Isolation requirements for close contacts and vaccination requirements will be scrapped from this weekend.
Health Minister Martin Foley announced on Wednesday the state’s pandemic orders would change at 11.59pm on Friday.
Patrons will no longer need to show their vaccination status at any venue, including cafes, restaurants and entertainment venues. Workplace vaccination mandates will be retained.
QR code check in requirements will also be scrapped, while masks will no longer be required at primary schools, early childhood centres, hospitality and retail settings or at events of any size.
Masks will still be required on public transport, at airports and in sensitive health, aged care and justice settings.
In a major change to the rules, close contacts of positive cases will no longer have to isolate.
While close contacts will still be recommended to work from home if possible, they will no longer have to isolate for seven days as long as they wear a mask indoors and avoid sensitive settings.
They will also need to take at least five negative rapid tests over the seven days that would previously have been the self-quarantine period.
People will now only have to isolate if they have tested positive, with the seven-day quarantine period still in place.
Individuals will now have the responsibility to inform their workplace contacts when they test positive, rather than workplaces having to notify potentially exposed workers.
The exemption period for testing or quarantining after a positive COVID-19 has also been extended from eight weeks to 12.
All visitor restrictions in hospitals will be removed except for mask requirements, with health services able to tailor their own settings based on their own circumstances
However visitor restrictions in care facilities will be retained to protect the vulnerable. Residents can currently have up to five visitors per day if each show a negative rapid antigen test result, or two visitors if no test results are provided.
“This sensible easing of restrictions is only possible because we are one of the most vaccinated societies in the world, with almost 70 per cent of Victorian adults already armed with their third dose,” Mr Foley said.
“The vaccinated economy kept Victorians safe and businesses open during an unpredictable time when we saw our highest case numbers ever – but now is the right time to set it aside and focus on the highest risk settings.
“Many things that are very effective in driving down transmission will remain strongly recommended. That will keep us protected during winter and help us respond to emerging risks.”
