Victoria has taken the next step on the road to COVID-normal, with rising vaccination rates allowing the state government to substantially ease restrictions.
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But the new rules have also brought confusion and mixed messages, especially as vaccination status becomes a factor for both work and leisure, so here is a guide to the new limits and requirements in regional Victoria.
At home
Anyone can now welcome up to 10 visitors to their home each day, regardless of vaccination status, although vaccination is strongly encouraged. The majority of transmission in Victoria's Delta COVID-19 outbreak has occurred through household contact.
Anybody can also visit another person's house even after having 10 visitors at their own house.
Out and about
Up to 20 people can gather outdoors, with vaccination again strongly recommended but not mandatory. Masks must be worn unless eating, drinking or exercising.
The outdoor mask mandate is due to lift when the state reaches 80 per cent double dose, which is forecast for next weekend
Food and leisure
Pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes can have 30 people inside and 100 people outside if all patrons and staff are fully vaccinated. It is the responsibility of these businesses to check the vaccination status of staff and customers.
The same indoor limits apply to beauty and hairdressing salons.
These businesses can still open without staff and patrons being fully vaccinated, but they must operate under tighter restrictions: 10 people inside and 30 people outside.
Businesses operating under the higher patron caps are legally within their rights to reject customers who are unwilling to prove their vaccination status.
People do not need to show proof of vaccination to collect takeaway, but they still need to check in.
The Department of Health confirmed the double dose requirement applied to all industries where staff and customers were mixing if they wanted to operate at the higher patron cap. This includes arcades, physical recreation centres, community facilities, entertainment venues and real estate agents.
Warrnambool City Council announced on Friday that the Warrnambool Art Gallery, library, stadium, and Lighthouse Theatre were only open to fully vaccinated people. Glenelg Shire announced its facilities were open to anyone regardless of vaccination status
As of October 22, all authorised workers - which includes hospitality, retail, physical recreation and council workers - must have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Weddings
People can have up to 30 guests indoors at a wedding, or up to 100 outdoors. This doesn't include the couple getting married, or the staff necessary to conduct the wedding.
The reception must be sit-down service only, and dancefloors are forbidden.
Our advice is to wait for the state to reach 80 per cent double dose - a milestone forecast for next weekend - at which point weddings can take place with up to 150 guests indoors or 500 outdoors, although the seated service mandate and dancefloor ban may still apply.
People can hold their wedding at a private home, but only 10 guests can come.
The same guest restrictions apply at funerals.
If guests' vaccination status is unknown, the cap reduces to 10 people for weddings and 20 people for funerals.
Proof of vaccination
As of Friday, vaccination status has become an essential part of everyday life, so it's important people know how to prove they are fully vaccinated. Here's how:
- Smartphone
Download the Service Victoria app and set up an account. Then, add your vaccination certificate using either the Express Plus Medicare app, or through your myGov account.
If using the Express Plus Medicare app, select "proof of vaccination", then "view history". You can then select "share with check-in app" and choose the Service Victoria app.
If using myGov you will need to login with your usual ID and password, select "proof of Covid-19 vaccination" and "go to Medicare". Then click "share with check-in app" and choose the Service Victoria app. You will need to have linked your Medicare to your myGov account.
- Hard copy
If you don't have a smartphone there are two options.
You can call Services Australia on 1800 653 809 and ask them to send your Immunisation History Statement to you.
Alternatively you can login to your myGov account on your computer. Then make sure you have linked your Medicare account to your myGov. Click through to Medicare, download your digital vaccination certificate and print it out.
For anyone still struggling, staff at Warrnambool Library are there to help.
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