Tara Murray
Hume and Whittlesea residents will be able to enjoy more freedoms as the state moves to a COVIDSafe summer.
Premier Daniel Andrews announced a number of changes on Sunday, which are set to be in place throughout the rest of December and January at least.
The changes come as the state records 38 days without any new COVID-19 cases.
Masks are now only compulsory in a limited number of places, including on public transport, in rideshare vehicles and taxis, in some retail settings such as indoor shopping centres, supermarkets, department stores and indoor markets.
People are still expected to carry a mask at all times and use them when social distancing can’t be maintained both indoors and outdoors.
An increase in the number of people allowed to visit your home has been brought forward a week.
Victorians are now able to host up to 30 people in their home per day and outdoor gatherings in public places can increase to 100.
There is an increase in the number of people allowed in pubs, restaurants and cafes, along with beauty services and retail businesses and community facilities.
The number of people will depend on the size of the business, with one person per two square metres allowed.
Caps have been removed on the number of people allowed at funerals and weddings, replaced by the one person per two square metre rule. Those keen to hit the dance floor will be allowed at weddings and nightclubs.
There will be an increase in the number of people allowed at the gym and increase in class sizes.
Indoor and outdoor entertainment venues will be allowed up to 75 per cent of capacity up to 1000 people, dependent on density rules and the size of the venue.
From January 11, more people will be allowed to return to the office.
Up to 50 per cent of private office workers are allowed to be in the office, with the first of the Victorian public service office workers allowed to return to the office. It will start at 25 per cent and rise to 50 per cent on February 8.
