Social gatherings

Seeing friends and family outside 

Current restrictions  

• You can meet in a group of up to 100 people in a public outdoor place. There is no limit on the number of households those people come from. Babies under 12 months are not included in this limit.  

Is there a limit on the number of people I can see outdoors? 

Yes, you can meet up as a group of up to 100 people. 

Remember to keep at least 1.5 metres distance between you and anyone you don’t live with.  

Face masks are not required outside, however, it is strongly recommended that you wear a face mask where you can’t maintain at least 1.5 metres distance from others. You must carry a face mask with you when you leave home, unless you have a lawful reason not to. 

What is a “public outdoor place”? 

A public outdoor place is a park or garden in a public place, outside of the home. This means you can have a picnic in the park or at the beach with up to 100 people. There is a lower risk of spreading coronavirus (COVID-19) between people if you are outdoors. To keep your friends and family safe you should meet up outdoors in a public place. 

Visitors to your home 

Current restrictions:

• You can travel to see friends and family who live anywhere in Victoria.
• From 11.59pm on Friday 22 January 2021, you can have up to 30 people visit you at your home per day. There is no limit on the number of households those people come from. Babies under the age of 12 months are not included in the cap.
• It is strongly recommended that you wear a face mask when someone visits you at your home.

How many visitors can I have to my house? 

From 11.59pm on Friday 22 January 2021, you can have up to 30 people visit you at your home per day. People can visit at the same time or at different times. There is no limit on the number of households those people come from. Babies under the age of 12 months are not included in this limit.    

It is strongly recommended that you wear a face mask when someone visits you at your home.

Does this mean I can have people over for a barbeque?  

You can have someone over for a barbeque at your home. From 11.59pm on Friday 22 January 2021, you can have up to 30 visitors per day to your home. There is no limit on the number of households those people come from. Babies under the age of 12 months are not included in this limit.

I’ve had 30 visitors to my home today – can my partner also visit me?  

Yes, your partner can also visit you. Your partner is not counted within the visitor limit of 30, from 11.59pm on Friday 22 January 201. 

How can I keep myself and my friends and family safe?  

Everyone has a role to play in slowing the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).  As restrictions ease, it is even more important you take extra steps to keep each other safe.   

• Only visit people when you are both healthy. If you or the person you are visiting feels unwell, they must immediately isolate at home and  get tested. You must not visit that person or have that person over to visit if either of you are unwell. 
• It is strongly recommended that you wear a face mask while visiting friends and family.
• You should wash your hands regularly and coughing and sneezing into your elbow or a tissue.  
• If you can see people outside, you should. Being outdoors reduces the risk of spreading the virus significantly.  
• You should also keep a list of the people you see and when you saw them.  

The more people you interact with, the higher the risk of coronavirus (COVID-19) transmission. 

Can I travel between regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne to visit friends or family?    

There are no restrictions on the reasons you can travel between metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.  

Can I have visitors stay overnight?  

There are no limits on the length of time someone can visit you at your home. Friends and family can stay overnight.  People staying overnight are counted toward the visitor limit of 30 for the night and the next day. 

When you leave home, stay safe by washing your hands regularly, coughing and sneezing into your elbow or a tissue, and keeping at least 1.5 metres from others. It is strongly recommended that you wear a face mask when you have visitors present.

Stay home if unwell, get tested and remain at home until you get your negative test result.

Are sleepovers allowed?   

Yes. Sleepovers are allowed. From 11.59pm on Friday 22 January 2021, you can have up to 30 friends over for a sleepover.

It is strongly recommended that anyone aged 12 years and older wear a face mask when visiting friends and family.

You should wash your hands regularly and cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue.

If you, your children or those being visited feel unwell, they should immediately isolate at home and  get tested. 

My relatives or parents are elderly – how can I keep them safe?  

If the person you are visiting is at a higher risk of becoming very sick with coronavirus (COVID-19) you should wear a fitted face mask while visiting and keep at least 1.5 metres distance from them.  

You should consider the vulnerability of people that you visit and limit your interactions with others when a person you visit is an elderly friend, relative or parent.  

If you are more vulnerable to serious complications because of coronavirus (COVID-19), it is strongly recommended that you wear a mask while visiting. Stay home if unwell, get tested and remain at home until you get your negative test result.

Do I have to wear a face mask when friends and family visit me at home? 

It is strongly recommended that you wear a face mask while people visit your home or while you visit them at their home.   

Can anyone else visit my home? 

Anyone can visit your home including people who visit your home for care or caregiving or work:  

• a tradesperson to do work
• a cleaner
• a person coming in to do child-minding or a child you are providing care to  
• a person coming in to provide services or care (for example, cooking or cleaning)  
• medical or emergency services staff coming to your home to render assistance  
• in-home personal care services such as beauticians  

It is strongly recommended that anyone visiting your home wear a face mask.

You should keep at least 1.5 metres between yourself and others and practise good hygiene by washing your hands and coughing and sneezing into a tissue or your elbow.

People who visit your home for work or care giving are not included in the 30 person a day limit on visitors.

Can tradespeople or cleaners come into my home?  

Tradespeople and cleaners can come into your home. Try to keep their time in your home to a minimum. If possible, remove yourself from the room where the service provider is working. 

Where possible, you should keep at least 1.5 metres between yourself and the service provider. 

When a service provider comes to your home, minimise physical contact by paying with a direct bank transfer or contactless payment if possible.  

It is recommended that anyone visiting your home wear a face mask

Can I have a party in my home? 

Yes. From 11.59pm on Friday 22 January 2021, you can have a party in your home with up to 30 visitors attending. 

You can have up to 100 people at a party if held outdoors in a public place but not in your home.   

Seeing your partner 

Current restrictions  

• You can travel to visit your partner. 
• You can stay overnight with your partner. 
• Your partner is not counted within the 30 people home visitor limit. 

Children and family 

We have children in a shared custody arrangement. How does this affect them? 

All shared custody arrangements, whether informal or court-ordered can continue as normal.   

You can leave the house to take children from one parent’s home to the other parent’s home.   

Visits as part of shared custody arrangements are not counted within the visitor limits. 

Can I get a baby-sitter to come to my home? 

Yes. You can arrange in-home child minding. There are no restrictions on the reasons for arranging child minding. 

It is recommended that visitors to your home wear a face mask. Keep at least 1.5 metres from other people where possible and practise good hygiene by washing their hands regularly and coughing or sneezing into their elbow.

Can I drop my children at childcare – or to someone's house to have them minded? 

Yes. You can use childcare services or take them to the house of a friend or family member so they can be cared for.

Visiting people 

Can I visit people in nursing homes or care facilities? 

You can visit people in care facilities but there are rules to keep people safe. 

Can I visit people in hospital?  

You can visit people in hospital but there are rules to keep people safe.

Can I visit people in prisons?  

For information on personal visits to prisons visit   Corrections Victoria. 

Can I have a wedding or funeral?  

For information on weddings, funerals and cemeteries visit the religion and ceremony page.