PICNICS came back into play for Victorians on Saturday but Ballarat health leaders are calling for extra care in pulling the rug out in a lockdown zone.
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There were some Ballarat residents who seized the outdoor opportunity to dine with loved ones with new rules allowing five fully vaccinated adults from two households to meet or picnic, even in lockdown.
Ballarat Health Services acting chief executive Melanie Robertson on Saturday said it was lovely to see but she also issued caution in being aware of COVID symptoms or having visited an exposure site in the region amid the outbreak.
Please, please, please get tested as a priority other than a picnic at the moment.
- Melanie Robertson, Ballarat Health Services acting chief
"We would certainly ask people in doing this to absolutely take care," Ms Robertson said.
"My preference when I see this is that while we have wonderful parks and facilities in Ballarat, Vic Park is a particular wonderful facility, I ask you if you are visiting Vic Park it's for testing.
"Please, please, please get tested as a priority other than a picnic at the moment.
"We need to be extremely vigilant ...we do have a level of concern with new detection in wastewater."
The state government's blanket picnic rule comes after Victoria reached its 70 per cent first dose target on Friday.
BHS is encouraging people to look to picnics as a vaccination incentive.
Grampians Public Heath Unit chalked up 115,000 jabs across the region's state vaccination hubs by Saturday. This includes 15,000 in the past two weeks and equates to 30,000 the past fortnight, given the jab rate is matched by primary care providers.
For those who are unvaccinated, or who have had one jab, there is a slight social bonus with the chance to now meet one other person outside to socialise.
The amount of exercise or outdoor socialising allowed also doubled from two hours to four hours and Ballarat residents will be able to travel 10 kilometres from home, passing the five-kilometre limit.
Ballarat remains in hard lockdown with the rule changes in line with tweaks for those living in metropolitan Melbourne.
Playgrounds remain open for children under-12 accompanied by one adult, who must check in qith a QR code and wear a mask at all times - no eating or drinking on site.
Outdoor gyms and skate parks remain closed.
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