COVID-19 Restrictions easing

21 April 2022

Victorian Government COVID-19 Restriction and Recommendation Changes from 11.59pm Friday 22 April

As the peak of the Omicron wave begins to subside – and with almost 70 per cent of adults now armed with their third dose, the Victorian Government has announced that most COVID-19 restrictions will be removed from 11:59pm, Friday 22 April 2022.

The Minister for Health’s changes to pandemic orders include:

VACCINATION AND CHECK IN

  • Patrons won’t be required to have two doses or show their vaccination status before entering any venue.
  • The requirement for staff and patrons of venues to check-in using the Service Victoria app will end, with operators not required to keep any attendance records or maintain a COVID-19 Check-in Marshal.
  • The existing two-dose and three-dose vaccination mandates for workers are retained.

FACE MASKS

  • Face masks will no longer be required in hospitality and retail settings, or at events of any size.
  • Face masks will still be required on public transport and at airports – excluding airport workers who aren’t public facing – and in sensitive health, aged care and justice settings.
  • Face masks are strongly recommended when you can’t physically distance.

QUARANTINE AND ISOLATION

  • Close contacts will no longer have to quarantine – provided they wear a face mask indoors and avoid sensitive settings. They will also need to undertake at least five negative rapid tests over the seven days that would previously have been the self-quarantine period.
  • People are exempt from testing or quarantine for 12 weeks if they’ve had COVID-19 – up from 8 weeks.
  • The essential requirement to isolate for seven days following a COVID-19 diagnosis is retained.

WORKPLACE CONTACTS

  • Individuals will be required to notify their workplace contacts, in addition to informing their social contacts.
  • Workplaces won’t have to individually identify and notify each potentially exposed worker.
  • It is recommended to work from home if you’re a close contact exempt from quarantine.

EVENTS

  • Events with more than 30,000 people will no longer require public health pre-approval.

INTERNATIONAL TRAVELLERS

  • 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.

COVIDSAFE PLAN

  • All workplaces will still require a COVIDSafe Plan.
The above update was provided to Ausdance VIC from Creative Victoria and the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions.

For Dance

  • Vaccination is no longer required by dancers, visitors or audiences.
  • Vaccination is still required for staff members (workers).
  • Continue to update and follow your COVIDSafe Plan, Resources here.