Staying safe 

• As restrictions ease it is more important than ever that we take steps every day to keep ourselves and others safe. The steps below can help protect you from coronavirus (COVID-19).  
• Stay safe as restrictions ease by washing your hands regularly, wearing a face mask when you leave home, coughing and sneezing into your elbow, and keeping at least 1.5 metres from others. 
• Keep your friends and family safe by meeting outdoors. There is a lower risk of spreading coronavirus (COVID-19) between people if you are outdoors. Groups of up to 10 people will be able to meet outdoors. 
• Face masks must be worn by all Victorians when they leave home, unless they have a lawful exception. 
• If you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) get tested and stay home. Stay at home if you feel unwell. 

Restrictions easing from 11:59pm 27 October 2020

Metropolitan Melbourne moves to Third Step restrictions from 11:59pm on 27 October. This means:

• There are no restrictions on the reasons to leave home.  If you live in metropolitan Melbourne you can still only travel 25kms.  
• If you can’t work from home, you can go to work, and you do not need to carry a permit. However, you still need a permit to travel between metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria for work or study. If you can work from home, you must continue to work from home. 
• You can see friends and family outdoors in a public place in a group of up to 10 people.
• You can have up to two people from the same household visit you at your home. You can only have one visit a day – this means once a day you can visit someone’s home or have them visit you at your home. Children and dependants are not included in this cap. The two people must be from the same household and visit together. You can only visit people within 25km of your home. It is strongly recommended you keep your mask on when visiting friends and family. By wearing a mask, you can help keep them and you safe.
• Shops can open. While shopping you need to respect the limit of allowed patrons in a shop. This limit on patrons is in place to ensure everyone in the shop can keep 1.5 metres distance.  
• Personal care and body art services can open. They can only offer services where the customer can wear a face mask during the entire service. Home-based businesses may also open, as long as they meet the required COVIDSafe rules. 
• Cafes and restaurants will open, with limits of people - 20 indoors (10 per indoor space) and 50 outdoors. Business owners can find more information on current restrictions and how to keep their staff and customers safe.  
• Non-contact sport outdoors can resume for adults. Non-contact means you must be able to keep 1.5 metres between everyone. Sport is limited to the minimum number of people to needed to play. For example, cricket may be played with two teams of eleven players and the necessary coaching personnel and umpires. 
• For people aged 18 and under contact and non-contact sport outdoors can resume. Sport is limited to the minimum number of people needed to play.
• You can exercise outdoors in a group of up to 10 people. A trainer is allowed in addition to this limit.
• You can have an outdoor wedding with up to 10 people. This limit includes the couple and two witnesses. It doesn’t include the celebrant or photographer. If a wedding is held at a private residence, private gathering restrictions apply. 
• Funerals are allowed with up to 20 people. This limit doesn’t include babies under 12 months of age, or the people required to conduct the funeral. If a funeral is held at a private residence, private gathering restrictions apply.
• Outdoor religious gatherings near a place of worship for up to 20 people plus a faith leader are allowed. Indoor religious ceremonies are allowed with up to 10 people plus a faith leader.  While attending a religious gathering or ceremony there are steps you need to take to keep yourself and others safe including not sharing food, drink or items.
• Some outdoor entertainment venues can open.
• Accommodation remains closed for the purposes of holidaying.
• Retail, hospitality and certain entertainment venues will be able to have staff onsite to prepare for reopening from 26 October. This should be limited to the number of staff required. Permits will not be required for these workers.
• Restrictions on travelling into regional Victoria remain. Businesses including hospitality, personal services and tourism venues in regional areas must continue to check IDs. Gyms are also now required to check place of residence before providing services.
• Face masks are still required when leaving home.
• Workforce capacity limits on manufacturing, construction, medical, pharmaceutical and PPE supply sectors are removed. Site visit limits on specialist contractors are also removed.
• Tours in outdoor spaces may resume with groups of up to 10 people, plus the minimum number of people required to conduct the tour. Tours in indoor spaces are not permitted.
• Tour transport is permitted in open air vehicles, for groups of up to 10 people, plus the minimum number of people required to conduct the tour.