Victorian Government to ease COVID-19 restrictions as vaccination rates nears 90%

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has announced an extensive easing of COVID-19 restrictions across the state that will enable fully vaccinated Victorians to watch sports, dance in nightclubs and enjoy activities.

With Victoria reaching a 90% vaccination rate, Premier Andrews announced late yesterday that the state has moved to phase D of its COVID-19 plan, commenting “the milestone we’re about to hit is brilliant, allowing Victoria to return to something like the normal life we remember - businesses open, the city thriving and families getting back to doing the things they love together.

"This is a safe delivery of the national plan, I am not only proud of Victorians but also deeply grateful."

Masks are still required in health facilities, public transport, retail settings and in primary schools, but capacity limits for events have been removed.

Applying from 11:59 pm last night, the changes will see all indoor and outdoor events with fewer than 30,000 fully vaccinated attendees will be able to take place without special approval, while outdoor events with more than 30,000 people will need to publish a COVIDSafe plan. Indoor venues, which includes stadiums that have a capacity of 30,000 or more, will also need to receive approval from the Victorian Government on its COVIDSafe plan.

A statement from the Victorian Government added “in good news for summer sports fans, major events like the Boxing Day Test and the Australian Open will be able to proceed at full capacity, subject to the approval of the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) and Melbourne Park’s COVIDSafe Plan.”

The changes also see an easing of self-quarantine requirements for COVID-19 cases and close contacts will be significantly eased.

Indoor and outdoor events, along with major sporting events like the Boxing Day Test, will require attendees to show proof of vaccination.

Urging those who had chosen not to be vaccinated to rethink their stance, acting Victorian Chief Health Officer, Ben Cowie stated "I know that me saying you should is not going to make any difference to those people who haven't been vaccinated.”

Victoria’s easing of restrictions has also been welcomed by Cricket Australia Big Bash League, the A-Leagues and the National Basketball League. It is also a much-needed boost for the Australian Football League (AFL), which can begin its 2022 season in front of full capacity crowds at the MCG.

Victorian Minister for Health, Martin Foley “by focusing on high-risk settings, cases and contacts - and safely removing rules that could sweep hundreds of thousands of people into long quarantine at any one time - Victoria is charting a path for the rests of Australia for how to live with COVID-19 as a manageable endemic when cases inevitably increase nationwide.”

Restrictions on leaving Victoria have also been removed, except for the rules that apply to people visiting from Victoria in the other jurisdictions. People wishing to return to Victoria will just need to apply for a permit from Service Victoria.

Images: MCG (top, credit: Delaware North) and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews (below).