VICTORIANS have finally got their freedom back after major COVID-19 restrictions were slashed as the state races towards 90 per cent double vaccination – venue and capacity limits no longer exist for the fully vaccinated.
Victorians are now able to go most places without their masks and can hit the dance floor again under Phase D of the National Plan, which came into effect from 11.59pm Thursday night.
The state’s vaccination numbers have continued to soar and the 90 per cent double dose target is likely to be reached this weekend.
Under the new restrictions, masks are only required in high-risk settings such as retail, health care, aged care and justice facilities, at primary schools or on public transport.
Unless health services see a significant jump in hospitalisations, customers for retail will be able to get rid of their masks from December 15, in line with the New South Wales settings.
Gatherings of any size at homes are now permitted, regardless of the vaccination status of those in attendance, however, it is “highly recommended” that visitors be fully vaccinated.
There are no limits for food and drink venues (restaurants and pubs), nightlife venues, entertainment venues, events, tourism venues, casinos and gaming venues, as well as adult entertainment venues.
If you don’t meet the vaccination requirements, you can’t enter the above venues, but the requirements don’t apply to food and drink venues operating for takeaway only.
Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews made the announcement on Thursday and thanked Victorians for the great job they had done in allowing the state to essentially return back to normal.
“This milestone is huge, and it means we can get back to something very close to normal life – our state thriving, the MCG packed, businesses open and families back together,” he said.
“Victorians have done the hard work, and now we can enjoy a summer doing all the things we love … if you’re fully vaccinated, your life will return back to normal.
“Our state should be proud, and the government is very grateful to the more than five million Victorians who have gone and got a first dose.
“That normality that we’ve all craved, we’re able to deliver that as a result of the quite amazing work that Victorians have done in getting vaccinated in record time and (in) record numbers.”
‘The Cally’ was one of the many local venues to breathe a sigh of relief when the new restrictions were announced earlier in the week.
Venue manager, Bianca Spring said the fact that there were no limits at the venue was a huge weight lifted off her shoulders.
“We are allowed a full capacity now which is really great and means things are back to normal, we don’t have any restrictions inside and outside, we are expecting a really big turnout,” she said.
She said the response from the community had been huge, and judging on the number of bookings, it was gearing towards a big weekend.
“Absolutely it has (been a good response), we can also let people play pool again now, so everyone is happy about that, but we are almost booked out tonight and tomorrow night,” Ms Spring said.
“I was really happy with the announcement, it just makes our job a lot easier, and it will be good to see some faces back, hopefully we never have to have something like (those restrictions) again.
“It takes the pressure off a lot, and we are not having to worry about limits inside and all of that, it’s really good.”
There are no limits on travel or accommodation across the state, and while the State Government has recommended people be fully vaccinated, it is not mandatory.
However, vaccination requirements are still in place for complexes inside accommodation facilities, such as restaurants and gyms.
Weddings, funerals and religious ceremonies can go ahead with no limits or restrictions on the basis that all attendees are fully vaccinated.
If the vaccination status at a gathering or a venue is unknown, the previous capacity and density limits still apply.
All indoor and outdoor events with less than 30,000 fully vaccinated attendees will be able to proceed with no special approval and outdoor events with 30,000 or more will only need to publish their COVIDSafe plan.
Indoor venues such as stadiums that have a capacity of 30,000 or more will only require a one-off approval of their COVIDSafe plan from the Victorian Government.
This means that major sporting events like the Boxing Day Test and the Australian Open will be able to proceed at a full capacity.
Non-essential retail settings across Victoria have joined the vaccinated economy and are only open to Victorians who are fully vaccinated, under 12 years and two months, or have a valid exemption.
They will be able to shop at essential stores including supermarkets, chemists and bottle shops.
This rule does not apply to those who have an exemption or children aged under 12 who cannot get the vaccine.
Mr Andrews said while the vaccinated economy would not last forever, he was adamant that non-vaccinated people would continue to be “treated differently”.
“(They) have made in my judgement and the judgement of science, evidence and common sense, the wrong judgement not to get vaccinated,” he said.
“We weren’t going to be locking the place down to protect people who wouldn’t protect themselves – vaccines are available, appointments are available.”
He labelled those who hadn’t been vaccinated as a “different risk” and said they would be treated under very different circumstances for that reason.
“People don’t want to go to a restaurant and be served by somebody who has not been vaccinated, they don’t want to sit at a café next to someone who has not got vaccinated.”
Quarantine obligations have been reduced across the board for positive cases and fully vaccinated close contacts, while exposure sites will no longer be published.
The vast majority of people who come into contact with a confirmed positive case outside their home won’t have to self-quarantine and instead only have to isolate until they receive a negative result from a standard (PCR) test.
Those who have a positive case in their household will need to isolate for seven days if vaccinated, or 14 days if unvaccinated.
A person who tests positive for COVID-19 will need to isolate for 10 days, which is four days less than the previous rules.
As a result, virus exposure in offices, restaurants or nightclubs won’t automatically result in quarantine for patrons or staff.
The Department of Health will continue to manage outbreaks of concern and can impose a quarantine period on contacts on a case-to-case basis.
The Department will also use the new alert function in the Service Victoria app to notify patrons of higher-risk venues where positive cases have been present, such as restaurants, gyms and nightclubs, and users will then be advised to get tested.
