As vaccination rates continue to rise and the Omicron wave begins to subside, Victoria, including Hume and Whittlesea, will move into winter with less COVID-19 restrictions.
A number of changes to the pandemic orders will be made from 11:59pm, Friday, April 22.
Masks will no longer be required in primary schools, early childhood, hospitality and retail settings.
Close contacts will not need to quarantine – provided they wear a mask indoors and avoid sensitive settings, they will also need to produce five negative rapid tests over the seven days that would previously have been the quarantine period.
Patrons will no longer be required to have two doses or show their vaccination status before entering a venue.
Staff will not need to keep attendance records or maintain a check in marshal.
All visitor restrictions in hospitals will be removed, except for mask requirements.
International travellers who are symptom-free will be recommended but not required to get a PCR or rapid test on arrival, and unvaccinated travellers will no longer complete 7 days’ quarantine. Pre-departure tests for unvaccinated air crew will also be lifted.
People are exempt from testing or quarantine for 12 weeks if they’ve had COVID-19.
Some restrictions to remain will include isolation requirements for COVID positive individuals, and existing two dose and three dose mandates for workers.
Masks will still be required on public transport and at airports, and in sensitive health environments, aged care, and justice settings.
Working from home will still be recommended for close contacts exempt from quarantine.
Health Minister Martin Foley said vaccinated Australians kept the state safe and businesses open when cases were at their highest, but now was the right time to set restrictions aside.
“This sensible easing of restrictions is only possible because we are one of the most vaccinated societies in the world, with almost 70 per cent of Victorian adults already armed with their third dose.”
