Victorians will be able to attend larger private gatherings from tomorrow (23 January) with updated health advice allowing for restrictions to be downgraded further
Following reduced exposure risk and continued low community transmission, from 11:59pm tonight (Victorian AEDT) the number of visitors to your home can be increased from 15 to 30, an official press release said.
Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Health Martin Foley today also announced areas in both New South Wales and Queensland will be reduced to green and orange zones.
Greater Brisbane and regional New South Wales, with the exception of Wollongong and Blue Mountains, will change from an orange zone to a green zone.
The Greater Sydney Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Blacktown City, Burwood, Canada Bay City, Canterbury-Bankstown, Fairfield City, Inner West, Liverpool City, Parramatta City and Strathfield Municipality will join the rest of Greater Sydney, Wollongong and Blue Mountains as orange zones.
For now, Cumberland LGA will remain a red zone. People from Cumberland are still not permitted to travel to Victoria without an exemption, exception or essential worker permit. Those who have already applied for an exemption application will not need to reapply.
Travel from an orange zone requires people to self-isolate, get tested within 72 hours of arrival and remain in quarantine until they receive a negative result
The updated orange zone listing overrides the previous classification as a red zone and applies to the last 14 days. Anyone who is now in an orange zone and meets the permit criteria can now apply for an Orange Zone Permit from 6:00pm tonight.
Travel from an orange zone requires people to self-isolate, get tested within 72 hours of arrival and remain in quarantine until they receive a negative result. Travel from a green zone requires people to watch and get tested if they have any symptoms at all.
Travellers must also confirm they have not been in the remaining red zone of Cumberland within the past 14 days (other than for transit), have not been in close contact with a coronavirus case and do not have any symptoms.
Exemption applications will no longer be required for those LGAs being downgraded to an orange zone—unless people have also been in a red zone in the last 14 days—and will not be considered. People can apply for an Orange Zone Permit via the Service Victoria website at service.vic.gov.au.
The Government continues to urge anyone with any coronavirus symptoms to get tested and stay home until you get your result.
Andrews said, “Victorians have done an incredible job getting tested and we’re happy to be able make these changes to private gatherings in time for a public holiday—so families can continue to enjoy a COVIDSafe Summer.”
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