Dancefloors open up, density limits drop as Victorian restrictions eased further

As of this morning capacity limits on Victorian businesses and hospitality venues have eased and masks are no longer mandatory in a variety of settings as the state moves towards a "COVIDSafe Summer".

Announced yesterday by Premier Daniel Andrews, these freshly eased restrictions will remain in place until at least the end of January, guiding the state through the summer months.

As of 11:59pm yesterday density limits in pubs, restaurants and cafes shifted to one person per two square metres for both indoors and outdoors.

The use of electronic record keeping with a QR code will be mandatory.

For smaller venues there are no density limits if the patron number is under 25.

Retail and beauty services have also moved to the one person per two square metre rule as long as electronic record keeping is introduced.

The cap for funerals and weddings has also been removed, subject to a new density limit of 1 person per 2sqm, and dancefloors at weddings are allowed for up to 50 people.

A dancefloor of 50 people is also allowed at nightclubs.

In gyms, the density limit has moved to one person per four square metres with exercise classes limited to 50 indoors and 100 outdoors.

Masks are only required in a limited number of places: on public transport, in rideshare vehicles and taxis, in some retail settings including indoor shopping centres, supermarkets, department stores and indoor markets.

The state will move to a 50 per cent return for office workers by 11 January, after considering public health advice at the time.

For the public service up to 25 per cent will be able to return to the office from 11 January, moving up to 50 per cent on 8 February.

"Until we have a vaccine and even then, until we have a widely distributed vaccine some aspects of these rules and restrictions must continue to be part of our reality," Premier Daniel Andrews said.

"Our new "COVIDSafe Summer" will be in place until at least the end of January, giving Victorians a bit more certainty about what the next couple of months will look like."

Victoria reported zero new cases of COVID-19 yesterday and zero new deaths while there are still no active cases of the virus in the state.

Updated at 9.36am AEDT on 7 December 2020.