COVID-19 restrictions are set to ease as hospitalisation numbers and community transmissions decrease.
Density quotients of one person per two square metres at hospitality and entertainment venues will be removed from 6pm tomorrow, Friday. Indoor dancefloors can also re-open.
QR code check-in requirement will no longer be in place at retail venues, schools and for employees at many workplaces.
Check-ins and vaccination check requirements will remain in all ‘vaccinated economy’ settings such as hospitality and entertainment venues.
The restrictions had been in place during Victoria’s Omicron surge but will change under new pandemic orders to be signed by Health Minister Martin Foley.
Mandatory surveillance testing requirements for industries, such as meat processing, will move to ‘recommended only’, and requirements for hospital worker ‘bubbles’ will also be removed, however health services may still implement them at their discretion.
International arrivals will no longer be required to obtain an international arrivals permit through Service Victoria, and the hotel quarantine period for international visitors and aircrew who aren’t fully vaccinated or medically exempt will reduce to seven days.
Premier Daniel Andrews said the changes were what Victorians have been waiting for.
“We always said these measures wouldn’t be in place for a minute longer than they are needed, and with hospitalisation numbers decreasing and less pressure on our health system, now is a sensible time to make changes,” he said.
The government announced yesterday that all elective surgery across public and private hospitals will resume by the end of the month.
Mr Foley said the changes reflected the progress made in dealing with the virus.
“These are safe and sensible measures which balance the need to support our health system with the benefits of easing restrictions across a range of settings,” he said.
“Changes to QR code requirements will still support our focus on the highest-risk settings most likely to generate super-spreader events and we will keep reviewing the system over time in line with the epidemiological situation.”
The government will also consider changes to office-based settings from next week, including removing the recommendation that Victorians work from home, as well as easing mitigation strategies in offices such as face mask requirements.
Consideration will be given to those who have received a third dose of the vaccine.
Further details on the new restrictions will be published online at www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au from 6pm tomorrow.
