New rules for Victorians on masks, home visits and workplaces

Mr Andrews said workers could now begin to return to the office from the end of the month.

"We will begin a slow, steady and safe return to work for those who have been working from home. That is to say 25 per cent of staff will be able to be in the office, and it is mainly offices, 75 per cent will still need to work from home and we will make further announcements over the course of the coming weeks and months."

Mr Andrews said there will be strict distance requirements and cleaning protocols.

Victorians no longer need to wear masks outdoors most of the time from midnight tonight.

While masks are still required in all inside settings, Mr Andrews said people would only need to wear them outside when they cannot maintain a safe distance from others.

Mr Andrews gave an example of visiting Bunnings to demonstrate the new rules.

"If you go to Bunnings and you are inside the store, you are wearing a mask. If you are in the car park, you do not have to wear your mask," he said.

"But if you are queueing up for a sausage, and you are with other people, and you are simply not keeping a distance, you are part of a crowd, you need to put the mask on. Carry the mask with you. Common sense drives this.

"If you’re headed for a quiet stroll around the neighbourhood, you won’t need to wear a mask – but you will need to carry one, in case the situation changes. I know for some people, they’ll think this is too slow and still too restrictive.

"But the point is, masks are a small sacrifice that help keep all of us safe."

Hospitality limits increased

From 11.59pm on Sunday night Victorian hospitality venues will be able to host 100 people indoors with the one person per four square metres for large venues.

But smaller venues will also be able to increase their patronage based on a new one person per two square metre rule.

"For smaller ones, we have been able to come up with an innovative way, moving to one person per two square metres for those smaller venues. That means they'll be able to have more people inside but they are capped at a maximum of 50," Mr Andrews said.

"We will be speaking with industry, whether it is pubs, hotels, bars, restaurants, all of that sector, to make sure that they fully understand these new rules."

The state is now a handful of days away from reaching 28 days without a mystery case — widely considered to be the definition of eliminating COVID-19.

Other eased restrictions from 11.59 tonight:

• Universities and TAFE students will return to classes on site for some studies;
• Gyms will open up to a maximum of 150 people in groups of 20, with one person per four square metres;
• Indoor physical recreation and sport can commence with 150 people in 150 people, in groups of 20, one per four square metres;
• Outdoor sport can commence with 500 people, with groups of 50 following the one per four square metres as well;
• Indoor pools can host 150 people and outdoor pools will now host 300 people;
• Skate parks and indoor trampolining centres will increase to 150 people;
• Religious ceremonies can take place indoors with 150 people and outdoors with 300 people;
• Weddings and funerals, both indoors and outdoors, can be 150 people, with density requirements. Weddings at home will need to follow the normal home visitors rule of 15 people maximum;
• Larger facilities such as the galleries, cinemas and museums can open for 25 per cent of their capacity;
• Drive in cinemas have no caps of patrons;
• Casinos and gaming machine venues will be able to go to 150 people but every second electronic gaming machine will be turned off, so as to keep a distance between patrons; and
• Large sporting venues will be able to increase patronage to 25 per cent of their capacity.

On Saturday, the number of active cases in the state dropped to one - an immunocompromised person who remains in hospital, according to Health Minister Martin Foley.

The last case of unknown transmission in Victoria was recorded on October 29. Extending that streak to Thursday would meet the state government's goal for "COVID-normal", which would trigger a further easing of restrictions.

Victoria's next steps to 'COVID-normal' will be announced on December 6, Premier Daniel Andrews has foreshadowed.

"I will be before you again on December 6 to announce further changes, talking about what further steps we can take, as we get closer to that ... COVID-safe summer," he said,

"So Christmas [is] 30 people to your house. From tonight, masks must be worn inside, outside carry the mask and put it on if you cannot distance. Keep your 1.5m from other people, and you can have 15 people to your home over the course of a day.

"The key message is, Victorians have done an amazing job and build something that is so, so precious. But it is fragile, and each of us needs to play our part. These rules are a reflection of the best public health advice."

Another pop-up testing site was set up in Point Cook in Melbourne on Saturday after fragments of COVID-19 were found in a wastewater sample from the Altona sewage catchment, according to the Department of Health. There are now five testing sites servicing the affected area.

Anyone with even mild cold or flu symptoms in Altona, Altona Meadows, Laverton, Point Cook or Sanctuary Lakes is being urged to get tested immediately.

Authorities also want symptomatic visitors to any of those suburbs between Monday, November 16 and Wednesday, November 18 to get tested.

The fragment detection in Melbourne's west was the third instance of the virus being detected in the state this week after samples from Portland and Benalla also showed up fragments on Tuesday.

There were 117 tests undertaken in Benalla on Friday, and 42 in Portland on Saturday with authorities expecting further demand on Sunday. No positive results have yet surfaced from the wastewater alerts.

• With Tom Cowie, Natassia Chrysanthos