9 Nov 2020 | Barbara Cullen – Director, Small Business Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews has announced the further easing of restrictions from 11.59pm on Sunday 8 November with Victoria on track to reach the Last Step in the roadmap towards reopening on 22 November. Following is an overview of the key changes: Metropolitan Melbourne to join regional Victoria on roadmap towards reopening From 11:59pm on Sunday 8 November 2020:

• The boundary between Melbourne and regional Victoria will come down.
• The 25-kilometre limit will no longer be in place.
• The rules that currently apply to regional Victoria will apply to the whole state – wherever you live.

What this means – changes to how we live and work in metropolitan Melbourne From 11:59pm on Sunday 8 November:

• Visits to the home will be relaxed a little. Households can still only have a maximum of two people (and their dependents) to visit per day, but those two people don’t need to be from the same household, and they will be able to come at different times.
• Restaurants, pubs and cafes will be able to host up to 40 customers indoors and 70 outdoors.
• Gyms and indoor sporting facilities can open with up to 20.
• Indoor sport for those 18 and under can recommence.
• Indoor religious ceremonies will be increased to 20, with 50 allowed outside. The same numbers will apply to funerals, but there’s no change to weddings – for now.
• Community spaces like libraries or RSL clubs and neighbourhood houses can have up to 20 indoors, with groups of up to ten.
• Accommodation will be able to open, with restrictions.

Additional changes to how we live and work across Victoria From 11:59pm on Sunday 8 November:

• Indoor entertainment venues will be able to open with 20 people per space – movie theatres, galleries, museums and music halls will now be able to open.
• The rules around visiting aged care and hospitals will also be relaxed. Instead of a specific number of visitors – a household will be able to visit together. Once per day and limited to two hours.
• Those under 16 will also be able to visit hospitals and the time limit for partners visiting maternity wards will no longer exist. Please note however, that individual hospitals and facilities may continue to have their own policies, reflecting the needs of their patients and whatever the virus might be doing in the community.
• The State of Emergency will be extended until 6 December to allow the Chief Health Officer’s directions to remain in force.
• The State of Disaster will not be renewed.

Key restrictions remaining in place at this time

• If you can work from home, you must work from home.
• A fitted face mask must be worn in public at all times (with specified exceptions).

Looking ahead – Victoria’s Last Step in the roadmap towards reopening From 22 November, and in line with the public health advice, Victoria is on track to reach the Last Step in the roadmap towards reopening. Some key changes include:

• Private gatherings will be able to increase to 10 people.
• Gatherings for religious services, weddings and funerals will increase.
• Hospitality venues will be able to have up to 100 indoors, 200 outside.
• There will also be increases for other indoor venues like cinemas and gyms and galleries.

Stay safe, stay open – everyone has a role

• Keep wearing a mask.
• Keep maintaining your distance.
• If you have symptoms, you must get tested immediately and stay home.

For a detailed summary of the restrictions for the Third Step and Last Step of the roadmap, access Victoria’s roadmap for reopening. Please note, all patron numbers are subject to strict density limits as outlined in the relevant sector guidance. A range of templates, questionnaires, signage and posters is now also available to assist employers to promote a COVIDSafe workplace. A reminder that every business that is open in Victoria must have a COVIDSafe Plan. Barbara Cullen Director | Small Business Victoria | Jobs, Innovation and Business Engagement Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions