Restrictions summary and Q&As

UPDATE: New COVIDSafe Settings

From midnight on Friday 9 April 2021 new COVIDSafe Settings apply across Victoria.

To find out what this means for the creative industries, see our Restrictions summary and Q&As below.

For full details of the current Victorian restrictions, read the Victorian Government’s statement.

COVIDSafe Settings – Restrictions summary for the Creative Industries

From midnight Friday 9 April 2021 new COVIDSafe Settings apply across Victoria.

The key change for the creative industries is as follows:

• Indoor and outdoor seated venues move from 75% to 100% of total capacity. The limit of 1000 people per space and density limit of one person per two square metres in unseated areas such as foyers, bars and bathrooms remain in place.

If you have submitted an application to the Public Events Framework (PEF), please note the following:

• If your event has been previously approved by the Victorian Government to operate at more than 75% capacity under the Public Events Framework, you can now operate at 100% capacity with up to 1,000 attendees.
• Or, if you have registered a Tier 3 event and would like to increase to 100% capacity, you are able to do that under your existing event registration – you do not need to re-register with the COVIDSafe Events Team.
• From 9 April onwards, it is not mandatory to register your event with the Government if you are a venue, you only need a COVIDSafe plan. Tier 3 event organisers can still register a COVIDSafe Event Checklist.
• Unseated indoor events must still operate under the density limit of one person per two square metres.

Face masks

Face masks are no longer required in retail settings, but Victorians still need to carry one with them at all times and wear it on public transport, in rideshare vehicles and taxis and in sensitive settings such as aged care facilities and hospitals (unless a lawful exemption applies).

Social gatherings

• You can have up to 100 visitors to your home per day.
• Up to 200 people can meet outdoors in a public place.

Current COVIDSafe Settings for the creative industries (from midnight on Friday 9 April 2021).

Capacity (from 6.00pm on Friday 26 March 2021)

Seated venues (indoor and outdoor)

• Up to 100 per cent total capacity with maximum patron cap of 1000 people per space.
• Density limit of one person per two square metres in unseated areas such as foyers, bars, bathrooms.
• Dancefloors move to a density limit of one person per two square metres and the 50 patron cap is removed.
• All venues must use electronic record keeping through the Service Victoria app or a government API-linked digital system. A 28-day compliance amnesty was first put in place on 26 March 2021. This amnesty has been extended and will now end on Friday 30 April 2021.
• Entry to, and egress from, a seated space or a non-seated space is monitored and staggered, where possible, to ensure compliance with the density quotient and capacity limits.
• Venues with capacity of greater than 500 patrons must publish a COVIDSafe Plan online.
• Arrangements for increased capacity continue to be determined on an individual basis under the Public Events Framework.
• Density quotient and capacity limits do not apply if the venue is used exclusively by a single school.

Non-seated indoor venues

• Indoor non-seated venues (such as galleries and museums) can open with up to 75% per cent of total capacity with a maximum of 1000 people per space. A density limit of one person per two square metres applies.
• Dancefloors move to a density limit of one person per two square metres and the 50 patron cap is removed.
• All venues must use electronic record keeping through the Service Victoria app or a government API-linked digital system. A 28-day compliance amnesty was first put in place on 26 March 2021. This amnesty has been extended and will now end on Friday 30 April 2021.
• Venues with capacity of greater than 500 patrons must publish a COVIDSafe Plan online.
• Arrangements for increased capacity continue to be determined on an individual basis under the Public Events Framework.
• Arts and entertainment venues that include hospitality or retail offerings should refer to the relevant industry guidelines.
• Density and capacity limits do not apply if the venue is used exclusively by a single school.

Non-seated outdoor venues (such as sculpture parks, live museums)

• For any non-seated outdoor space, the patron limit is determined by a density limit of one person per two square metres.
• All venues must use electronic record keeping through the Service Victoria app or a government API-linked digital system. A 28-day compliance amnesty was first put in place on 26 March 2021. This amnesty has been extended and will now end on Friday 30 April 2021.
• Venues with capacity of greater than 500 patrons must publish a COVIDSafe Plan online.
• Indoor spaces at outdoor venues can open subject to the restrictions relevant to the space (e.g. hospitality or retail).
• Arrangements for increased capacity continue to be determined on an individual basis under the Public Events Framework.
• Density and capacity limits do not apply if the venue is used exclusively by a single school.

Creative studios

• Creative arts facilities (such as studios and workshops) can operate with no patron caps and a density limit of one person per two square metres.
• All venues must use electronic record keeping through the Service Victoria app or a government API-linked digital system. A 28-day compliance amnesty was first put in place on 26 March 2021. This amnesty has been extended and will now end on Friday 30 April 2021.
• Density and capacity limits do not apply if the venue is used exclusively by a single school.

Dance floors

• Dancefloors have a density limit of one person per two square metres with no patron cap.

Return to offices

• The density limit no longer applies in office-based workplaces except in publicly accessible areas such as lobbies. All workplaces with on-site workers require a COVIDSafe Plan.

Drive-in cinemas

• Drive-in cinemas can open. Areas outside of vehicles are subject to a density limit of one person per two square metres.
• All venues must use electronic record keeping through the Service Victoria app or a government API-linked digital system. A 28-day compliance amnesty was first put in place on 26 March 2021. This amnesty has been extended and will now end on Friday 30 April 2021.
• Venues with capacity of greater than 500 patrons must publish a COVIDSafe Plan online.

Set-building

• Set-building for theatre, film and television must adhere to construction sector guidelines.

Signage

For all Victorian workplaces:

• Where a workplace has a publicly accessible space, employers must display signage at each public entry to each indoor and outdoor space, indicating maximum capacity and face mask restrictions where required.

Cleaning

For all Victorian workplaces:

• Employers should ensure shared spaces and public spaces are cleaned with disinfectant regularly, with high touch surfaces cleaned twice each day. Shared equipment should be cleaned between uses.

Public Events Framework

Entertainment venues can apply to be considered under the Public Events Framework (PEF) where activity exceeds venue density limits or capacity restrictions. Detailed information on the PEF can be found here.

Victorian Travel Permit System

Victoria has established a permit system for travel into Victoria from interstate and New Zealand.

From 11:59pm on 26 February, you will need to apply for a permit to enter Victoria from anywhere in Australia or New Zealand.

The permit system is based on a traffic light system which allows for areas across Australia and New Zealand to be designated as green, orange or red according to their risk. Find more information about red, orange and green permit zones.

The permit system is for both travellers to Victoria and residents of Victoria returning home from interstate or New Zealand.

New South Wales/Victorian border communities will continue to have exceptions and will be able to use local residence identification to cross the border – such as a driver’s licence.

To apply for a Victorian Border Crossing Permit, visit the Service Victoria website.

For more information visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au.