Further ease to restrictions within the community

27 April 2022

• All
• COVID-19

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.