)
With no active cases of COVID-19 in the state, Victorian health officials are poised to ease restrictions from Friday, allowing more visitors in the home, reduced mask wearing, and larger public gatherings.
Ffrom Friday 26 March, masks will no longer be required in retail settings but Victorians will still need to wear one on public transport, in rideshare vehicles and taxis, and in aged care facilities and hospitals.
Home gatherings will be able to have up to 100 people in attendance per day, and outdoor public gatherings in public places can increase to 200 people.
Density limits in venues still operating under more restrictive settings - like casinos, karaoke venues and nightclubs - will move from one person per four square metres to one person per two square metres. This is in line with restrictions on cafes, pubs and restaurants.
Additional people will also be allowed in indoor non-seated entertainment venues with an increase from 50 per cent to 75 per cent capacity. However, the limit of 1,000 people per space remains.
Dancefloors will move to the same density limit of the venue and the 50 patron cap will also be removed.
There will no longer be limits on class sizes for outdoor and indoor physical recreation or fitness classes, and unstaffed gyms will be moving from a density limit of one person per eight square metres to one person per four square metres.
The 75 per cent cap on private and public offices workers will also be removed, which coincides with a revised flexible work policy for the Victorian Public Service (VPS) released today.
While all workplaces are still required to ensure people can work from the office in a COVIDSafe way - with a density limit of one person per two square metres - they will no longer be required to permit workers to work from home.
Following a successful first round of the AFL, crowds at games will be able to increase to 75 per cent of total capacity for Round 2.
"We know the risk is far from over but thanks to the incredible work of all Victorians, we're continuing to open up and see the Victoria we all love, return to life again," Victorian Acting Premier James Merlino said.
"More Victorians back at work means more people supporting their local cafes, restaurants and live music venues - boosting the economy where it's needed most."
Updated at 12.18pm AEDT on 23 March 2021.
Get our daily business news
Sign up to our free email news updates.
)
)
)
)
)
