Hospitality sector given the green light for staged return

CAFES, pubs and restaurants in Victoria will re-open their doors to serve meals to up to twenty customers from the start of June under the latest easing of COVID-19 restrictions.

In a statement just issued by Premier Daniel Andrews, this could increase to up to 50 patrons by 22 June and up to 100 patrons by the second half of July.

Mr Andrews said the timelines announced this morning were reliant on “Victorians continuing to get tested when they show even mild symptoms and on those tests continuing to show low numbers of positive cases around the state.”

“Before each of these dates, the Chief Health Officer will review the rates of community transmission in Victoria, confirm our ability to test, trace and respond to possible outbreaks and make sure we have an adequate safety net in the health system, before we take the steps outlined.

“The hospitality industry has told us they need time to plan and prepare to protect the safety of their staff and customers. Making these announcements now will be giving them that time.”

Once in place, these changes will apply to standalone restaurants and cafes, as well as restaurants and bistros within a pub, hotel, bar, registered and licensed club, RSL or community club.

Restrictions on other spaces within these kinds of venues, including public bars and gaming areas, as well as on food courts will remain in place throughout June.

All venues will need to abide by existing physical distancing requirements of one person per four square metres. Tables will also need to be spaced at least 1.5 metres apart.

Venues will be required to take the contact details of every customer to assist in rapid contact tracing, and there will be other safety requirements, including extra cleaning, staff health screening and temperature checks.

Mr Andrews said further work would need to be done on the management of shared areas such as entrances and bathrooms, and will be done in consultation with the industry and unions and on the advice of the Victorian Government’s public health team.