When you leave home stay safe by washing your hands regularly, coughing and sneezing into your elbow or a tissue, and keeping at least 1.5 metres from others.
My household bubble has six people. Can they all come and visit me at the same time?
If you live with more than five people, or want to form a bubble with a household that is more than five people, then you can.
But only five people can visit at one time, in addition to the people who normally live in the household.
Babies under 12 months are not included in this cap. You cannot have visitors to your home who aren't in your bubble.
My relatives or parents are elderly - can I have them as my bubble?
You can form a household with your elderly parents or relatives.
You should consider the vulnerability of the person in your bubble and limit your interactions with others outside of your bubble when your person is an elderly friend, relative or parent.
If you are more vulnerable to serious complications because of coronavirus (COVID-19), you should carefully consider whether there are other ways you can stay connected - including video calls, phone calls or with social media.
I'm worried about a friend or family members mental health - can I visit them if they aren't in my bubble?
Wherever possible, you should meet up with a friend or family member you are worried about outdoors.
There isn't a limit on who you can catch up with outdoors, as long as there are no more than ten people gathered.
There is a lower risk of spreading coronavirus (COVID-19) between people if you are outdoors which is why restrictions are changing to allow people to see a friend or family member outdoors.
You can go to someone's house if it is an emergency, or for care and compassionate reasons.
Do I have to wear a face covering when visiting my bubble?
You do not need to wear a face covering while the people in your bubble visit your home or while you visit them at their home. You do need to wear a face covering while you travel to their house or if you are in public with them.
If you have formed a bubble with someone who is at higher risk of becoming very sick with coronavirus (COVID-19) you should consider wearing a face covering to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus (COVID-19) to them.