Isn’t Covid-19 normal a dream for many of us – to have no restrictions on our movement(s), or to be able to catch a drink with a friend at a pub of your choice, and if you wish to – beyond one’s 5 kilometre radius.
It seems that is achievable – and that too on time for the Christmas and New Year’s long weekend.
The Victorian government on Sunday has listed four steps before arriving upon Covid-19 normal. Here are the steps:
Step 1:
The first stage in Metropolitan Melbourne will begin on Sept 13 – most restrictions are to continue with the following changes:
Key Points:
Curfew will be imposed from 9:00 p.m to 05:00 a.m (instead of current 08:00 p.m to 05:00 a.m.)
People living alone and single parents with children under the age of 18, will be able to nominate one visitor to their homes.
Playgrounds will reopen. Exercise will be increased to two hours per day. Public outdoor gatherings of two people will be allowed or a household for up to two hours.
Residents will still however, need to stay within 5 kilometres of their homes unless going out for shopping, exercise, care-giving purposes or permitted.
Note: Regional Victoria will skip stage one, and proceed directly to Step 2 from September 13.
Step 2:
From September 28, after Melbourne completes its extended 2 weeks of Stage 4 restrictions, and if the city reaches an average of 30-50 new cases per day over a 14 day week average, the city will:
CURRENT FROM 11:59pm 13 SEPTEMBER FOR: Regional Victoria
Key Points:
- Only leave home for 4 reasons: school or work (if these can not be done from home), care or caregiving, to purchase essentials, exercise
- Public gatherings: up to 5 people from a maximum of 2 households can meet outdoors for social interaction (infants under 12 months of age are not included in the cap)
- Visitors to the home: “Single person bubble” 1 nominated visitor if living alone/single parent (all children under 18)
- Childcare is open to all children
- Schools return to onsite learning from Term 4 with safety measures
- Outdoor exercise and recreation allowed
- Restaurants and cafes open for takeaway and delivery only
- Retail: open, with density and other restrictions, hairdressing open
Step 3:
Subject to public health advice, the Third Step can start when:
- daily average number of cases in the last 14 days in Regional Victoria is less than 5
- there are less than 0 cases in Regional Victoria with an unknown source in the last 14 days.
Key Points:
- No restrictions on leaving home
- Spend time with others outside where possible
- Public gatherings: up to 10 people outdoors
- Visitors allowed at home from 1 other household (up to 5 people)
- Schools return to onsite learning from Term 4 with safety measures
- Hospitality open for predominately outdoor seated service only
- All retail open, except personal care (hairdressers open)
Step 4:
CURRENT AFTER 23 NOVEMBER AND WHEN: There are no new cases for 14 days across Victoria.
The time period must pass AND the number of cases must be low enough to move to the next step. This is a trigger point for public health review.
Key points
- No restrictions on leaving home
- Public gatherings: Up to 50 people outdoors
- Up to 20 visitors at home
- Schools open for onsite learning with safety measures
- Hospitality open for seated service only
- All retail open
- Galleries, museums and other entertainment venues open with some restrictions
When will Regional Victoria move to COVID Normal?
Subject to public health advice, when there are no new cases for 28 days and no active cases (state-wide) and no outbreaks of concern in other States and Territories.
Information sourced from: https://www.vic.gov.au/restrictions-roadmap-regional-victoria
