COVIDSafe Summer — new restrictions apply from 11:59pm, Sunday 17 January 2021
From 11:59pm on Sunday 17 January face masks will no longer be mandatory in all public indoor settings.
- Face masks continue to be mandatory in airports, hospitals, large retail stores over 2000 sqm, shopping centres, indoor markets, in taxis and rideshares, and on public transport.
- You should always carry a face mask with you when you leave home unless you have a lawful reason not to.
- It is strongly recommended you wear one whenever you cannot keep 1.5 metres distance from others.
Find out more about COVIDSafe Summer restrictions.
Industry Restart Guidelines
The Industry Restart Guidelines outline the requirements businesses need to apply to safely operate in accordance with restrictions.
Industry Restart Guidelines are now available for:
- Accommodation
- Adult Entertainment
- Allied Health and Primary Care
- Community Sport and Recreation
- COVID Marshals
- Hair and Beauty Services
- Hospitality
- Indoor Entertainment Venues (including Cinemas, Performing Arts and Music Venues)
- Manufacturing
- Museums and Galleries
- Offices
- Outdoor Attractions and Experiences
- Physical Recreation – Indoor and Outdoor
- Religion and ceremonies
- Retail – Goods and Services
- Real Estate
- Seasonal Horticulture
- Tourism (Tours and Transport)
- Warehousing, Wholesaling, Postal and Non-Chilled Distribution
Factsheets for cleaning guidelines
COVIDSafe Principles for business
Every Victorian business that is open must have a COVIDSafe Plan.
Businesses should apply the principles of COVIDSafe workplaces:
- ensure physical distancing (1.5 metres)
- wear a face mask
- practise good hygiene
- keep good records and act quickly if workers become unwell
- avoid interactions in close spaces
- create workforce bubbles.
See our Sector Guidance pages for further guidance and frequently asked questions for your sector.
COVID Marshals
COVID Marshals are mandatory for:
- abattoirs and meat processing facilities
- poultry processing facilities
- seafood processing facilities
- supermarket distribution facilities (metropolitan Melbourne only)
- chilled distribution facilities for perishable food (metropolitan Melbourne only)
- ports of entry
- hospitals
- gyms (with cardio and strength training facilities) when staffed*
- casinos and gaming rooms**
* The COVID Marshal may be the person conducting or leading a group, class or session in the cardio/strength training facility. For further information, please see the Industry Restart Guidelines: Physical Recreation Indoor and Outdoor.
** For further information, please see the Industry Restart Guidelines: Hospitality (including electronic gaming).
COVID Marshals are recommended for:
- distribution centres (where they are not mandatory)
- warehousing
- horticulture operations using seasonal workers for seasonal horticultural work
- care facilities
- commercial cleaning services
- commercial passenger vehicle services
- supermarket distribution facilities (regional Victoria)
- chilled distribution facilities for perishable food (regional Victoria)
For frequently asked questions that apply to all Victorian businesses go to our General business - FAQs page. Guidelines on COVID Marshals are available on our COVID Marshal page.
Employer obligations
- Have a COVIDSafe Plan in place that is regularly updated.
- Collect records of all workers, subcontractors, customers and clients attending the work premises for 15 minutes or longer (certain exemptions will apply).
- One worker per two square metres of shared workspace or in shared areas.
- The employer(s) must maintain a record of all workers who work across multiple work premises.
- If a worker is unwell, send them home and ask them to be tested. They must stay home until they have received their result. Financial support is available for workers who need to self-isolate or quarantine.
- Report any positive cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) to the Department of Health and Human Services, WorkSafe, health and safety representatives, and notify your workforce. You should not disclose the identity of the person with confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) to other workers unless the person has given you permission to do so.
- Regularly clean your facilities, shared spaces and provide additional cleaning supplies.
- Undertake risk assessments for cleaning and the potential closure of your workplace in certain situations.
Free infection control training
Free, short, accredited training is available to help staff identify and manage the ongoing risk of coronavirus (COVID-19) infections in the workplace. Free infection control will help businesses prepare to safely reopen and ensure their customers and workforce are protected.
Reviewed 14 January 2021