Dear Members,
New restrictions imposed on Victorian Geelong, Mitchell, and Surf Coast communities
A number of cases have been identified overnight in Greater Geelong, Mitchell Shire, and the Surf Coast. The Chief Health Officer has now declared that from 11:59 pm on Sunday 19 Sept the City of Greater Geelong, the Surf Coast, and Mitchell Shire will enter a seven-day lockdown. Restrictions will be the same as those in Ballarat and metropolitan Melbourne, excluding the curfew. There are only five reasons to leave home. Shopping, exercise, and outdoor social interaction will be limited to 10km from your home. Masks will be mandatory indoors and outdoors too.
Victorian Roadmap for Reopening
The Premier’s media release is available here: https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/victorias-roadmap-delivering-national-plan and links to the roadmaps are available at the end of the media release.
On the question of how businesses will check the vaccination status of customers, penalties for non-compliance, and other business information, the Premier has said yesterday that was yet to be determined.
Step 1 – from 26 September 2021
- 80% 16+ single dose
- Outdoor facilities open for contactless recreation – eg, golf, tennis, bows
Step 2 – from October 2021
- Schools Return
- 5 Oct – GAT students
- 6 Oct – VCE Unit ¾, final year. VCAL and IB students
- 18 Oct – Prep (Mo – Wed), Year 1 and 2 (Thurs – Fri)
Step 3 – from 26 October
- 70% of 16+ double dose ie National Plan Phase B)
- No restrictions on leaving home
- No curfew
- Travel limit increased to 25km
- Students return to school
- Early child education/ care – open for children of fully vaccinated parents
- Retail – general retail open for outdoor service only, plus click and collect/ delivery
- Hairdressing – fully vaccinated: 5 people
- Hospitality – food and drink seated service and outdoors only, fully vaccinated: 50 people
- May involve reduced quarantine requirements for vaccinated residents returning from interstate
- Public gatherings – fully vaccinated: 10 people, unvaccinated: 5
- Entertainment venues – fully vaccinated: 50, outdoors only
- Religion – fully vaccinated: 50, unvaccinated: 20, outdoor only
- Funerals – fully vaccinated: 50, unvaccinated: 20 – outdoor only
- Weddings – fully vaccinated: 50 unvaccinated: 10 – outdoor only
- Outdoor community sport – open for training only (not competition) Minimum number required, changing rooms closed
- Swimming pools – fully vaccinated: 50, outdoors only
- Community facilities – fully vaccinated: 50, outdoors only
- Creative studios – fully vaccinated: 50, outdoors only
- Zoos – fully vaccinated: 25% capacity
- Amusement parks – fully vaccinated: 50, outdoors only
- Real estate – fully vaccinated: 50, outdoor auctions
- Tours – fully vaccinated: 50, outdoors only
- Care facility visitors – easing of restrictions
Step 4 – from 5 November
- Metropolitan Melbourne aligns with Regional Victoria (80% of 16+ fully vaccinated ie. National Plan Phase C)
- Employment – work from home if you can OR go to work if fully vaccinated
- Schools – on-site learning for all levels with safety measures
- Adult education – on-site for hands on, skills-based education. On-site if fully vaccinated
- Early child education/ care – open
- All retail – open with DSQ4sqm per person
- Food and drink – open for seated service. Fully vaccinated. 150 indoors, 500 outdoors, small venues can have up to 25
- Food courts – takeaway only
- Hairdressing, beauty, personal care – fully vaccinated: 150 indoors
- Interstate travel – allowed
- Interstate borders may exempt vaccinated residents from domestic restrictions, subject to National Cabinet
- International travel – revised quarantine arrangements for fully vaccinated international arrivals, subject to National Cabinet
- Face coverings required indoors only
- Private gatherings – up to ten people can gather in the home
- Public gatherings – fully vaccinated: 30 outdoors
- Mask removal for alcohol consumption permitted for fully vaccinated
- Religion- fully vaccinated: 150 indoors, 500 outdoors, unvaccinated: 20
- Funerals – fully vaccinated: 150 indoors, 500 outdoors, unvaccinated: 10
- Weddings – fully vaccinated: 150 indoors, 500 outdoors, unvaccinated: 10
- Physical recreation and community sport – fully vaccinated: 150 indoors, 500 outdoors
- Outdoor seated physical recreation and community sport – fully vaccinated: lesser of 25% or 5000 per venue
- Swimming pools, spas, saunas, steam rooms, springs – fully vaccinated: 150 indoors, 500 outdoors
- Community facilities – fully vaccinated: 150 indoors, 500 outdoors
- Indoors seated and non-seated entertainment – fully vaccinated: 150 per space
- Outdoor seated entertainment – fully vaccinated. 50% capacity
- Arcades, escape rooms, bingo – fully vaccinated: 150 indoors, 500 outdoors
- Amusement parks – fully vaccinated: 150 per space indoors, 500 per space outdoors
- Casino – fully vaccinated: 150 per space indoors
- Retail betting and electronic gaming – fully vaccinated: 150indoors, 500 outdoors
- Karaoke and nightclubs – fully vaccinated: 150 indoors, 500 outdoors
- Accommodation – open in line with private gathering limits
- Real estate – fully vaccinated: 150 indoors, 500 outdoors
- Tours and tours transport – fully vaccinated: 150 indoors, 500 outdoors
Step 5 – from 19 November
- 80% of 12+ fully vaccinated ie National Plan – progression to the final phase
- All settings align with the National Cabinet approach
- Private gatherings – 30 visitors to the home from 25 December 2021
- The Government states in its roadmap: “Settings and dates are indicative and subject to change pending COVID-19 thresholds, hospitality caseloads, and health advice.
Yours sincerely,
Brendan Tohill | Chief Executive Officer
VANA – Victorian Authorised Newsagents Association
NLNA – National Lotteries Newsagents Association
