REGIONAL Victorians have transitioned across to the new lockdown rules, as restrictions were eased on Friday, June 4.
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These changes included businesses able to open up, but patrons and customers must check in with a QR code before entering.
Other restrictions included the ability to leave home, unrestricted, however the rules of no visitors to homes were still in place.
From 11:59 pm on Thursday, 3 June 2021, if you live in regional Victoria
- There are no restrictions on the reasons to leave home, but staying COVIDSafe remains important.
Work and education
- Schools can resume face-to-face learning for all year levels.
- Universities and higher education facilities can resume face-to-face learning with a density quotient of 1 person per 4 sqm.
- If you can work or study from home, you should continue to do so.
- Workplaces like offices can increase to 50 per cent or 20 people, whichever is greater.
- You can attend work in metropolitan Melbourne only if you are an authorised worker or work for an authorised provider.
Face masks
- Face masks must be carried at all times and must be worn indoors. You do not need to wear a mask in your own home or if a lawful exception applies.
- Face masks are required outdoors where physical distancing of 1.5m cannot be maintained, for example, at a busy open-air market.
Social gatherings
- You can see friends and family outdoors in a public place in a group of up to 10 people.
Goods and services
- Retail is open, with a density quotient of 1 person per 4 sqm. While shopping you need to respect the limit of allowed patrons in a retail setting. This limit on patrons is in place to ensure everyone in the shop can keep 1.5 metres distance from each other.
- Beauty and personal care services are open, with a density quotient of 1 person per 4 sqm. Only services where the customer can wear a face mask throughout the service can resume.
- Check in upon entry using the Service Victoria app, even if your visit is less than 15 minutes.
Sport
- Outdoor sport and recreational facilities can re-open with a density quotient of 1 person per 4sqm and a maximum of 50 people per venue.
- Junior community sport can return, only with participants who are 18 years of age or under, and only if conducted outdoors. Spectators are only permitted for the purposes of supervising children or dependants.
- Any outdoor group classes must be limited to 10 people.
- Indoor sport and recreational facilities, including gyms, remain closed.
- Outdoor swimming pools, spas, saunas, steam rooms and springs are open with a density quotient of 1 person per 4 sqm and a maximum of 50 people per venue.
Religion and ceremony
- You can have a wedding with up to 10 people. This limit includes the couple and two witnesses. A celebrant and a photographer are in addition the cap of 10 people.
- Funerals are allowed with up to 50 people. This limit doesn't include babies under 12 months of age, or the people required to conduct the funeral. A funeral held at a private residence is limited to members of that household, intimate partner and minimum number of people required to conduct the funeral.
- Religious gatherings and ceremonies are allowed with a density quotient of 1 person per 4 sqm and a maximum of 50 people per venue, plus a religious leader.
- Check in upon entry using the Service Victoria app, even if your visit is less than 15 minutes.
Hospitality
- Restaurants and cafes are open for dine-in service with a density quotient of 1 person per 4 sqm and a maximum of 50 people per venue.
- There is a maximum on group bookings of 10 people.
- The limit on customers for seated, dine-in service is in place to ensure everyone can keep 1.5 metres distance.
- Food courts can also re-open with the same limits on the number of customers.
- Regional businesses are required to check identification of their customers to ensure they live in regional Victoria. A permitted visitor from metropolitan Melbourne is not allowed to dine in unless they are a permitted worker.
- Check in upon entry using the Service Victoria app, even if your visit is less than 15 minutes.
Entertainment
- Indoor seated entertainment venues can open with a seated capacity of 25 per cent and a density quotient of 1 person per 4 sqm up to maximum of 50 people per venue.
- Check in upon entry using the Service Victoria app, even if your visit is less than 15 minutes.
How are COVID-19 restrictions enforced in Victoria?
Directions will continue to be enforced through spot checks by Victoria Police and use of emergency powers by the Department of Health and Human Services Authorised Officers to ensure compliance with the public health directions.
Industry bodies, Victoria Police, WorkSafe, and Authorised Officers will work together to inform Victorians about the directions, as well as undertake enforcement and compliance activities as needed.
What are the penalties for non-compliance?
Victoria Police can issue on-the-spot fines of up to $1,652 for adults and up to $9,913 for businesses for:
- refusing or failing to comply with the emergency directions
- refusing or failing to comply with a public health risk power direction
- refusing or failing to comply with the Public Health Directions to provide information.
Fines of up to $20,000 for individuals and $100,000 for corporations are possible through the court system.
People who do not wear a face mask when required and do not have a lawful reason can be fined $200.
Cassandra Langley
Rural and regional story-telling is where my passion lies. Email: cassandra.langley@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Rural and regional story-telling is where my passion lies. Email: cassandra.langley@austcommunitymedia.com.au
