(Information extracted from www.https://www.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-covid-19-restrictions-victoria)
The Victorian Government has announced a number of changes to restrictions for Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Melbourne
For Melbourne, new restrictions will take effect from 6pm today (Sunday 2 August). A curfew will be in place from 8pm this evening. Curfews will be in operation from 8pm to 5am every evening. People are only allowed to leave their house for work and essential health, care or safety reasons.
Outside of these hours, you are only allowed to leave your house for 1 of the following four reasons:
- To purchase food and necessary supplies. This must be done within a 5km radius from where you live. Only 1 person per household can leave for essential goods, and only once per day. For some people the nearest goods and services will be more than 5km away. In this situation you may travel beyond 5km to the nearest provider. If you are unable to leave home because it would mean leaving a young child or at-risk person at home unattended, then they may accompany you.
- Exercise once a day for up to 1 hour within a 5km radius of your home. Gathering sizes will be limited to 2. If you are unable to leave home because it would mean leaving a young child or at-risk person at home unattended, then they may accompany you.
- For care and health care including accompanying someone for essential medical care if you are a carer, guardian or necessary support person. The 5km limit does not apply to care or caregiving.
- Work. Study at TAFE and university must be done remotely. The 5km limit does not apply to work.
You are also allowed to leave your home to visit your partner or as part of formal or informal shared parenting arrangements.
If you are escaping family violence, you can also leave your home.
You can always leave home in case of an emergency.
You must continue to wear a face covering when you leave your home.
Regional Victoria including Mitchell Shire will move to Stage 3 restrictions
This means you must stay home except for the following four reasons:
- For food and essential supplies
- For study or work
- For care and healthcare
- And for exercise or outdoor recreation
When outside your home, you must wear a face covering.
No visitors are allowed at your home, and you are only allowed to gather with one person from outside your household in public.
Schools returning to remote learning
All schools around Victoria will move to remote learning this week. Schools will remain open for vulnerable children and the children of permitted workers.
Kinders and early childhood centres in metropolitan Melbourne will only be open for vulnerable children and children whose parents are permitted workers.
Specialist schools, kinders and childcare will remain open in regional areas.
We all need to play our part to help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). By staying at home and limiting contact with other people, we can help protect ourselves, our families and our communities from coronavirus (COVID-19).
New restrictions for regional Victoria and mandatory face coverings for all of Victoria
Announcement made: 11:00am, 30 July 2020
In line with the advice of the Chief Health Officer, the Victorian Government has announced a number of changes in regional Victoria.
From 11:59pm on Thursday 30 July, you will no longer be able to have visitors at home, or visit other people’s homes if you live in the following local government areas:
- Greater Geelong
- Surf Coast
- Moorabool
- Golden Plains
- Colac Otway
- Borough of Queenscliffe
You may still continue to visit your partner, and exemptions continue to apply for care and caregiving reasons. If you live in one of these areas, these restrictions will travel with you.
Face coverings mandatory for all of Victoria
From 11:59pm on Sunday 2 August, face coverings will also be mandatory for all of Victoria.
The same lawful exemptions that currently apply in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire, will apply across Victoria. These include if you have a medical condition or other condition that impairs your ability to wear a face covering, doing strenuous exercise or if you are unable to do your job while wearing a face covering.
Wearing a face covering protects you and your community by providing an additional physical barrier to coronavirus (COVID-19).
People who do not wear face coverings and do not have a lawful excuse can be fined $200.
As in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire, masks will be made available to schools and vulnerable people living in regional Victoria.
Children who are under the age of 12 years old do not need to wear a face covering. Children who are two years or younger must not wear face coverings as they are a choking and suffocation risk.
Guidelines will be developed about how wearing a face covering applies in different settings in regional Victoria.
Reporting non-urgent crime and breaches of directives
The community can continue to report non-urgent crime and events, as well as breaches of the Chief Health Officer’s directives, by calling the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 or submitting an online report at police.vic.gov.au/palolr.
We’re asking Victorians to follow the restrictions and follow the health advice.
Stay home and stay safe. Lives are counting on it.
For more information, visit www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus
