Changes to pandemic orders

THE Victorian Government will make what it says are "modest and sensible" changes to pandemic orders from 11.59pm this Friday, June 24 to allow Victorians to live safely with COVID–19 while reducing transmission and hospitalisations. Minister for Health, Martin Foley, said advice from the Acting Chief Health Officer will allow some key measures to be safely lifted, but others should remain until the end of winter. In line with the recent AHPPC statement, masks will no longer be required at airports, but must be worn on planes. They must also still be worn in hospitals and care facilities, as well as on public transport, taxis and ride shares. Positive cases must still isolate for seven days from the day they took their test but may now leave home to drive a household member directly to or from education or work without leaving their vehicle. They can also leave home to get medical care, a COVID–19 test, or in an emergency, including the risk of harm. "To continue to protect the most vulnerable through winter, workers who interact with a vulnerable person will still require three COVID–19 vaccine doses," Mr Foley said. "This includes residential aged care and disability care, healthcare, and custodial and emergency services, including police. "Government imposed third dose mandates in education, food distribution, meat and seafood processing and quarantine accommodation sectors will be lifted. "In line with other jurisdictions around Australia, vaccination policies will be the responsibility of individual workplaces. "As almost 95 per cent of Victorians 12 years and older have had two COVID–19 doses, rules requiring general workers to work from home, unless they are double–vaccinated, will be lifted. "Employers will still be able to set their own workplace conditions." Mr Foley said visitor caps to care facilities, including residential aged care and disability, are being removed, with residents able to see any number of people as long as they test negative on a rapid antigen test that day. If a test is unavailable, a person can only be present for limited reasons such as end–of–life visits. "Centres may introduce their own visitor rules to respond to local risk," Mr Foley said. The Minister's Statement of Reasons and the Acting CHO's advice will be published on the Department of Health's website within seven days of the orders coming into effect, from 11.59pm Friday, June 24.

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