General News
19 April, 2022
Vax economy ends
The State Government has announced a dramatic easing of COVID restrictions to apply from midnight Friday. The changes effectively end the "vaxxed economy" introduced by the Government last October. Under changes just announced:Patrons won’t be...
The State Government has announced a dramatic easing of COVID restrictions to apply from midnight Friday.
The changes effectively end the "vaxxed economy" introduced by the Government last October.
Under changes just announced:
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 Service Victoria app will end, with operators not required to keep any attendance records or maintain a check-in marshal
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 be recommended but not required to get a PCR or rapid test on arrival, and unvaccinated travellers will no longer complete 7 days’ quarantine. Pre-departure tests for unvaccinated air crew will also be lifted
People are exempt from testing or quarantine for 12 weeks if they’ve had COVID-19 – up from 8 weeks
Individuals will 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
The Government says a number of critical and common-sense settings will be retained, including the essential requirement to isolate for seven days following a COVID-19 diagnosis and existing two-dose and three-dose vaccination mandates for workers.
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 will still require a COVIDSafe Plan.