COVID-19: Victoria’s latest coronavirus rules, explained

Face masks are no longer required outdoors, as long as you can maintain 1.5 metres’ social distance from others from outside your household, but suitable face coverings should be carried at all times. Masks must be worn indoors, including gyms and shopping centres, and on public transport. Anyone not complying with Victoria’s mask rules can be fined $200.

Acceptable coverings include surgical masks and cloth masks that cover the mouth and nose. Scarves, bandanas and face shields are no longer considered sufficient face coverings. Check out our ultimate guide to face masks for everything you need to know about how to wear and remove masks properly, as well as how to make your own.

Both the 25-kilometre travel limit for Melburnians and the ‘ring of steel’ border between metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria have been lifted, so all Victorians are free to travel anywhere in the state. 

Victorians are allowed to have 15 visitors, including dependants, per day, either in one group or separate groups. It’s recommended that face masks are worn where social distancing can’t be maintained, and keeping a record of visitors is advised. Up to 50 people from any number of households can gather outdoors in a public place.

(From 13 December up to 30 visitors from any number of households can visit homes.) 

There are no limits on the how long someone can visit you at your home, so friends and family can stay overnight. But anyone who stays overnight is counted in the visitor cap on the day they stay, and the next day. 

Yes. Restaurants, cafes and pubs are allowed to serve food and drinks to seated patrons, who can take their masks off when seated and eating or drinking. 

• Large venues (with floorspace of 200 square metres or bigger) are allowed up to 150 patrons indoors with no group limits at a density of one per four square metres. 
• Smaller venues (up to 200 square metres) can host 50 indoors at a higher density of one per two square metres with no group limit, but must use QR codes to record patrons’ details. 
• Up to 300 are allowed outdoors at any-sized venue, at one per two square metres and a total venue capacity of 300.
•  Live music is allowed outdoors with the musicians included in the venue limit. 

All retail shops are allowed to open. Patrons of personal care salons can now remove masks where necessary.

Accommodation throughout the state, including, caravan parks and campgrounds with shared facilities, can open. It can be booked by one household and up to 15 others. 

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Indoor gyms and fitness studios are allowed to open for up to 150 patrons with a group limit of 20, with density limits. Outdoor pools can open for up to 300 people and indoor pools for up to 150, with density limits. Indoor physical recreation and community sport can resume with up to 150 patrons with a group limit of 20, subject to density limits. Personal training, fitness and dance classes are allowed outside for up to 10 people.

Playing golf and going fishing, boating, surfing and diving are all allowed. 

Up to 150 people can attend a wedding or funeral indoors or outdoors, with a density limit of one per four square metres. Religious gatherings are allowed indoors for up to 150 people, or outdoors for up to 300, with no group limits but a density limit of one person per four square metres. 

Cinemas, theatres, small galleries and museums, and play centres can host up to 150 people per space, with density limits. Large theatres, museums and galleries like the NGV can open to 25 per cent of their capacity.

Outdoor seated venues like stadiums and arenas can open for up to 50 per cent of their capacity with a maximum of 500. Zoos and drive-in cinemas can open.

Libraries, toy libraries and community facilities like neighbourhood houses can open for up to 150 indoors and 300 outdoors with a group limit of 20, subject to density limits.  

There are no longer any restrictions on the purpose or number of visitors to hospitals or care facilities, and no time limits. 

Schools are open for all year levels, and grade 6 and year 12 graduations are permitted for students and staff only. Childcare and early education are open to all.

Auctions are allowed outdoors for up to 50 people, or 20 indoors. Property inspections are allowed by appointment for up to 10 people from any number of households. Commercial real-estate inspections are permitted. (More: How to buy and sell property in a pandemic.)