The Victorian Government has today announced further easing of restrictions for businesses and individuals.
The changes will take place as of 11:59 pm Friday 22 April, here’s what you need to know:
For businesses:
- Masks will no longer be required in several settings including hospitality and retail or at events of any size.
- Patrons won’t be required to have two doses or show their vaccination status before entering any venue.
- The requirement for staff and patrons of venues to check-in using the Services Victoria app will end and operators will not be required to maintain attendance records or maintain a COVID marshal.
- Events with more than 30,000 people will no longer require public health pre-approval.
- Workplaces won’t have to individually identify and notify each potentially exposed worker.
- Face coverings will still be required on public transport and at airports. Excluding airport workers who aren’t public facing.
- All workplaces will still require a COVIDSafe Plan.
- The existing two-dose and three-dose vaccination mandates for workers are retained.
For individuals:
- Close contacts of COVID cases will no longer be required 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.
- People who have had COVID will be exempt from testing or quarantining for 12 weeks, up from the current period of eight weeks.
You can read the full statement from the Victorian Government here.
For specific clarification on any of these requirements, the Business Victoria hotline is available on 13 22 15.
We hope some of these changes to the quarantine requirements and check-in procedures help relieve staff shortage pressures going forward.
Team Tourism is always here to support however we can.
Take Care,
Brett Ince
Executive Director
Tourism Greater Geelong and The Bellarine