Updated COVID-19 Restrictions

Dear <<First Name>>,
 
We are all rejoicing that club activities can now get back into full COVID-normal swing and that we no longer have to wear masks while bushwalking if we are social distancing at 1.5 meters at all times. Here is the update on the BWV website. 

1) Travel & Carpooling Update:

Travelling with others:

Where possible, avoid carrying passengers who do not live in your household in your vehicle. The enclosed space can increase the risk of spreading coronavirus (COVID-19).
If travelling in a vehicle with people who are not part of your household:

• To physically distance, passengers should sit in the back seat wherever possible.
• Everyone should wear a fitted face mask unless they have a lawful exemption.
• Increase ventilation. Open windows wherever possible and avoid using the air conditioner’s recirculation mode.
• Regularly clean and sanitise often touched objects and surfaces in the vehicle such as door handles.
• What to take when you travel

Pack the following items to help keep your time away COVIDSafe.

• Face masks: Make sure you take enough fitted face masks for you and the people you are travelling with. Remember you must wear a face mask if you are going through a drive-through or leave the car. If you are using disposable face masks, only use them once and dispose in a plastic bag into the garbage.
• Hand sanitiser: Regularly wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water. Or use a hand sanitiser with at least 60 percent alcohol. Consider taking smaller bottles of sanitiser you can keep within reach.
• Disinfectant and a cloth or disinfectant wipes: Clean often-touched objects and surfaces like door handles, light switches, tables, bench tops, phones, keyboards, toilets and taps.
• Medicines: Take enough of your medicines to last you for the entire trip.

Driving and public transport:

Can I drive my car? Can I get out of the house and just go for a drive? 
Yes, you can go for a drive. There are no restrictions on reasons to leave home or the distance you can travel in Victoria. 

Can I have passengers in my car?

Where possible, carrying passengers in your car should be avoided, unless they live in your household. This is because the enclosed space of a car increases the risk of transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19).  If traveling in a car with someone who is not part of your household: 

• your passenger should sit in the back seat in order to maintain physical distancing 
• you should both wear a fitted face mask in the car unless you have a lawful exemption
• increase ventilation in the vehicle by opening windows wherever possible. Avoid having air-conditioning on recirculate
• high touch surfaces in the vehicle should be cleaned and sanitised regularly

• You should avoid carpooling to and from work with a person you don’t live with. 
• You can carpool if it is not practical for you to get to work without carpooling (e.g. you don’t have a license or access to a car). 
• Where possible you should make other arrangements, such as getting driven to and from work by someone you live with. 
• If traveling in a car with someone who is not part of your household, one of you should sit in the back seat in order to maintain physical distancing and both wear a fitted face mask in the car unless you have a lawful exemption. 
• Increase ventilation in the vehicle by opening windows wherever possible. Avoid having the air conditioning on recirculate. 
• High touch surfaces in the vehicle should be cleaned and disinfected regularly. 
• You are advised to avoid carpooling because the enclosed space of a car increases the risk of transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19).

2) Masks

Face masks must be worn indoors (for example, in the supermarket or on public transport). A mask is not required outdoors if you can keep 1.5 metres distance from others. Face masks must be worn by all Victorians when they leave home, unless they have a lawful reason not to wear one or are outside and can keep 1.5 metres distance.
 

3) Group Size:

Bushwalking Clubs can now offer walks programs as normal across Victoria and interstate where borders are open, with no more than 50 walkers (if you are planning a club event).  Here is a helpful guide on normal walk group sizes.

Can I exercise with others?

Contact sport can resume both indoors and outdoors for both adults and children. Indoor sport is limited to 20 or the minimum number of people required to play the sport if greater than 20. Outdoor sport limited to groups of 50 people.''

Kind regards, 
Bob Peterson
Bushwalking Victoria Safety Convener
e-mail: safety@bushwalkingvictoria.org.au