Close contact quarantine, proof of vaccination and mask mandates for most settings have been scrapped with a raft of other pandemic orders.
Minister for Health Martin Foley changed restrictions on Friday following a near 70 per cent uptake of the third COVID vaccination.
“As the peak of the Omicron wave begins to subside… Victoria will move into winter safely with most restrictions removed from,” he said.
Patrons will no longer need to show vaccination status before entering any venue, and requirements for staff and patrons to check-in have ended.
Masks will no longer be required in primary schools, early childhood, hospitality and retail settings, or at events of any size.
Close contacts will no longer have to quarantine, provided they wear a mask indoors and avoid sensitive settings. They will also need to undertake at least five negative rapid tests over the seven days that would previously have been the self-quarantine period.
All visitor restrictions in hospitals will be removed except for mask requirements, with health services able to tailor their own settings based on their own circumstances.
Events with more than 30,000 people will no longer require public health pre-approval.
International travellers who are symptom-free will not require testing on arrival, and unvaccinated travellers will no longer complete a seven-day quarantine. Pre-departure tests for unvaccinated air crew will also be lifted.
People are also exempt from testing or quarantine for 12 weeks if they’ve had COVID-19. This is up from eight weeks previously.
What rules still apply?
Individuals will still be required to notify their workplace contacts, in addition to informing their social contacts.
Workplaces won’t have to individually identify and notify each potentially exposed worker.
Mr Foley said some critical and common-sense settings would be retained.
“This includes the essential requirement to isolate for seven days following a COVID-19 diagnosis and existing two-dose and three-dose vaccination mandates for workers,” he said.
Visitor restrictions in care facilities will be retained to protect the vulnerable. Residents can currently have up to five visitors per day if each show a negative rapid antigen test result – or two visitors if no test results are provided.
Face coverings will still be required on public transport and at airports – excluding airport workers who aren’t public facing – and in sensitive health, aged care and justice settings.
All workplaces still require a COVIDSafe Plan.
Mr Foley said many rules that were no longer required would be recommended, including working from home if you’re a close contact exempt from quarantine.
Masks are also strongly recommended when you can’t physically distance.
For details, visit: coronavirus.vic.gov.au
