Coronavirus Victoria: Restrictions on home visits eased
Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews has announced up to two adults and their dependants will be able to visit another home as part of Melbourne’s latest easing of restrictions.
The change will come into effect at 11.59pm on Tuesday and will allow for children who cannot be left alone to be included in the visiting group.
Only one visit can occur in a day regardless of whether it is one or two adults while people must remain in their 25km travel limit. The people visiting a home can differ each day.
Residents cannot receive guests more than once a day and once done so cannot visit another home that day.
Mr Andrews added the home rules will remain beyond November 8, when the 25km limit and the "ring of steel" separating Melbourne from regional Victoria are set to end.
Premier explains concern behind slight easing
Household infections have been a common occurrence in Melbourne’s second wave, most recently as part of the northern Melbourne and Chadstone clusters which have caused flare ups in cases during the wave’s tail end.
“Arguably your home is the most dangerous place for the spread of this virus,” he reiterated.
He said while there is a sense of optimism following the latest steps, he stressed to Victorians “it’s not over”.
He urged Melburnians to utilise outdoor gathering rules which now allow for groups of 10 from unlimited households.
“I know it's not a nice thing to say or a nice thing for anyone to acknowledge but the place where you feel safest [but] your home is actually the most dangerous environment for the spread of this virus,” he said.
He urged for people to wear a mask where possible when visiting others while reminded of the importance of washing hands, keeping your distance and getting tested at the earliest point when symptoms arise.
He said an announcement on what Christmas gatherings will look like will come in the weeks ahead but “won’t be Christmas Eve” for that information to be given to the public.
Mr Andrews announced a raft of changes on Monday after its first day of zero daily coronavirus cases since June 9, bringing joy to the badly-hit hospitality and retail sectors in the process.
On Tuesday, Victoria recorded a second consecutive day of zero cases – the first time it has done so since March 6 at the beginning of the nation’s first wave.
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