Melbourne returns to life today after 77 days of its sixth lockdown, encountering some confusion over the COVID rules on vaccination.
This week Victoria surpassed 70 per cent of people over 16 having received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
As specified, restrictions in metropolitan Melbourne have now lifted. There are no longer restrictions on reasons to leave home or a stay-at-home curfew, nor on the distance people can travel within the city.
Pubs and venues serving food and drink can open for seated service, but everyone present – both workers and patrons – must be fully vaccinated, according to State requirements.
There is a cap of 20 people indoors and 50 people outdoors, plus density limits, and face masks are mandatory indoors and outdoors for people aged 12 and over.
Check-in is required everywhere, via the Service Victoria App. Patrons must show evidence of being fully vaccinated to enter. This is best done by the person linking their COVID-19 Digital Certificate to the Service Victoria App.
Travel from cities into regional Victoria is still restricted as those areas are operating under different rules.
There was confusion this week after the Premier Dan Andrews and also COVID Commander Jeroen Weimar specified that all hospitality staff would need to be double-vaccinated for venues to reopen on the 22nd.
Deputy Chief Health Officer Ben Cowie and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) mobilised to end the mix-up, clarifying that in regional venues staff must have had at least one dose. Venues who don’t yet have all staff fully vaccinated can continue to operate, but will not be able to move up to the next step in the reopening roadmap.
These pubs will remain limited to 10 patrons indoors and 30 outdoors.
“Hospitality staff including cooks, waiters, and all other staff working in restaurants, pubs and cafes will need to be fully vaccinated for venues in regional Victoria to increase capacity,” read the statement from the DHHS.
Once the State reaches 80 per cent double-vaxxed, metropolitan venues with all working staff fully vaccinated can open to 30 people indoors and 100 outdoors. In regional Victoria, pubs and clubs will be able to have up to 150 people indoors, and 500 outdoors.
