At 11.59pm on Thursday 21 October, Victoria will move forward in opening up and more restrictions will be eased

Up to 10 people (including dependents) per day will be able to visit homes in both regional and metropolitan Melbourne. To ensure this is done safely, it's highly recommended that Victorians only permit people aged 12 years and over who are fully vaccinated to visit them at home.

In metropolitan Melbourne, the curfew and the 15km travel radius will be lifted, however movement between regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne will only be allowed for permitted reasons. This is to ensure. Melburnians don't spread the virus further into regional Victoria while we push to our 80 per cent double vaccinated target.

People in metropolitan Melbourne must continue to work from home if they can. Anyone on the authorised workers list is required to have had at least one dose of the vaccine in order to work on site. Childcare will be open to children who are already attending, as well as children whose parents or guardians are fully vaccinated. The return to school plan will also be brought forward in line with the rest of these settings, with the start of the staggered return of Grade 3 to Year 11 in metro Melbourne commencing on Friday 22 October.

Religious gatherings, weddings and funerals will be able to take place with up to 50 people outdoors and 20 people indoors subject to density limits and only if all attendees are fully vaccinated. Or, if vaccination status is unknown, 10 people are permitted indoors for funerals, weddings and religious gatherings.

Most outdoor settings- outdoor cafes, cinemas, and physical recreation facilities like pools will open with up to 50 people per venue but are subject to density limits and only for those fully vaccinated.

Indoor settings like restaurants and cafes will be able to reopen with up to 20 people indoors with density limits, and only if all attendees- including workers are fully vaccinated. This is a higher cap than planned in the initial Roadmap and the change has been made after discussions between the sector and the public health team. Large scale construction sites will increase to 100 percent capacity but only if all workers are fully vaccinated.

Masks will still be required both indoors and outdoors for all Victorians.

In regional Victoria, indoor settings - like restaurants, cafes and gyms will increase from 10 to 30 people per venue, if everyone is fully vaccinated.

Outdoor venues will increase from 20 to up to 100 people per venue, but only if everyone is fully vaccinated. If vaccination status is unknown, the venue can only have a total of 20 people.

The next milestone in the Roadmap will be when Victoria hits the 80 per cent double dose vaccination target, which is predicted to be the first week of November. It's important to remember the more Victorians who get vaccinated, the sooner we will hit the next target and the more restrictions we can lift. 

From Monday 18th October, 2021 NSW hits the 80% (aged 16 and over) double-dose vaccination target, eased restrictions will allow those who are fully vaccinated to have:

• up to 20 people visit their home
• participate in community sport.

All premises will operate at 1 person per 4sqm indoors and 1 person per 2sqm outdoors.

People under the age of 16 who are not fully vaccinated are allowed unaccompanied in their workplaces and all outdoor settings, but must be with a fully vaccinated member of their household in hospitality venues (unless collecting takeaways), entertainment facilities,
major recreation facilities and places of worship, unless they work at the venue.

For settings in regional NSW with vaccination requirements for staff and customers, staff can return to work on 11 October if they have had at least 1 dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, but must be fully vaccinated by 1 November 2021.

For people who are fully vaccinated

Masks and QR codes

• Masks required for all staff and customers in all indoor settings including on public transport, planes and in airports (except children under the age of 12).
• Masks no longer required in office buildings (unvaccinated people must still wear a mask in the office).
• Masks no longer required in outdoor settings (except for front-of-house hospitality staff).
• COVID Safe check-ins and proof of vaccination required for staff and customers.

Visiting family and friends

• Up to 20 visitors allowed in your home at any one time (visitor limits do not apply for children under the age of 12).
• Small outdoor gatherings and recreation permitted for up to  50 people (2-person limit for people not fully vaccinated).
• Visitors to residents in aged care facilities and disability homes permitted in line with their policies.

Exercise and recreation

• Gyms, indoor recreation and sporting facilities open with density limits of 1 person per 4 square metres and up to 20 people in gym and dance classes.
• No distance limits apply for exercise or recreation.
• Indoor swimming pools open for swimming lessons, squad training, lap swimming and rehab activities.
• Community sports permitted for fully vaccinated staff, spectators and participants – capacity limits apply.

Schools

•  Schools open with Level 3 COVID-19 safety measures (visit Department of Education NSW).

Shopping and personal services

• Non-critical retail open with density limits (people who are not fully vaccinated can only access non-critical retail via Click & Collect).
• No customer limit for personal services (including hairdressers, spas, beauty and nail salons, tattoo and massage parlours), density limits apply.
• Sex services premises reopen.

Restaurants and hospitality

• Hospitality open with density limit for up to 20 people per booking (takeaway only for people who are not fully vaccinated).
• From 1 November bookings for hospitality venues will no longer be capped.
• No singing indoors (except for performers).
• Dancing is permitted indoors and outdoors (except at nightclubs).
• Drinking indoors and outdoors may be seated or standing.
   

Working from home

• Employers allow staff to continue to work from home, if reasonably practicable.
• Employers require staff who are not fully vaccinated to work from home, if reasonably practicable.

Events and entertainment

• Major recreation facilities (including stadiums, theme parks, and race courses) open with density limits for up to 5000 people, or by exemption.
• Entertainment facilities (including cinemas and theatres) reopen with density limit or 75% fixed seated capacity.
• Information and education facilities (including art galleries, museums and libraries) reopen with density limits.
• COVID safe outdoor gatherings permitted for up to 200 people.
• Controlled outdoor public gatherings (for example – fenced, seated ticketed) permitted for up to 3000 people with density limit.
• Nightclubs and strip clubs reopen with seated drinking and no dancing.
   

Weddings and religious services

• Wedding ceremonies permitted with no person limit (5-person limit for people who are not fully vaccinated), density limit still applies.
• Wedding receptions permitted with no person limits (not permitted for people who are not fully vaccinated), eating and drinking while standing, and dancing is permitted, density limit still apply. 
• Funerals permitted with no person limit (10-person limit for people who are not fully vaccinated) and eating and drinking allowed while standing, density limits still apply.
• Places of worship reopen for people who are not fully vaccinated with density limits.
• Up to 10 fully vaccinated singers may perform in places of worship and at religious services.

Travel and transport

• Travel for holidays and recreational visits including day trips between Greater Sydney (including Central Coast, Wollongong, Shellharbour and Blue Mountains) and regional NSW permitted from 1 November (not permitted for people who are not fully vaccinated).
• Carpooling permitted (restrictions remain for people who are not fully vaccinated).
• Caravan parks and camping grounds open (including people who are not fully vaccinated).

Local Covid Conditions

Eleven new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in the Murrumbidgee Local Health District to 8pm last night.

10 cases are residents of the Albury LGA, two have been linked to previously known cases and eight remain under investigation.

Four new COVID-19 cases have been reported within the Albury Wodonga Local Public Health Unit (AWLPHU) catchment in the past 24 hours.

Any Tier 1 exposure sites identified as a result of contact tracing will be made available on health authority websites.

Please keep yourself up to date with the latest list of exposure sites at:

VICTORIA: http://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/case-alerts-public...

NSW: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/.../case-locations-and...

A reminder that Australia’s COVID-19 response management is led by each State Health Department. Locally this means that if a COVID case is detected in Victoria, the Victorian Department of Health and Albury Wodonga Health manage the COVID-19 contact tracing process and exposure sites. If a COVID case is detected in NSW, NSW Health and Murrumbidgee Local Health District manage the COVID-19 contact tracing process and exposure sites.

HELP & SUPPORT

Pandemic fatigue is real and the effects are ongoing and impact many areas of our lives.

Please reach out and contact Ella for some free and confidential ongoing support. This is available to any small businesses within the Wodonga area and businesses that provide cross border services, their staff and family members. 

This is a free and confidential service which includes:

• Individual and/or group mental health and wellbeing support for people presenting with concerns and anxiety about their business or job. This also encompasses family members of the employee or business owner.
• Rapid response from a financial counsellor who can provide advice and assistance regarding financial issues including debt and grant eligibility.
• Wellbeing education sessions and workshops tailored to your need.

Some standard training packages that will be on offer:

• Psychological First Aid 
• Having Difficult Conversations
• Managing Conflict in the Workplace
• Supporting Each Other Through Change

Contact Ella on 0458878994 or email ella.smith@each.com.au

VACCINE ROLLOUT

THANKS TO ALL OUR SPONSORS

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA