GEIFN | CONSOLIDATED | Information on Coronavirus (COVID-19) | Friday 12 February until 11.59pm Wednesday 17 February 2021

Fast Facts: COVID-19 Victoria & Australia

1. VIC | GOV | UPDATING | Pandemic Response
2. AUST | GOVA | Translated COVID-19 Vaccine Information
3. VIC | VEOHRC | Translated Human Rights Information
4. VIC | VMC | Unity in Diversity
5. VIC | GOVV | Have Your Say - LGBTIQ+ Strategy | submissions closing 17 February 2021
6. AUST | Coronavirus hotline
7. AUST | Helpers and Reliable Sources Along the Way
8. Acknowledgment to Sources
9. Bye bye to Essentialists
10. Self-Isolators, Non-Essentials And The Homebound

1. VIC | GOV | UPDATING | Pandemic Response

The Victorian government has implemented new COVID-19 restrictions to try and prevent the further spread of the Melbourne Holiday Inn quarantine hotel outbreak.

From 11.59pm on Friday 12 February until 11.59pm Wednesday 17 February 2021 the entire state of Victoria will have the following restrictions:

Social

There are only four reasons to leave home: shopping for things you need, care and caregiving, exercise and essential work;

• The five-kilometre limit for leaving home will be reintroduced;
• Face masks will be required at all times outside the home, both indoors and outdoors;
• No visitors will be allowed in the home;
• Public gatherings will not be allowed.

Venues

The following must close from 11.59pm Friday night until 11.59pm Wednesday:

• Gyms;
• Pools;
• Community centres;
• Entertainment venues;
• Play centres, indoor skate parks, indoor trampolining centres;
• Retail, except for essential shops;
• Cafes, restaurants and pubs (except for takeaway);
• Libraries.

Education

• Schools will close, with remote learning to resume;
• Vulnerable children and children of essential workers are exempt and can attend school;
• Universities and TAFEs will close or move to remote learning;
• Childcare and kinders will stay open.

Retail and hospitality

As with stage four restrictions last year, all non-essential retail must close;

• Supermarkets, bottle shops, financial institutions, post offices, newsagents, petrol stations and pharmacies can stay open ;
• Cafes and restaurants are restricted to takeaway only, dine-in is not allowed;
• Pubs must close;
• One person in each household can go shopping per day.

Funerals and weddings

• Funerals are restricted to groups of up to 10 people;
• Weddings must be postponed, unless end-of-life concerns or another exceptional reason exists. In that case, five people are allowed, including those being married, a celebrant and two witnesses.

Professional Sport (and Australian Open)

• No crowds allowed.
• Athletes are considered essential workers.
• Staff required to ensure the safe running of the event also considered essential.

Accommodation

• Hotels and accommodation providers, such as Airbnbs, can stay open to support existing guests;
• However, no further bookings can be accepted.

Religion

• No in-person gatherings permitted for religious ceremonies.

Real estate

• Inspections can’t go ahead.
• Auctions won’t take place, except for online.

Playgrounds

• Outdoor playgrounds remain open.

Aged care and hospitals

• No visitors are permitted into aged care or other residential facility settings, except for end-of-life reasons; non-essential contractors are restricted from entry;
• No visitors are permitted into healthcare settings, except for end-of-life reasons, as a support partner for birth, or a parent to accompany a child; non-essential contractors are restricted from entry.

Visit Victorian Department of Health's website to find out whether you have been to one of the so far identified exposure sites. 
Find out more

2. AUST | GOVA | Translated COVID-19 Vaccine Information

The Australian Government Department of Health has translated resources into 60 different languages, informing communities about COVID-19 vaccines and how they will be rolled out across Australia.

Special committees representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with a disability, and the multicultural community have been appointed to help ensure that information reaches every community member. 

Please download in-language posters and distribute them amongst your networks. 
Access translations

3. VIC | VEOHRC | Translated Human Rights Information 

The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission has been translating important information into ten languages and simplified English which are now available on their website: humanrights.vic.gov.au/translations.

This content can be accessed at any time by clicking on the ‘Translations’ button at the top of the website (or under the menu on mobile).

The translated information explains what the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission does, the rights that are protected by law in Victoria, and how the Commission can help. It includes instructions on how to contact them and, if needed, how to use an interpreter service. There is also information in Auslan in this section.
Access translations

4. VIC | VMC | Unity in Diversity 

2020 presented faith communities with unique challenges due to the COVID19 pandemic. Highlighting the increasing need to work together in unity and the interconnected nature of the global and local community.

In collaboration with C31, VMC has filmed two videos asking representatives from the VMC’s Multifaith Advisory Group (MAG) how COVID19 affected their communities, and how they assisted others struggling with issues including mental health, support to women, youth, children and vulnerable groups, emergency food relief and virtual gatherings and celebrations.

The videos showcase unity in diversity where faiths focus on the commonalities and unity of all faiths, within their diversity.
View the video

5. VIC | GOVV | Have Your Say - LGBTIQ+ Strategy | submissions closing 17 February 2021

You can help shape the Victorian Government’s first ever LGBTIQ+ Strategy by having your say on its proposed vision for equality.

The Government has also identified four key areas for potential change in systems, services and policies, which will drive equality for LGBTIQ+ Victorians for years to come.

The vision and key areas for change are based on consultations with more than 800 people and organisations about what the strategy should focus on and address.

This further opportunity for feedback will help ensure the Government is on the right track as it develops the final strategy, which is set for release in mid to late 2021. 

Please tell the Government what you think by filling out a short survey before 17 February at www.engage.vic.gov.au/lgbtiqstrategy – and spread the word among your networks!
Have your say

6. AUST | Coronavirus hotline

• Coronavirus hotline: If you are concerned, call the coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398 (24 Hours).
• Coronavirus in-language information
• If you are an NDIS participant you can also call the national hotline on 1800 020 080.
• Information and referrals for people with disability and their supporters about Coronavirus: Contact the Disability Information Helpline on 1800 634 787. 
• If you are deaf, or have a hearing or speech impairment, you can also call the National Relay Service on 133 677.
• Interpreting service: If you need an interpreter, call TIS National on 131 450.
• Testing locations: Find a testing location near you.
• Call-to-Test-at-Home service, providing in-home coronavirus testing to Victorians who would otherwise be unable to get tested, call the DHHS Coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398.
• Triple Zero: Please keep Triple Zero (000) for emergencies only.

7. AUST | Helpers and Reliable Sources Along the Way

• Access Easy English – Over 70 resources developed on coronavirus.
• AUSLAN – Updates by Expression Australia - Regular Auslan only videos on updates of breaking news in Victoria, Australia and abroad.
• Australian Government Department of Health – Coronavirus advice for people with disability
• Australian Government Department of Social Services – Daily update on NDIS participants and workforce and easy English information on COVID-19. 
• Beyond Blue –  translated information on managing your mental health during COVID-19 in 63 languages. 
• Blind Citizens Australia – Information on coronavirus for people who are blind or vision impaired. 
• Council for Intellectual Disability (CID) – Easy English information for people with intellectual disability and videos about COVID-19.
• DHHS – Victorian Government Department of Health and Human Services advice and information on coronavirus available in 56 languages
• Down Syndrome Australia – Easy Read guide about using money on the internet.
• Ethnolink Language Services – Multi-lingual resource library with information available on coronavirus in 71 languages.
• Expression Australia – Keep up to date with regular Auslan videos on COVID-19, breaking news in Victoria, Australia and abroad.
• GP Expert Advice Matters – a website for patients translated into Arabic, simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Hindi and Vietnamese, and has practical information on how to access a local GP, telehealth and interpreter services
• Health Translations – A comprehensive place to find current COVID 19 multilingual information in 78 languages including Auslan and Easy English.
• MyAus Covid-19 app – Multilingual resource application produced by Migration Council Australia (MCA) for Australia's culturally and linguistically diverse communities about COVID - 19, it's impact and available support.
• National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) – Information about changes to how the NDIS work during the COVID -19 pandemic in 12 languages.
• NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission – Information contains links to updates, training, alerts, and resources for NDIS participants and providers.
• Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) – promoting The Older Persons COVID-19 Support Line (OPCSL) within ethno-specific communities.
• Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre – Victoria’s statewide first response service for women, young people and children experiencing family violence.
• SBS – news and information about coronavirus (COVID - 19) available in 63 languages.
• Scope – Key word sign video, posters and easy english resources on communicating COVID-19.
• VALID – 16 Page plain language guide to NDIS Specialist Disability Accommodation
• Women’s Information and Referral Exchange (WIRE) – Free support, referral and information for all Victorian women, nonbinary and gender-diverse people.

8. Acknowledgment to Sources

This is a consolidated account of information current at time of issuance, sourced, collated and provided by Victorian Jewish Community COVID-19 Taskforce, Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria, Buddhist Council of Victoria, various Government Authorities, newspapers, community organisations and public domain, received with gratitude.

9. Bye bye to Essentialists

Us non-essentialists will endeavour to manage our expection of miracles and do our best to follow rules while staying out of the way. 

Contact your closest friendly non-essentialist if you need anything that can be done remotely. Bye bye to Essentialists for now, please leave to attend to the essential work. That is all from GEIFN Caretaker at this time.

10. Self-Isolators, Non-Essentials And The Homebound

Meanwhile, if with a surplus of time, this is offered. Discuss with sincerity. Deny untruth. Dismiss unuseful. Accept useful. Adapt to change. Adopt least effort most benefit. Adept with sharing. Enjoy throughout. As each case may be. Round about. And again. Or not.