Restrictions eased

Public gatherings will be restricted to 10 people and many outdoor activities also can resume including golf, walking groups, fishing and hiking.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the first stage of easing Stay at Home restrictions was centred around being cautious.

He urged the community to use common sense in this “first small step” in coming out of stage three restrictions.

From midnight tonight, Mr Andrews said there was now a fifth reason to leave home: visiting friends and family. The new look restrictions include:

Outdoor gatherings – Public gatherings of up to 10 people.

Indoor gatherings – Up to five visitors to your home. This includes outside and inside the premises – the total number of guests is five whether they are inside or outside.

Workplaces – Work from home unless it is not possible.

Weddings – 10 guests in addition to the couple and celebrant.

Funerals - 20 people indoors or 30 people outdoors.

Religious gatherings – private worship or small religious ceremonies up to 10 people plus people required to conduct the ceremony.

Auctions – 10 people plus minimum number of people required to facilitate auction.

National and state parks – open for recreational activity but no camping.

Community facilities – up to 10 people allowed for an essential support service or group.

Boot camps – up to 10 people outdoors plus the instructor.

Public parks, playgrounds, outdoor gyms, skate parks – remain closed.

Sports clubs can resume training if they can meet the strict maximum of 10 people in outdoor areas and all equipment is appropriately sanitised after use.

The new rules will remain in place until the end of May when Mr Andrews will further review data.

“This is safe, it’s cautious and it’s appropriate. “We’re asking Victorians to limit their circle to just family and friends. That means that when we do have outbreaks and positive cases – and we will – we can test and trace and effectively contain the spread.

“I want to be clear: just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.

The four reasons to be out of home remain the same - shopping for essential food and supplies; care and caregiving; exercise; and study or work.

On Friday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a three-stage plan for easing restrictions across the country.

But, he said it was up to the individual states and territories to implement their own rules.

National cabinet supported the opening of restaurants and cafes to 10 people.

Mr Andrews yesterday said this would not be happening in Victoria.

He said overwhelming feedback to the government indicated a model of opening restaurants and cafes to 10 people was not viable.

He said they wanted to re-assess options in June when it may be more viable to open restaurants and cafes to more than 10 people.

“We might be able to open to more people in June…It’s not a given but that’s our logic.

“Our performance is the envy of the world. If we continue to follow the rules we will have more options,” he said.

Mr Andrews said more than 160,000 Victorians were tested for coronavirus over the past two weeks.

“The job isn’t done yet – and that size and scale of testing will continue to be a big part of our response in the weeks and months to come.

“But because of that initial data, we’ve been able to get a better understanding of the way the virus is moving through our community. And with it, greater insight into how we can respond,” he said.