January 26 2021

Covid Safe Summer

	COVID Safe Summer From 11.59pm, 6 December 2020, unless otherwise stated. From 5pm on 31 December, some changes were made to the restrictions including changes to mask wearing and the number of people allowed at social gatherings in the home.
Social	Leave home: No restriction on reasons to leave home but stay safe. Public gatherings: Up to 100 people can gather outdoors from any number of households, infants under 12 months are not included in the cap. Visitors to the home: Up to 15 visitors can visit a home in a day (infants under 12 months are not counted in the cap). Visitors may be from any number of households and may visit either together or separately. Front and backyards are considered part of the home.
Face masks	Face masks: From 5pm on 31 December 2020 you must wear a fitted face mask when you are in public indoor spaces unless you have a lawful reason not to. This includes when visiting places such as: shopping centres, supermarkets, retail outlets and indoor markets hospitals and aged care facilities restaurants and cafes, except when you are eating or drinking churches and places of worship libraries indoor recreational facilities and gyms indoor workplaces. You must continue to carry a face mask with you at all times when you leave home, unless you have a lawful reason not to. This is in case you require your face mask, for example, if you aren’t able to keep 1.5 metres distance from other people or enter a public indoor space. You must wear a fitted face mask when you are in an airport terminal. It is strongly recommended you wear a face mask while on your flight. Any person diagnosed or suspected of having COVID-19, or who is a close contact of someone diagnosed with COVID-19, must wear a face covering if leaving home/accommodation for a permitted reason, such as medical care.
Education and childcare	Childcare and early education: Open. Schools: Onsite learning. Adult education: Open with no density quotient required in classroom settings.
Work	Continued phased return to on-site work for workers who have been working from home, capped at no more than 25 per cent of a workforce on-site. Offices will be able to increase to 50 per cent from 11 January 2021 – or for workplaces with fewer than 40 staff, up to 20 staff onsite – subject to public health advice. The Victorian Public Service can commence a phased return to work at 25 per cent from 11 January and increase to 50 per cent from 8 February 2021, subject to public health advice. All workplaces with onsite workers require a COVIDSafe Plan.
Eating and drinking out	Hospitality: Density quotient of 1 per 2sqm for indoor and outdoor hospitality venues. Up to 25 patrons are permitted in a venue before the density quotient applies. No requirement for seated service. Density quotient of 1 per 4sqm on a dancefloor up to a maximum of 50 people. All venues are required to use electronic record keeping when applying the density quotient of 1 per 2 sqm. In venues not using electronic record a density quotient of 1 per 4 sqm applies. Food courts: Indoor and outdoor food courts open with a density quotient of 1 per 2 sqm. No patron cap for indoor food courts.
Exercise and recreation	Indoor physical recreation and community sport: No patron caps with a density quotient of 1 per 4sqm for each space. Gym and exercise classes limited to 50 people (excluding anyone necessary for running the class). COVID Marshals required when gyms are staffed. At times when gyms are unstaffed, a density quotient of 1 per 8 sqm applies. Signage must state the number of people permitted inside, wipes and disinfectant must be supplied for use by patrons, and record keeping is required and venues with capacity of greater than 500 patrons must publish a COVIDSafe Plan online. Outdoor physical recreation and community sport: Up to a maximum of 100 patrons for outdoor fitness classes with a density quotient of 1 per 2sqm. Record keeping is required and venues with capacity of greater than 500 patrons must publish a COVIDSafe Plan online. Pools, spas, saunas, steam rooms and springs: Indoor venues open with a density quotient of 1 per 4 sqm. Outdoor pools open with a density quotient of 1 per 2 sqm. Record keeping is required.
Ceremonies and special occasions	Weddings: No maximum attendee caps indoors or outdoors, density quotient of 1 per 2 sqm applies when using electronic record keeping. In venues not using electronic record a density quotient of 1 per 4 sqm applies. If held in a private residence, up to 15 guests can attend. Density quotient of 1 per 4sqm on a dancefloor up to a maximum of 50 people Funerals: No maximum attendee caps indoors or outdoors, density quotient of 1 per 2sqm applies when using electronic record keeping. In venues not using electronic record a density quotient of 1 per 4 sqm applies. If held in a private residence, up to 15 guests can attend. Ceremonies and religious gatherings: Density quotient of 1 per 2sqm applies. Venues using the density quotient of 1 per 2sqm must use electronic record keeping. In venues not using electronic record a density quotient of 1 per 4 sqm applies. Indoor and outdoor ceremonies can occur at the same time.
Community venues, including libraries and toy libraries	Community venues and facilities including libraries and toy libraries: No patron caps with a density quotient of 1 per 2sqm, subject to use of electronic record keeping. If not using electronic record keeping a density quotient of 1 per 4sqm applies. Creative arts facilities: No patron caps with a density quotient of 1 per 2sqm, subject to use of electronic record keeping.
Real estate	Real estate: Inspections and auctions operating with a density quotient of 1 per 2sqm, subject to use of electronic record keeping. If not using electronic record keeping a density quotient of 1 per 4sqm applies.
Entertainment facilities	Seated entertainment venues (indoors and outdoors): Open, up to 75 per cent of fixed seated capacity with maximum patron cap of 1000 people, density quotient of 1 per 2sqm in foyers, bars, bathrooms etc when using electronic record keeping. In venues not using electronic record a density quotient of 1 per 4 sqm applies. Venues with capacity of greater than 500 patrons must publish a COVIDSafe Plan online. Arrangements for large events determined on an individual basis under the Public Events Framework.
	Indoor non-seated venues (such as galleries): Open, up to 50 per cent total capacity with maximum patron cap of 1000 people. Density quotient of 1 per 2sqm when using electronic record keeping. In venues not using electronic record a density quotient of 1 per 4 sqm applies. Venues with capacity of greater than 500 patrons must publish a COVIDSafe Plan online. Arrangements for large events determined on an individual basis under the Public Events Framework. Outdoor non-seated entertainment venues (such as Zoos, live museums): Open, density quotient of 1 per 2sqm when using electronic record keeping. In venues not using electronic record a density quotient of 1 per 4 sqm applies. Group limits removed. Indoor spaces at outdoor venues open, subject to restrictions relevant to the space (e.g. hospitality or retail). Venues with capacity of greater than 500 patrons must publish a COVIDSafe Plan online. Arcades, escape rooms, bingo centres: Open, no maximum patron caps and a density quotient of 1 per 2sqm applies when using electronic record keeping. In venues not using electronic record a density quotient of 1 per 4 sqm applies. Drive in cinemas: Open, in areas outside of vehicles density quotient of 1 per 2sqm applies when using electronic record keeping. In venues not using electronic record a density quotient of 1 per 4 sqm applies. Venues with capacity of greater than 500 patrons must publish a COVIDSafe Plan online. Amusement parks: Open, up to 75 per cent of venue capacity. Density quotient of 1 per 4sqm applies indoors. Density quotient of 1 per 2sqm applies outdoors, when using electronic record keeping. In venues not using electronic record a density quotient of 1 per 4 sqm applies. Venues with capacity of greater than 500 patrons must publish a COVIDSafe Plan online. Gaming: Open, with a density quotient of 1 per 4sqm, every second machine turned off, and no seated service requirement. Electronic record keeping required. Adult entertainment: Brothels and sex on premises venues open, with a density quotient of 1 per 4sqm and a patron cap of 100. Electronic record keeping required. Strip club venues open, with a density quotient of 1 per 4 sqm and no seated service requirement. Nightclubs: Open, standing service permitted. Density quotient of 1 per 4sqm on a dancefloor up to a maximum of 50 people. Density quotient of 1 per 2sqm elsewhere in the venue, with no maximum patron limit. Electronic record keeping required.
Shopping, hairdressing and personal care	Retail: (e.g. supermarkets, other retail) Density quotient of 1 per 2sqm, with record keeping where practicable. Hairdressing, beauty and personal care services: Density quotient of 1 per 2sqm applies, when using electronic record keeping. In venues not using electronic record a density quotient of 1 per 4 sqm applies. Face masks no longer required.
Accommodation and travel	Accommodation: Bookings restricted to the private gathering limit. The person or household booking the accommodation can have up to 15 visitors. Tourism spaces and groups: No patron cap on tour groups. Masks must be worn on tour transport. Intrastate travel: Allowed. Interstate travel: Continued international border controls. State border controls activated in case of outbreaks.
Care facilities and hospitals	Visitors: No restrictions on purpose, number or time limits of visits. Symptomatic individuals (e.g. sore throat), close contacts and returned international travellers excluded from visiting.