By Shelby Brooks
Masks will no longer be required if you work in an office or factory as Covid-19 restrictions ease further across the state.
Minister for Health Martin Foley said in a press conference Wednesday 7 July that although masks will still be required indoors, they’ll only be needed if you’re in a public-facing setting.
From 11.59pm Thursday 8 July, masks will no longer be required at schools for students and staff, or at your workplace if you don’t interact with the public – for example, if you work at an office or a factory.
The announcement brings metropolitan Melbourne in line with regional Victoria which means COVIDSafe settings will apply statewide.
Mr Foley said the changes showed how far the state had come.
“Thanks to the hard work of all Victorians we’re able to once again have the same settings in place for the whole state,” he said.
“We’re seeing across the country just how fast-moving the Delta strain is – which is why we need to remain vigilant and follow the directions to protect the gains we’ve made.”
However, private gathering numbers will not change, staying at a 15 person maximum per home per day.
Dancefloors are back, though with no more than 50 people and provided a Covid Check-in Marshal is monitoring.
Crowd numbers will increase at approved public events with outdoor stadiums back to 75 per cent capacity, (maximum 40,000 people) and indoor stadiums back to 75 per cent capacity as well (up to 7,500 people).
Theatres will also open to 75 per cent of their capacity, up to 2,000 people.
A range of venues across Melbourne will now be able to apply the same density limits that apply in regional Victoria: one person per two square metres – including hospitality, gyms and physical recreation venues, community facilities, creative studios and places of worship – provided a COVID Check-in Marshal is on-site to make sure people are checking in.
