Density quotients at hospitality venues and QR code check-in rules will be scrapped from tomorrow.
Premier Daniel Andrews announced on Thursday Health Minister Martin Foley would sign new pandemic orders that would remove some of the remaining COVID-19 restrictions.
From 6pm Friday, February 18, the one person per two square metre density quota at hospitality and entertainment will be scrapped, with venues able to return to their usual capacity.
Indoor dancefloors will also be allowed to reopen.
The new orders will also see the requirement to check in with a QR code scrapped at most locations, including retails venues, schools and most workplaces.
Only places that are required to check a person’s vaccination status, like hospitality and entertainment venues, will be required to maintain QR code check-ins.
“These are safe and sensible measures which balance the need to support our health system with the benefits of easing restrictions across a range of settings,” Mr Foley said.
“Changes to QR code requirements will still support our focus on the highest-risk settings most likely to generate super-spreader events and we will keep reviewing the system over time in line with the epidemiological situation.”
Mr Andrews said the changes were possible with Victoria passing 50 per cent of the population triple-dosed and hospitalisations dropping.
“We always said these measures wouldn’t be in place for a minute longer than they are needed, and with hospitalisation numbers decreasing and less pressure on our health system, now is a sensible time to make changes,” he said.
“We’re grateful to everyone who has been doing the right thing, helping to reduce the impact of this virus on the community, our healthcare system and our economy.”
Mr Andrews said the changes would also see key industries, such as meat processing, no longer required to do mandatory surveillance testing, while requirements for hospital worker ‘bubbles’ will also be removed, but health services may still implement them at their discretion.
COVID-safe measures around schools, including regular surveillance testing, have been extended until at least the end of term one.
Mr Andrews said Mr Foley would consider further changes to office-based settings from next week.
Changes could include removing the recommendation for office workers to work from home and the requirement to wear masks in offices, possibly only for people who have received a booster.
Opposition leader Matthew Guy said the easing didn’t go far enough.
He said QR codes were already not being used and should be completely scrapped, while mask mandates should be removed immediately.
“Every day that mask mandates remain in office settings is another day that small business owners across Melbourne struggle to keep their doors open,” he said.
The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry welcomed the changes but shared frustration office workers were still asked to stay home.
“This change is good news for hospitality operators and nightclubs that will help Victoria get its groove back, but we still need a plan for the return of office workers,” chief executive Paul Guerra said.
“The Victorian Chamber is encouraging the state government to urgently remove the ‘strong recommendation’ that people work from home, remove the requirement to wear a mask at your desk and fund a voucher stimulus scheme for weekday hospitality and accommodation to help our city, suburbs and regions to roar back.”
