Dear <<First Name>>,

Three months ago, Victoria had 4293 active cases. Today we have one. It’s an incredible achievement. Your achievement. It’s been a long, hard winter and now it’s time to enjoy the sun.

Because of the efforts of every Victorian, we will be able to have a Christmas that is a little more ‘normal’ and a COVIDSafe summer. From 11.59pm 13 December you’ll be able to host up to 30 people in your home. Babies under 12 months won’t count towards the cap.

More immediate changes from 11:59pm 22 November include:

• The number of visitors to your home will increase from two to 15 per day. That can be split across different times – 10 for lunch, and 5 for dinner – as long as people are sticking to a total of 15.
• Outdoor gatherings in a public place – the park, the beach – will increase to 50.
• Weddings funerals and religious ceremonies indoors will increase to 150 people.

Changes for our hospitality sector include:

• For smaller venues, the density limit will change to one person for every two square metres – up to 50 customers. QR code record keeping will be mandatory.
• For bigger venues, the density limit will stay the same, but the cap will increase to 150. Total venue capacity will also rise to 300. 
• Cinemas, galleries and museums will also be able to host up to 150 people indoors.
• Community clubs, contact and non-contact sports can begin for adults as well as kids – 150 people indoors with a group size of up to 20 and 500 outdoors with groups of up to 50.
• Organisers will also be able to apply to host a public event. Different requirements and rules will need to apply, depending on whether it’s a school fete or a major sporting match.

We’re also able to begin a phased approach for staff heading back to the office. From 30 November:

• Up to 25% of workers will be able to attend onsite. However, unless you’re one of those people nominated by your employer – you need to keep working from home.

We're also making some changes to the rules around facemasks:

• You’ll still need to wear one when you’re indoors and on public transport – and where you can’t keep your distance. But if you’re outdoors and you can keep a safe distance, masks will no longer be mandatory. For example, you’ll still need to keep your mask on if you’re at a busy outdoor market – or in line for a snag at your local Bunnings.
• If you’re headed for a quiet stroll around the neighbourhood, you won’t need to wear a mask – but you will need to carry one, in case the situation changes.

Masks are a small sacrifice that help keep all of us safe. As we’ve been reminded so recently in South Australia, all it takes is one case before you’ve got a much bigger outbreak.

We’ll have more to say about what a ‘COVIDSafe Summer’ will look like in the next few weeks – in line with what our public health experts are telling us is safe. That means keeping to the rules that keep us all safe.

Please keep practicing safe hygiene, taking precautions and following the rule. This is not over until we have a vaccine and treatment - and that is still some time away. For now, though, I want to thank Victorians. Getting here was by no means guaranteed, but you did it.

Martin

More information here.