COVID-19 Update September 8
Today, the Premier has announced that as of 11:59pm tomorrow Thursday 9 September, the five reasons to leave the home will be removed in regional Victoria, except for Greater Shepparton.
There will be no limit on the distance regional Victorians can travel from home – other than restrictions on entry to metropolitan Melbourne.
These changes are modest, with a risk of outbreaks still possible.
Metro Melbourne will remain on the current restrictions which means ID checks are back. There will also be an increase in Police checks across the state.
See the full list of restrictions here.
We’ve provided a snapshot for you below.
For a range of tourism businesses, regional Victorian restrictions will mean:
Hospitality:
- Open for seated service only with maximum 10 indoors and of 20 outdoors.
- Density quotient of 1 person per 4 sqm applies.
- COVID Check-in Marshals must ensure attendees check-in and have regional Victorian identification.
- Dancefloors closed.
Accommodation:
- Open to people who live in regional Victoria only.
- Bookings permitted for single households, intimate partners or nominated single social bubble person.
- COVID Check-in Marshals must ensure attendees check-in and have regional Victorian identification.
Tours & Transport:
- Closed.
Business function facilities and conference centres:
Indoor fixed seated function facilities:
- Indoors open with maximum of 20 people per space.
- Density quotient of 1 person per 4 sqm applies.
- COVID Check-in Marshals must ensure attendees check-in and have regional Victorian identification.
Entertainment and Leisure:
Indoor fixed seated entertainment venue:
- Open with maximum of 20 people per space.
- Density quotient of 1 person per 4 sqm applies.
- COVID Check-in Marshals must ensure attendees check-in and have regional Victorian identification.
Outdoor fixed seated entertainment venue:
- Open with up to 25 percent capacity with maximum of 300 people per space, whichever is lesser.
- Density quotient of 1 person per 4 sqm applies.
- COVID Check-in Marshals must ensure attendees check-in and have regional Victorian identification.
Indoor non-seated entertainment venue:
- Open with maximum of 20 people per space.
- Density quotient of 1 person per 4sqm applies.
- COVID Check-in Marshals must ensure attendees check-in and have regional Victorian identification.
Outdoor non-seated entertainment venue:
- Open with up to 25 percent capacity with maximum of 300 people per space, whichever is lesser.
- Density quotient of 1 person per 4sqm applies.
- COVID Check-in Marshals must ensure attendees check-in and have regional Victorian identification.
Amusement parks:
- Outdoor spaces align with outdoor non-seated – 25 per cent capacity with maximum 300 per space, whichever is lesser.
- Density quotient of 1 person per 4sqm applies.
- COVID Check-in Marshals must ensure attendees check-in and have regional Victorian identification.
Retail:
- Open.
- Density quotient of 1 person per 4sqm applies.
- COVID Check-in Marshals must ensure attendees check-in and have regional Victorian identification.
- Masks mandatory at all times and cannot be removed for eating/drinking in retail settings
Weddings:
- Permitted with no more than 10 people (and those workers necessary to conduct the wedding).
- Density quotient of 1 person per 4sqm applies.
- Children under 12 months old are not counted.
- COVID Check-in Marshals must ensure attendees check-in and have regional Victorian identification.
- Dancefloors not permitted.
You can download a full Table of Restrictions here.
For our wider regional community, there are basic restrictions we must all adhere to:
Office Work:
- If you can work from home, you must work from home.
- Office work – 25 per cent return or up to 10 people if total workplace is 40 or less, density quotient of 1 person per 4 sqm applies.
Face coverings:
- Must be carried at all times.
- Must be worn indoors and outdoors except if at home, or if an exemption applies.
Private gatherings:
- Not permitted. Intimate partner visits are allowed/single bubble permitted.
Public gatherings:
- Permitted for up to 10 people.
We understand these are small steps and, disappointingly, many businesses cannot viably operate with the capacity numbers in place.
We will continue to push for sustained business funding programs through this restricted period – we know how critical it is to maintain support while we carefully navigate back to more commercially viable capacities.
Vaccines are the key way forward and numbers are looking good across our region, so keep up the great work team. Bookings can be made here.
For specific clarification on any of these requirements, the Business Victoria hotline is available on
13 22 15.
Or if you’d like to chat to our team about these changes, just shoot us an email or call on 03 5223 2588.
