New Guidelines for Victoria’s Food Businesses from 6:00pm tonight

From 6:00pm today, 29 October, Metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria will share the same COVID restrictions for hospitality businesses.

This is in line with the state reaching the double dose 80% vaccination target.

Click here to read the new public health requirements for the hospitality industry  released by the Victorian Government.  From 6:00pm tonight metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria will share the following restrictions:

• Masks are required indoors, but no longer mandatory outdoors.
• Most indoor settings such as restaurants and pubs can open with no capacity limits, so long as they operate using the one person per four square metres density limit and all staff and customers (except for general retail) are fully vaccinated.
• Most outdoor settings where staff and customers are fully vaccinated can operate at the one person per two square metres density limit.
• These indoor and outdoor restrictions will also apply to weddings and funerals if all attendees are fully vaccinated. There is a capacity limit of 30 people if vaccination status is unknown.
• Indoor seated entertainment venues such as cinemas and theatres can operate at a 75 percent capacity limit, or one person per four square metres density limit for up to 1,000 people. Non-seated indoor entertainment venues can operate at the one person per four square metres rule with no customer cap.
• Stadiums, zoos and other outdoor seated and non-seated entertainment venues can operate at the one person per two square metres density limit for up to 5,000 people. Staff and customers must be fully vaccinated.
• Musical festivals and other events can host up to 5,000 attendees, subject to any venue restrictions.

Businesses will be required to check that all visitors, patrons and staff over the age of 16 are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before they enter the premises.  These businesses must take reasonable steps to ensure that only people who are fully vaccinated, or those who have a vaccine medical exemption signed by their doctor, enter their venue.

Read the Vic Government guidelines on How to Check the Vaccination Status of Your Customers.