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NSW & Victoria See End to Lockdowns

October 28, 2021

New South Wales and Victoria have reached vaccination milestones this October, making it possible for the states to ease lockdown restrictions and move forward with their reopening roadmaps.

“Every citizen in the state has made huge sacrifices in the past couple of months to keep ourselves, our loved ones and our communities safe,” said NSW Treasurer Matt Kean. “As restrictions start to ease and we reach key milestones in our Roadmap, we have to get business back to business and get the economy going while staying safe.”

Here’s what food businesses need to know about the restriction changes in NSW and Victoria.

New South Wales

NSW has reached its 80 percent full vaccination target, allowing fully vaccinated individuals to enjoy more freedoms. The state’s new rules include:

  • All staff and customers aged 12 and older must continue to wear masks in indoor public settings. Hospitality staff are required to wear masks in outdoor settings.
  • COVID Safe check-ins are required for staff and customers, and businesses must continue to check proof of vaccination before allowing entry.
  • Businesses can open with a density limit of one person per four square metres indoors and one person per two square metres outdoors.
  • Restaurants and other hospitality venues can operate following density limits for up to 20 people per booking, with the booking limit being lifted starting November 1. Individuals who are not fully vaccinated are only permitted to use take-away services.
  • Dancing is now allowed both indoors and outdoors, excluding nightclubs, while singing indoors is only permitted for performers. People may be seated or standing while drinking indoors and outdoors. Nightclubs are permitted to open, but with seated drinking only.
  • Large recreation facilities such as race courses, theme parks and stadiums are permitted to open following density limits for up to 5,000 people, or by exemption. Entertainment venues such as cinemas and theatres can operate following density limits or 75 percent fixed seated capacity.
  • COVID Safety Plans must be in place for outdoor gatherings hosting up to 200 people. Outdoor public gatherings that have implemented controlled measures such as seated tickets or fencing off the area are permitted for up to 3,000 people following density limits.
  • Wedding ceremonies, wedding receptions and funerals are allowed with density limits applied. There are no person limits for fully vaccinated individuals. Wedding ceremonies have a five-person limit for people who are not fully vaccinated, and wedding receptions are not permitted for those who are not fully vaccinated. Funerals have a 10-person limit for individuals who are not fully vaccinated.

Further restrictions in the state are expected to ease from December 1, 2021.

Victoria

Victorians are able to enjoy eased restrictions now that the state has reached its 70 percent double dose vaccination target. Metropolitan Melbourne lifted its lockdown and curfew mandates, and more restrictions than originally outlined in the state’s reopening roadmap were eased, as “the Victorian community has done so well in getting vaccinated so fast,” said Premier Daniel Andrews.

Here are the updated restrictions in specific regions:

Metropolitan Melbourne

  • Food and drink businesses are permitted to provide seated service, subject to density limits. There is a limit of up to 20 fully vaccinated people indoors and 50 fully vaccinated people outdoors.
  • Entertainment venues can operate with a limit of up to 50 fully vaccinated people outdoors.
  • Weddings and funerals are allowed with density limits applied. There is a limit of up to 20 fully vaccinated people or 10 unvaccinated people indoors, and 50 fully vaccinated people or 20 unvaccinated people outdoors.

Regional Victoria

  • Hospitality businesses such as restaurants, cafes and pubs are permitted to provide indoor service for up to 30 fully vaccinated people.
  • Cinemas and other entertainment venues can open indoors for up to 30 fully vaccinated people.
  • Up to 100 fully vaccinated people and 20 unvaccinated people can attend outdoor venues.
  • Weddings and funerals are allowed for up to 100 fully vaccinated people outdoors and 30 fully vaccinated people indoors.

Victoria will move forward with the next phase of its roadmap, which includes implementing additional freedoms, once the state reaches its 80 percent double dose vaccination target.