What you need to know about lockdown restrictions easing in Melbourne, Ballarat

Source: 9news

Melbourne and Ballarat’s lockdown restrictions will ease from 11.59pm on Friday after the state reached its 70 per cent first-dose vaccination target.Premier Daniel Andrews announced there would be a sixth reason for Victorians in lockdown to leave home – for outdoor social interaction.

Here is a list of everything that is changing:

Outdoor recreation

One person is permitted to meet another person not from their household for outdoor recreation, including for a picnic, walk or another outdoor activity.

The two people do not have to be vaccinated in order to enjoy the new freedom.

Additionally, up to five adults plus dependants from two households will be able to gather outdoors if all adults present are fully vaccinated.

People are allowed to gather outside for up to four hours a day.Private household gatherings still remained banned. Melbourne’s nightly curfew also still remains in place.

Exercise

The time limit for exercise has been increased from two hours to four hours.Two people will also be able to train outdoors with a personal trainer.Skate parks and outdoor communal exercise equipment will also reopen.

Babysitting

Child-minding will be permitted for school-aged children if only one parent is an authorised worker.

Broadcast

Up to five people will be able to attend an entertainment venue or physical recreation facility to broadcast a performance, class, or concert.

Real estate

Real estate inspections will resume by appointment only, but only people from the same household can attend the inspection appointment and the real estate agent must stay outdoors during the inspection.

Travel

Melburnians are permitted to travel to regional Victoria in order to get a COVID-19 vaccine only if they reside in an adjacent LGA.

Vaccine mandate for construction workers

Coronavirus vaccines will be made mandatory for construction workers due to escalating concern about COVID-19 transmission in the industry.

Construction workers state-wide must show proof to their employer that they have had at least one vaccine dose by 11.59pm on September 23.

Limited medical exemptions and proof-of-booking exceptions will apply.

Construction workers will also be banned from crossing the metropolitan-regional border for works amid fears of the virus seeding into the regions.

Tea rooms will also need to close and food or drink cannot be consumed indoors at work. Worker shift bubbles also must be in place.

Regional Victoria restrictions to ease

A raft of COVID-19 restrictions will also ease in regional Victoria due to case numbers remaining low overall.

The following restrictions will ease from 11.59pm on Friday:

Indoor physical recreation facilities

Indoor physical recreation facilities, such as gyms, will open with 10 people indoors and 20 people outdoors per venue.

Pools can reopen with up to 50 people outdoors and 20 people indoors.

Hydrotherapy and swimming lessons may occur.

Spas, saunas and steam rooms remain closed.

Tour transport

Tour transportation – such as tour vans and buses can operate with up to 10 people per vehicle.

Travel

Regional Victorians are now permitted to travel to Melbourne to get a COVID-19 vaccine if the appointment is at an adjacent LGA.