Melbournians will be able to travel into regional Victoria again as of Friday this week after the government announced a further easing of COVID-19 restrictions.
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Despite five new local COVID-19 cases being confirmed in the city yesterday, acting Premier James Merlino announced the 25km travel restriction would no longer be in place as of 11.59pm on Thursday.
The restrictions for Melburnians will become the same that regional Victorians have been under for the past week.
In regional Victoria, there has also been a further easing of rules.
New regional Victorian rules
The following changes made in regional Victoria include:
- People at public gatherings are limited to 50 people
- You can have five adult visitors (plus dependents) to your home each day
- Hospitality venues can have 300 seated patrons per venue, smaller venues can have up to 25 people before density quotients of 1 person per 4 square metres can be used
- Religious ceremonies are capped at 300 people, funerals can have 100 people, weddings can have 50 people
- Offices can have 75 per cent capacity or 30 people
- Outdoor sport can have 1000 spectators
- Mask rules remain the same; must be worn indoors but not outdoors
New Melbourne rules
The following changes made in Melbourne include:
- Visitors to your home are restricted to two adults per day, plus dependents
- People at public gatherings are limited to 20 people
- 150 people are allowed at a hospitality venue for seated service, but only 75 indoors
- Religious ceremonies are capped at 150 people, 75 indoors
- Funerals can have 75 people, weddings can have 20 people
- Gyms can, indoor entertainment and electronic gaming can venue reopen
- Offices capped at 50 per cent for work
- Community sport, including indoor sport, can resume for all ages
- Mask rules remain the same; must be worn indoors but not outdoors
You can see the full list of changes here. It might take a moment or two to load:
See the statement from the acting premier James Merlino here.
Since this pandemic started, distance has been one of the hardest things to live with.
Distance from our neighbours, from our workplaces - from the people we love and the places we've missed.
Distance that has kept us apart but kept us safe and saved lives.
But Victoria's at its best when we're together.
And I know we're all waiting to see those people and places we've missed, which is why, on the advice of the Chief Health Officer, Victoria will soon safely begin coming back together.
From 11.59pm Thursday 17 June, the 25km travel limit will be removed and travel between metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria will resume.
Two visitors per day (plus dependants) will be permitted to gather inside the home in metro Melbourne, and up to five people (plus dependants) in regional Victoria.
Twenty people can gather outside in Melbourne, and 50 in regional Victoria. Masks will continue to be required indoors but they are no longer required outdoors - however they'll still be recommended when you can't maintain physical distancing.
In Melbourne, funerals can be held with up to 75 mourners, and weddings no more than 20 - and 100 mourners and 50 wedding guests in regional Victoria.
Gyms can open across Melbourne, with density limits and COVIDSafe plans in place. And hair and beauty services can now operate without masks during service.
These are positive changes, but it's important to note that there are still some differences between regional and metropolitan settings.
We have not seen cases at all in regional Victoria. But knowing what we do about how infectious the Delta and Kappa strains are, and how quickly we saw them move through the community prior to the lockdown, we must remain vigilant.
We want to keep regional Victoria virus free - that's why the public health team have recommended slightly stronger settings for Melbourne as extra protection while we run down any remaining cases.
These rules mean that people will now be able to travel across the state, but also recognise that the majority of interactions in regional Victoria will be between regional Victorians.
And for Melbournians travelling to the snow this season, that means a requirement for everyone to get a COVID test within 72 hours of departing for Victoria's alpine resorts, and a negative result.
International experience has shown us that there is a high risk of spread in cold climates, where people come together to socialise and spend time indoors after a day out on the slopes.
There will be plenty more detail online, and if cases continue to remain low, we'll be able to ease restrictions further in another week.
But as we've said many times - this isn't over.
We all know better than most just how easily this virus takes hold and keeping on top of the situation means that we all have to protect our freedoms.
That means continuing to do the things that have diffused this outbreak.
But it's no exaggeration to say the single most important thing every single Victorian can do is to get tested as soon as they have even the mildest of symptoms.
As we head deeper into winter - this becomes more important than ever.
We can't assume that a scratchy throat is the sign of a winter cold.
Find out for sure - get tested.
Thank you for everything you've done so far to protect our state.
I know it hasn't been easy.
But we're getting there.
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