VENUE density quotas will be scrapped and Victorians will no longer be required to check into retail, schools and workplaces using QR codes,\u00a0under fresh changes to COVID-19 restrictions.<\/p>\n
Premier Daniel Andrews announced some restrictions will be eased from 6pm on Friday, as the state’s Omicron wave begins to ease.<\/p>\n
“Density limits in hospitality and entertainment venues will be gone,” he said.<\/p>\n
“QR check-in requirements will be removed for retail venues, schools, included early childhood educations, and in many other workplaces.”<\/p>\n
However, patrons at restaurants and pubs will still be required to check in using a QR code, to ensure those attending are double dose vaccinated.<\/p>\n
Additionally, surveillance testing in some key industries will no longer be required and hospital bubbles will be removed.<\/p>\n
School students and staff will still be required to undertake fortnightly rapid antigen tests, Education Minister James Merlino said.<\/p>\n
International arrivals will no longer have to obtain an international arrival permit and unvaccinated international travellers will have their quarantine period halved from 14 to seven days.<\/p>\n
The changes come as the state posts nine deaths and 8501 new COVID-19 cases, including\u00a05661 through rapid antigen tests and 2840 from PCR tests.<\/p>\n
Active cases continue to tumble, dropping from 50,967 to 50,042.<\/p>\n
There are 401 people with the virus in Victorian hospitals, up four from Wednesday’s number. Of these, 78 COVID-19 patients are in intensive care and 16 require ventilation.<\/p>\n
The Victorian government is set to meet with industry leaders on Friday to discuss how public and private sectors will approach a return to the office as part of a regular information sharing forum.<\/p>\n
“We have regularly engaged with business and industry throughout the pandemic. This has included forums, roundtables and one-on-one discussions,” a government spokeswoman said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the COVID-19 oversight committee is sitting for the second time since its creation on Thursday, as part of the state’s controversial pandemic laws, which passed parliament last year.<\/p>\n
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