More COVID restrictions eased

MASK rules will ease in workplaces, dancefloors can make a comeback and so can crowds at stadiums in Melbourne under changes to the state’s current COVID-19 restrictions.

The easing of coronavirus restrictions, announced by Health Minister Martin Foley this morning, comes after Victoria recorded its first full week of no COVID-19 community transmission since its fourth lockdown.

The health department tweeted today that there were zero new local cases and no new cases acquired overseas.

The virus-free week means Melbourne can now have the same COVID restriction settings as regional Victoria.

From 11.59pm on Thursday, 8 July 8 masks will still be required indoors and at work if there is interaction with the public. But office and factory workers will no longer need face coverings.

Stadiums can have 75 per cent of their crowd capacity, or up to 40,000 people outdoors and 7,500 indoors, and theatres can also open to 75 per cent capacity.

Dancefloors will also be allowed to reopen, capped at 50 people.

Mr Foley said masks would no longer be required at schools for students and staff.

“As part of these changes, a range of venues right across Melbourne will now be able to apply the same density limits – freed up density limits – that apply in regional Victoria.

“This further opens workplaces, including entertainment, retail, hospitality, gyms, physical recreation, community facilities, creative spaces, galleries, places of worship and more.

“The limit will be one person per two square metres, provided that in some cases COVID check-in marshals are on site just to make sure that people check-in every time, everywhere.”

The new settings will be in place for 14 days.

“The good news is that the position here in Victoria is stable,” Mr Foley said.

“That means that we can ease our restrictions further.

“But with the slower-than-forecasted rollout of the Commonwealth vaccination program and the reduction in travel caps yet to take effect from the National Cabinet decision and the outbreaks in interstate jurisdictions to our north, all mean that our public health experts have urged us and recommended that we continue to act carefully and cautiously as we move out of those restrictions.”

-BY AAP