Victoria will lift brutal Covid restrictions from midnight with standing in pubs allowed, no caps in homes and dance floors open – but anti-vaxxers will be locked out of retail stores
- Density limits on hospitality and retail will be scrapped from midnight Thursday
- New changes come as Victoria is set to hit 90 per cent double vaccination target
- Positive cases will also only need to isolate for 10 days instead of 14
Victoria will finally lift its brutal Covid-19 restrictions from midnight on Thursday with dancefloors back on, house parties allowed and no caps on pubgoers.
Premier Daniel Andrews said the changes would align with the state reaching 90 per cent double vaccination coverage, which is expected to be hit over the weekend.
There will no longer be limits on visitors at homes or on customers in retail or hospitality venues.
The rules around masks have also been changed with face coverings mandatory in select indoor settings including health services, aged care, retail, on public transport and for primary school staff, visitors and students in years three to six.
Masks are set to be scrapped in retail settings on December 15.
Victoria will finally lift its brutal Covid-19 restrictions from midnight on Thursday with dancefloors back on, house parties allowed and no caps on pubgoers, Premier Daniel Andrews has announced
For those who are unvaccinated, they will be unable to enjoy the new freedoms and will be banned from non-essential shopping, the pub, and sport and recreation facilities.
'If you're fully vaccinated, your life will return back to normal,' Mr Andrews said at a press conference on Thursday.
'This is the Covid-normal that every Victorian has built.'
Weddings and funerals can go ahead with no capacity limits as long as everyone is double jabbed.
These events will be restricted to 50 guests if patrons are not vaccinated.
Nightclubs will also welcome back revellers to the dancefloor while the Boxing Day Test match and the Australian Open are set to go ahead with full capacity.
Events of up to 30,000 people both indoors and outdoors won't need special approval and outdoor gatherings of more than 30,000 will need to show a Covidsafe plan.
Major changes have also been made to isolation rules for positive cases.
Those infected with Covid-19 will only need to isolate for 10 days instead of 14.
Household contacts will only have to isolate for seven days if they're vaccinated and two weeks if unvaccinated.
Victorians who have come into contact with infected residents outside of their homes will also no longer have to self-quarantine.
Instead they will be required to get a PCR test and isolate until a negative result.
More to come.
Victorians can have an unlimited number of guests over to their house and return to the dancefloor from midnight on Thursday
