FROM CLOSE CONTACT ISOLATION RULES TO MASKS. HERE'S WHAT COVID 19 RESTRICTIONS VICTORIA...
0From close contact isolation rules to masks. here's what COVID 19 restrictions Victoria is ditching
Many of Victoria's remaining COVID 19 restrictions will be scrapped from 11:59pm Friday. including mask rules in certain settings and isolation requirements for close contacts. Health Minister Martin Foley said the state was able to make the suite of changes because Victoria was 'one of the most vaccinated places in the world'. with more than two thirds of the eligible population now triple vaxxed. Victoria's seven day case average is now less than 10.000. The state on Friday reported 9.439 cases and a further 16 deaths. Earlier this week. Mr Foley said the peak of the latest Omicron wave had passed. 'Only the most important of settings remain.' he said. Here's your guide to what's changing across the state this weekend. and what isn't. What rules are changing? One of the most significant changes is the scrapping of the requirement for close contacts of a positive case to isolate for seven days — a rule which has been in place since COVID 19 came to Australia. Close contacts are defined as those who have spent more than four hours in a home like setting with a positive case. From this weekend. close contacts will need to test negative on RATs on five of the seven days that would have previously been the isolation period. After recovering. COVID cases won't have to undergo testing or quarantine again for 12 weeks — up from eight. They'll also need to wear masks indoors and avoid sensitive settings like hospitals and aged care facilities. As for mask mandates. they're set to go in schools. early childhood settings. hospitality. retail and at events. At hospitality venues. patrons won't need to show they have been vaccinated. and checking in via the Service Victoria app will become a thing of the past. Life will be a bit easier for travellers. with the removal of the requirement to get a PCR test or RAT upon arrival in the country. Unvaccinated arrivals will no longer need to complete seven days' quarantine. and unvaccinated air crew won't need to get tested before departure. In hospitals. visitor restrictions will be removed except for mask requirements. but health services will be able to set their own rules. Workplaces won't need to notify each potentially exposed worker if someone tests positive. but individuals will still need to notify their workplace and social contacts. What rules are still in place? Unsurprisingly. positive cases will still need to isolate for seven days after their diagnosis. Face masks must still be worn on public transport and in airports. and by workers in aged care and sensitive health and justice settings. Vaccine mandates will remain in place for workers in key industries. including education. healthcare. aged care. disability support. emergency services. food distribution. custodial services. and meat and seafood processing. However. Mr Foley said mandates would be reviewed in coming months. Victorian opposition leader Matthew Guy accused the government of 'playing politics' with vaccine mandates. 'It's about moving beyond COVID. we've got to manage this and live with it sensibly.' he said. 'The Victorian government's played politics with it from the start. and the fact they've got mandates for some areas and not for others to me tells you they'll keep playing politics with it for long as they can.' Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said despite the easing of restrictions. it was still important for the community to get vaccinated and take measures to protect themselves from COVID. 'As a community. we also need to remember those basic and simple behaviours that are part of our everyday life.' he said. 'Wearing a mask indoors continues to be a protection. and staying up to date with your vaccine.' Where to from here? Premier Daniel Andrews flagged that he hoped Victoria's pandemic declaration would not need to be extended beyond its expiration date of July 12. 'I don't know what expert advice I'm going to get in the days leading up to the 12th of July.' he...
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