Thanks to the incredible efforts of the community, Victoria will hit its 70 per cent first dose vaccination target tomorrow – becoming the second state in Australia to do so.
With this milestone, new freedoms can take effect – but emerging risks must be addressed and Victorians need to keep the momentum going to hit 70 per cent and 80 per cent double dose targets as soon as possible.
From 11.59pm tomorrow night, there will be some changes to COVID-safe settings in regional Victoria – excluding the City of Ballarat which entered lockdown yesterday.
In regional Victoria, gyms and outdoor and indoor pools (excluding spas, saunas and steam rooms) will reopen with limits, and hydrotherapy and swimming lessons can occur. Tour buses can operate up to 10 people.
Victoria’s chief health officer has also recommended some modest easing of restrictions in lockdown areas of metropolitan Melbourne and Ballarat – expanding outdoor social interaction, exercise, the distance you can travel from home and more.
The most significant change is that there will now be one other reason to leave home: outdoor social interaction.
This means one person may meet another person not from their household for a picnic, a walk, or another outdoor activity.
Additionally, up to five adults (plus dependants) from two households will be able to gather outdoors if all adults present have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The time permitted for exercise – and now outdoor social interaction – will increase from two hours a day to four hours.
The distance metro people can leave home for shopping for necessary goods and services, exercise and outdoor social interaction will increase from five kilometres to 10 kilometres.
As part of further changes to exercise, two people will now be able to train outdoors with a personal trainer. Skate parks and outdoor communal exercise equipment will reopen.
Child-minding for school-aged children will be permitted if only one parent is an authorised worker.
Up to five people will be able to attend an entertainment venue or physical recreation facility to broadcast a performance, class, or concert.
Real estate inspections will resume by appointment only. To ensure they’re COVID-safe, only people from the same household can attend the inspection appointment and the real estate agent must stay outdoors during the inspection.
While these changes can go ahead, public health officials have become increasingly concerned about COVID-19 transmission and exposure in construction settings, with evidence that it emerging as a ‘vector’ of the virus into regional areas. Changes will be made to limit further spread in this industry, allowing people to keep working safely.
In order to continue working, construction workers state-wide will need to show evidence to their employer that they have had a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by 11.59pm Thursday, September 23.
Limited medical exemptions and proof-of-booking exceptions will apply, in line with previous requirements for residential aged care workers.
In light of the cases seeding from Melbourne into regional Victoria, construction workers will now not be able to cross the metropolitan-regional boundary for work.
Tea rooms will need to close and food or drink will not be able to be consumed indoors at work. Worker shift bubbles must be in practice and all sites will require a COVID-safe Marshal on site.
For more information call the coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398 or visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au.
Victorians can book their vaccination appointment at a state-run centre by visiting portal.cvms.vic.gov.au or by phoning 1800 675 398.
Construction workers can also access priority booking (phone only) and can walk up without a booking for Pfizer during key times at the old Ford Factory in Campbellfield, the former Bunnings in Melton West, Eagle Stadium in Werribee and the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital.
If you’re yet to be vaccinated, book your appointment today – either in state-run centres, or at your GP or local pharmacy.