Staying Informed: Easing of Restrictions in Victoria The Victo | VICTORIA FREEDOM KEEPERS

Staying Informed: Easing of Restrictions in Victoria
The Victorian Government have finally announced an easing of COVID-19 restrictions. These changes are to come into effect as of 11:59pm on Friday 22nd April.

Changes to restrictions include;
• Vaccine passports have been scrapped - patrons are no longer required to show their vaccination status before entering a venue.
• Patrons entering venues are not required to check-in using the Services Victoria app.
• Venue staff are no longer required to keep any attendance records or maintain a ‘check-in marshal’.
• Events with more than 30,000 people will no longer require public health pre-approval.
 
• Masks are no longer required in the following settings;
o Primary schools
o Early childhood
o Hospitality and retail settings
o Events of any size
• Visitor restrictions in hospitals are removed (masks are still required) – but health services retain the right to tailor their own settings.
 
• Close contacts are no longer required to quarantine. They will be required to wear a mask indoors and avoid high-risk settings.
o Close contacts will need to undertake at least 5 negative rapid tests over the 7 days (which was previously the self-quarantine period).
 
 
• International travellers who are symptom-free will be recommended but not required to get a PCR test or rapid test on arrival.
• Unvaccinated travellers will no longer complete 7 days’ quarantine.
• Pre-departure tests for unvaccinated air crew are no longer required.
• People are exempt from testing or quarantine for 12 weeks if they’ve had COVID-19 – up from 8 weeks.
 
• Individuals will be required to notify their workplace contacts, in addition to informing their social contacts if they have COVID-19.

Restrictions still in place
• As expected by the Andrews’ Government, yesterday’s press conference created unnecessary confusion in relation to the removal of worker mandates.
• In accordance with the written media release issued by the Andrews Government it is confirmed that all vaccination mandates for workers will remain in place. There is currently no end date for these mandates.
 
• Visitor restrictions in care facilities will remain.
o Residents can currently have up to 5 visitors per day if each show a negative rapid antigen test result – or 2 visitors if no test results are provided.
• Face coverings will still be required;
o On public transport
o At the airport
o In health, aged care and justice settings.
 
• All workplaces will still require a COVIDSafe Plan.
Source: https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/high-vax-rate-means-most-restrictions-can-safely-ease