New rules Friday for regional Vic

Regional Victorian residents will enjoy more freedoms from Friday, October 22 as the state’s population, aged 16 and over, reaches 70 per cent double vaccination.

From Friday indoor settings – such as restaurants, cafes, cinemas and gyms – will increase from 10 to 30 people per venue, if every guest is fully vaccinated. And outdoors venue caps will increase from 20 people to 100 fully vaccinated people. If the vaccination status of someone is unknown, the venue will only be allowed to operate with 20 people. Public gatherings for full vaccinated people will increase to 20 people and 10 people can visit your home.

Funerals and weddings are allowed for 30 fully vaccinated people indoors and 100 fully vaccinated outdoors.

All school students will also return onsite from Friday.

Community sport returns indoors for a minimum full vaccinated number.

Masks will still be required both indoors and outdoors for all Victorians. Also, from this Friday non-household primary close contacts (PCCs) who are fully vaccinated will only need to quarantine for 7 days.

This change will also apply to industry, where all workplace primary close contacts will be required to isolate for 7 days if they are fully vaccinated. Household and unvaccinated PCCs will still be required to isolate for 14 days. PCCs required to isolate for 7 days will need to return negative test results on both day 1 and day 6 of their quarantine.

Travel between Melbourne and regional Victoria will resume at the 80 per cent milestone. Under the 70 per cent reopening, Melburnians are not permitted to enter regional Victoria unless they have a permitted reason. The 80 per cent (double dose) milestone is expected to be reached by the Melbourne Cup weekend, November 1 where more freedoms will be given to Victorians.

For more info on the Victorian Roadmap visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-covidsafe-settings.