Further ease to restrictions within the community

City of Meloburne. Buildings along the Yarra River. The buildings are refelected in the river.

The Victorian government announced further easing of restrictions within the community on 20 April, 2022 as a result of the high vaccination rate within the state. However, restrictions are to remain in disability settings, which include:

  • Visitor restrictions will continue in disability residential care settings. Residents can have up to five visitors a day if each show a negative rapid antigen test result, or two visitors daily if no test results are provided.
  • Face masks will remain in disability residential facilities and non-residential and community settings.
  • Service providers have been advised to continue using the existing guidance

The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing has advised that new disability sector fact sheets are being prepared.

A number of critical and common-sense settings will be retained, including:

  • 7-day isolation following a COVID-19 diagnosis
  • Existing two-dose and three-dose vaccination mandates for workers. 
  • Visitor restrictions in care facilities will be retained to protect the vulnerable (please see below)
  • Face coverings will still be required on public transport and at airports and in sensitive health, aged care and justice settings.
  • All workplaces will still require a COVIDSafe Plan.

Restrictions removed from midnight, Friday 22 April, include:

  • Vaccination status not required to enter venues
  • Check-in via the the Service Victoria app is no longer required
  • Masks will no longer be required in primary schools, early childhood, hospitality and retail settings, or at events of any size
  • Close contacts will no longer have to quarantine
  • All visitor restrictions in hospitals will be removed except for mask requirements, with health services able to tailor their own settings based on their own circumstances
  • International travellers who are symptom-free will be recommended but not required to get a PCR or rapid test on arrival

For more information, you can read the press release from the Premier’s office.

We will post a news update and notify participants, staff and families regarding any further changes to disability settings when these are available.

For updates and resources on COVID-19, please visit our COVID Update page.