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GOVV | UPDATING | Pandemic Response Victoria | Friday 25 February 2022 | from 11.59pm

[Edited extract from public address]

At 11.59pm Friday 25 February 2022, a number of health rules to contain the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 eased.

Work from home
The public health recommendation for Victorians to work or study from home are removed.

Masks
Masks will only be required indoors in the following circumstances, unless an exemption applies:
  • People on public transport, in taxis and rideshare, on planes, and indoors at an airport
  • People working or visiting hospitals, and indoor areas at care facilities
  • Workers in hospitality, retail and the court system
  • Workers at justice and correctional facilities
  • Students in year 3 or above at primary school, and workers at early childhood centres and primary schools (masks can be removed in secondary school)
  • People working indoors at an event with more than 30,000 people attending
  • In special circumstances, such as if you have COVID-19 or are a close contact and you’re leaving home
Masks are recommended for other workers serving or facing members of the public, such as if you are at reception, meeting guests or serving customers.

Hospitals
Restrictions on elective surgery will lift on Monday, February 28, 2022. Public hospitals will be able to resume all surgery, with capacity to be based on an individual assessment of staff availability and COVID-19 demands. Private hospitals will be able to resume up to 100 per cent of pre-COVID activity.

Vaccinations for workers
Temporary exceptions and deadline extensions for workers required to receive three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine:
  • The third dose deadline for workers in education facilities who were fully vaccinated on or before October 25 will be extended by a month, provided that workers have a booking within that time – meaning all education workers have until 25 March to be ‘up to date’
  • Fully vaccinated workers who aren’t yet eligible for a third dose will have a third dose deadline of three months and two weeks from when they had their second dose
  • Workers who are recent international arrivals will have a new third dose deadline of four weeks from the date of their arrival, provided they have evidence of a future vaccine booking
  • Workers whose temporary medical exemption (e.g., because they had COVID-19) has expired will have a new third dose deadline of two weeks following the expiry of the medical exemption.

Hospitality venues
  • Density quotients have been removed for hospitality venues, and dance floors were given the green light on Friday.
  • Visitors to retail outlets, schools and workplaces no longer have to scan a QR code to check-in.
  • However, the codes have remained in place at restaurants and entertainment venues.

School
  • Primary school children in grades three to six will still need to wear masks in class.
  • Rapid antigen testing will be in place for the whole of term one.
  • School and early childhood staff must have received a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by February 25 to keep working on-site.

Travel
The 14-day hotel quarantine period for international visitors and aircrew who are not fully vaccinated has also be reduced to seven days.

COVID-19 vaccines are available to everyone aged five years and over

COVID-19 vaccines are available for children aged 5 to 11.
Book at your local GP or pharmacy, or get your child vaccinated at your nearest state-run vaccination centre by booking online or calling the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398 between 8 am and 8 pm, 7 days a week.

By vaccinating your children, you can:
  • Reduce the spread of COVID-19 
  • Protect them from getting sick from COVID-19 
  • Keep schools open, so children can have more face-to-face learning and playtime with their friends.
The recommended interval for vaccination in this age group is two doses, 8 weeks apart.

Some children are already eligible for vaccination, while others will turn 5 during the year. Families should book their children in for vaccination as soon as possible after their fifth birthday.

All parents and guardians should aim to have their children aged 5 years and over vaccinated with one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by the start of Term 1.

Some families have been enquiring about third doses for children. Third doses are only recommended for people aged 18 years and over at this time.

Family-friendly vaccination centres
Children can receive additional support through vaccination centres, specialised centres and hospitals if they have needle distress, a disability, behavioural difficulties or other needs.

You can get your children vaccinated at family-friendly vaccination centres across Victoria. Book online or call the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398.


REOPENING | Australia to people on tourist visas | from 21 February 2022

The Australian Government announced that all fully-vaccinated visitors on any valid visa will be welcome to enter the country.

From 21 February this year, tourists, business travellers and other visitors can travel to Australia, as long as they are fully-vaccinated.

Visa holders who are not fully vaccinated will still require a valid travel exemption to enter Australia, and will be subject to state and territory quarantine requirements. 

REOPENING | Victoria

To support jobs, economy and business, the Victorian government will distribute $100 million worth of dining, wining and travel vouchers as part of a broader $200 Million Package in a renewed attempt to kick-start the hospitality and other sectors in the wake of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

As was the case with previous rounds of Melbourne Money, locals and visitors can use the vouchers at city cafes, bars and restaurants to get part of their bill reimbursed from Mondays through to Thursdays.

City of Melbourne
  • 25% Melbourne Money rebate on food and wine bills in the City of Melbourne, from Mondays to Thursdays. 
  • Minimum spend $40, maximum $500.
  • Total value $10m.

Regional areas and Melbourne's suburbs
  • 25% rebate on food and wine experiences in regional areas and in Melbourne's suburbs, from Mondays to Thursdays.
  • Minimum spend $40, maximum $500

Entertainment
  • $125 (maximum) entertainment voucher, for a 25% rebate on tickets to theatre, live music, cinemas, museums, galleries, conferences, exhibitions and other events across Victoria.
  • Total value $30m.

Travel in Victoria
  • $200 vouchers for travel in Victoria. There will be 150,000 vouchers on offer, including 10,000 set aside for seniors.
  • Minimum spend $400.
  • Total value of $30 million.
 

Additionally

  • You can leave home if there is an emergency.
  • You can leave home if there is family violence or violence by another person in the home, and you are at risk. If you are stopped by police, tell them you are feeling unsafe at home and they will help you. Safe accommodation and support for family violence is available. Call safe steps on 1800 015 188 or email safesteps@safesteps.org.au for help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • If you need to leave home, you must wear a face mask, unless you have a lawful reason for not doing so.

 

Other ways to stay safe

  • Always wash your hands before you leave, and when you return home.
  • Keep at least 1.5 metres between yourself and others.
  • Never, ever go out if you are unwell unless it is to get tested.
  • After you get tested, you must go straight home.
  • Remember that the most important thing you can do is get tested, even if you have the mildest of symptoms.
  • Get vaccinated.

 

To learn more about Victoria's restrictions

  

 Relief and Community Support links:


COVID-19 Resources

Vaccinations

Getting vaccinated is our way out of this pandemic. The best vaccine you can get is the one that you can get today.

You can now get vaccinated at pharmacies
Getting your COVID-19 vaccination just got easier. The Australian Government is rolling out 440,000 doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine through pharmacies across the country..

Like the Pfizer vaccination, Moderna is currently recommended for people between 12 and 59 years old.
Is it true? With new COVID-19 vaccine developments every day, it’s normal to have questions or concerns, and possibly feel hesitant about getting a vaccine. That's why accurate, evidence-based answers to questions is available about COVID-19 vaccines. 
Find out more about COVID-19 vaccines ⁠–⁠ Is it true?

Have you booked your vaccine? Everyone in Australia can get the vaccination when it's their turn. Currently in Victoria, anyone aged 40 or over is eligible for the free vaccine, along with people with particular underlying conditions.  
AUST | GOV | Resources for disability service providers
This Federal Department of Health's dedicated COVID-19 vaccine webpage has comprehensive information and resources for people with disability. This includes a readiness toolkit with resources designed to assist disability service providers during the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. 
AUST | NDIS | Immediate Eligibility for NDIS participants and carers aged 16 years and over
All National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants aged 16 years and over and carers aged 16 years and over of NDIS participants of any age became eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine from 8 June. NDIS participants will be able to find a vaccination site using the Department of Health's eligibility checker. 
AUST | GOV | COVID-19 vaccine booster doses recommended for Australians aged 18+
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) have recommended a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine for people who are aged 18 years and over.

Everyone living in Australia aged 18 and over who has completed their primary two-dose course of vaccination at least six months ago is now eligible to have an additional booster shot.

The booster rollout program will initially target population groups that were prioritised for early vaccination, because the great majority of people within these cohorts are now ready for their booster vaccination, having had their second dose six or more months ago.


AUST | GOV | Arm yourself against COVID-19
The Australian Government has launched a new campaign to encourage eligible Australians to be vaccinated against COVID-19.The Arm Yourself campaign urges Australians to protect themselves, their loved ones, the people they care about, and the wider community by getting the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Use the COVID-19 vaccine eligibility checker in 15 languages to find out when you can book your vaccination and arm yourself.
Check your eligibility for the vaccine in languages other than English


AUST | GOV | CALLING | Community Leaders to make your own COVID-19 vaccination video 
The Australian Government Department of Health is committed to making information on COVID-19 vaccines available to everyone in Australia. The Department of Health is asking community leaders for their support in sharing this critical information via video.

The COVID-19 Vaccination – How to make your own video guide is designed to help community leaders develop their own videos to share vaccine information with their communities. 
VIC | GOV | It's a no brainer Vaccination Video
Thursday Island resident Elsie Seriat OAM is a proud mum, runner and graduate from the Indigenous Marathon Foundation. In a new video, she explains how important it is to protect yourself and your family against COVID-19 by getting the vaccine when you can.

The video is part of a raft of resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples explaining the importance of the vaccination. You can browse other resources here. 
AUST | EVME | ENCOURAGING | Be Well Stay Well in-language videos
Evolve Media (EVME) and a team of six bicultural workers came together to produce several in-language videos to promote COVID-safe behaviour and wellbeing.

Over the past two months, the working group have held weekly meetings and worked collaboratively to co-design video messages and content. You can find links to the completed in-language videos below: 
VIC | VCOSS | Getting Back To The Good Things and Performance Of A Lifetime Vaccination Videos 
The Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) videos feature ordinary Australians talking about the special moments in life they are looking forward to when life can be 'normal' again.


MELB | NWMPHN |  Goodbye COVID Vaccination Video
North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN) worked with local community leaders to encourage people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Getting vaccinated protects yourself and your loved ones. When enough of us are vaccinated, life will be better for everyone.

Goodbye COVID videos are in 20 languages, along with scripts and more information. 
AUST | GOV | CALD and Aged Care vaccination videos
Watch new videos from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) community members speaking in Mandarin, Cantonese, Nepali, Vietnamese and Dinka about why they got their COVID-19 vaccine.

Aged care residents have also shared their experience getting the COVID-19 vaccines. Videos come with captions in Arabic, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Korean and Vietnamese. 
AUST | GOV | Showing proof of vaccination
After you get vaccinated, your vaccination provider adds your details on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) within 10 days. There are two types of proof available. Both are free.
  1. A COVID – 19 Digital certificate, which shows you have received both doses of a COVID vaccine. For more information visit Getting help during coronavirus (COVID-19) - COVID-19 digital certificate as proof - Services Australia
  2. An immunisation history statement which lists COVID -19 vaccinations and all other vaccinations. For more information visit Australian Immunisation Register - How to get an immunisation history statement - Services Australia
It can take up to 10 days for information to be uploaded to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) after each dose of a COVID -19 vaccine.

It’s quick to get an immunisation history statement online. Download your statement now so you are ready to show it when you need to gain entry to places you want or need to visit.

Most people can get their proof using their Medicare online account through myGov. You just need to make sure you’ve got a myGov account set up and that you’ve linked it to Medicare.If online is difficult for you or your residents, there are a few alternatives:
  • Call the Australian Immunisation Register and ask them to post your immunisation history statement, noting that it may take up to 14 days to arrive. Call 1800 653 809 from Monday to Friday 8 am to 5 pm.
  • Call Medicare on 13 20 11 and ask them to send you a printed copy. They are on the phones 24 hours 7 days a week. You can also ask for interpretation in your language when you call Medicare.
  • Ask someone who has internet access for help with online if you need it quickly who can help you to print it off. You will need a MyGov account (www.my.gov.au)
  • Ask at your GP clinic, pharmacy or community centre for help in printing your COVID certificate. 
 
AUST | GOV | Proof of COVID-19 vaccination resources for community groups
With the easing of restrictions, Australians will need to access proof of their COVID-19 vaccinations to enjoy many freedoms. The Australian Government has produced some resources that can be shared in your workplace and with your community.

The resources include general information about the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, as well as information about how to get proof of your vaccinations. 

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Office of the Premier
State Government of Victoria (GOVV)
Address: 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne Victoria 3002 Australia