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The coronavirus rules in Victoria keep changing so here are some answers to your questions - ABC News

All the hard work of the long lockdown has finally paid off and the restrictions in Melbourne are being eased again from today and more changes are expected from November 9.

Here are some of the questions you asked that we can answer.

What are the main changes?

From today, the four reasons for leaving home have been ditched, so you can leave home for any reason.

Visiting people in their homes is also allowed, but is limited to no more than two adults plus dependents from one other household, once a day.

Retail, hospitality, beauty and personal services are allowed to open.

For the first time in months, hospitality businesses can seat people inside, as well as outside, with limits.

There are also relaxations in restrictions for funerals, where a maximum of 20 mourners will be allowed.

Weddings will be capped at a maximum of 10 people.

Indoor religious gatherings will be capped at 10 inside and 20 people outside, plus one faith leader.

The 25-kilometre travel zone and the "ring of steel" around regional Victoria are being dumped from 11:59pm on November 8.

A girl adjusts the face mask of her father as her mother and two brothers pose outside the front door of their home.
Home visits can now include two people, plus dependents, but only one visit per day is allowed.(ABC News: Kyle Harley)

Can I go to visit my parents, sisters, brothers or best friend?

Yes you can, as long as they live within 25 kilometres of your home.

Home visits may include two people plus dependents (children or an elderly person, for example) but there can be only "visitor event" per household per day.

That's where it gets tricky. Let's say a friend visits with her kids for lunch. After that visit both of you have had your one home visiting event for the day and cannot go visit anyone else — that day.

We're seeking clarification from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) about whether intimate partners are considered to be a visitor for the purpose of this rule.

Can my kids have a playdate with friends?

Yes they can, but after that playdate, no-one else in the family can visit anyone else that day.

If you've got a whole tribe of teens for example, one child's catch-up with a friend means no-one else in the family can visit anyone else that day.

It might help to set up a roster.

The simple solution? Meet outside. It's safer, everyone wears masks and more people can join in.

Up to 10 people can get together and there is no limit on the number of households that can come.

Can I travel outside the 25km zone now to visit family and friends?

No. The 25km zone is expected to be dropped from November 9 and then you can go anywhere you want.

Until then, you must remain within that 25km zone, even if you want to visit family, which is allowed under the rules from today.

A woman has her foot filed at a nail salon or spa
Nail salons and other beauty services have been allowed to reopen.(Pexels: Ashley James)

How am I supposed to exercise wearing a mask?

Gyms can reopen in regional Victoria from today, and Melbourne will join them from November 9.

But they can only have one person per 8 square metres.

The official advice is masks should be worn where possible. It's a risky environment and if more people are wearing masks, there is more protection.

The DHHS gave us two examples: if you're running on a treadmill you might not wear a mask, but you do wear a mask when doing bench weights or pilates.

Can I get my eyebrows done, get laser or get a tattoo?

Yes. Beauty services including tattoos, can reopen, but customers must wear a mask throughout the procedure.

Ok I need to go to work, can I carpool?

First of all you should be working from home and studying at home if possible.

If you have to go to work, say in hospitality or retail, you should not carpool.

Mr Andrews said at Tuesday's press conference that carpooling is being discouraged.

A man stands behind a bar smiling, while holding a beer.
Pubs, like Peter Appleby's Grand Hotel in Warrandyte, in Melbourne's outer north-east, are serving beers again.(Supplied)

Can I go to a bar, pub or out for dinner?

Yes, yes and yes!

Bars and restaurants can have a maximum of 20 people inside (with no more than 10 per space) subject to density requirements.

Outdoors there is a cap of 50 patrons per venue subject to density requirements.

Live music is permitted outdoors with the band included in the venue limits.

Mr Andrews said people would be able to stand up and have a drink at a bar "as soon as possible", but for now all patrons must remain seated.

He said having low numbers would make it possible to increase numbers inside and outside venues "whether it's a pot at the bar or being able to sit in a bigger crowd to watch the cricket".

Those limits change again on November 9.

Now good luck getting a reservation.

How do you define separate spaces at restaurants, other venues?

Mr Andrews said temporary walls could be used to create separate spaces inside a restaurant dining room, for example.

They can be full height walls or temporary ones but they must be up to 2.1 metres tall.

What they don't want is two groups of 10 people essentially becoming one group of 20 because indoor gatherings are much more dangerous than ones outside.

Market stalls, auction houses and other retail?

They're all open.

A photo of chairs up on tables in a Melbourne shopping centre eatery.
Melbourne's shopping centres and food courts have been desolate places during lockdown, but that will start to change from today.(ABC News: John Graham)

Food courts — are they opening up?

Many retailers are open for takeaway only but from today, there will be limited indoor and outdoor seating.

Only two people per table are allowed, there needs to be regular cleaning and the venue's capacity is limited according to a density quotient or 25 per cent of the normal capacity.

Outdoor food courts can have a maximum of 10 per group and an overall total of 50 people in four separate areas (200 people).

Can I go to the cinema or the casino?

There's no word yet on when cinemas might be allowed to reopen — it will happen but the Premier said now was not the time.

He said outdoor cinemas would likely open first.

Crown Casino is the largest employer in the state and Mr Andrews said he was keen to get it open as soon as possible.

Some hospitality will be open both inside and outside the casino.

Mr Andrews said the gaming floor would open when that was safe —but gave no indication when that might be.

School's back — what about graduation?

For students in grade 6 and grade 12 graduations are allowed if it's for the whole grade 6 cohort, not individual classes. Only students and staff can attend — parents are not allowed.

What happens on November 9?

The Premier is promising to give us more detail about what Christmas will look like in terms of gathering with family and friends, and the path forward in terms of further easing restrictions on November 8, ahead of the anticipated easing of restrictions at 11:59pm that night.

On that day, metropolitan Melbourne's restrictions will come into line with regional Victoria and the entire state will have the same restrictions in place.

A person in a lemon-patterned face mask walks towards a tram.
The rule making the wearing of face masks mandatory in Victoria could be in place into next year.(ABC News: Simon Winter)

Masks, international air travel and other questions we can't answer … yet

If you're worried about wearing masks during a long, hot Aussie summer, we have bad news.

Masks are with us for the time being. We'll be wearing them into the new year, the Premier has said, because although they're uncomfortable they do provide protection.

Almost every day, Mr Andrews is also asked when will Victoria start accepting international travellers and his answer is — he doesn't know.

He's waiting for the findings of the COVID-19 Hotel Quarantine Inquiry, which are due to be handed down on November 6.

The Premier argues there is no point in pushing ahead with the new hotel quarantine system if the inquiry is going to recommend wholesale changes.

And borders — everyone wants to travel interstate, including Mr Andrews who quipped he wanted to go golfing in Tasmania this year.

But that's all down to the individual state and territory governments to make a decision.

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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMicGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTEwLTI4L3ZpY3RvcmlhbnMtY292aWQtcXVlc3Rpb25zLWFuc3dlcmVkLWFib3V0LXJlc3RyaWN0aW9ucy1tZWxib3VybmUvMTI4MTg5OTjSASdodHRwczovL2FtcC5hYmMubmV0LmF1L2FydGljbGUvMTI4MTg5OTg?oc=5

2020-10-28 03:15:00Z
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