Victoria Has Reintroduced Gathering and Face Mask Restrictions in Response to a Positive COVID-19 Case

A hotel quarantine worker from Melbourne's Grand Hayatt Hotel returned a positive test result for COVID-19 on Wednesday, February 3. In response, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has announced the state will reintroduce restrictions on gatherings and face masks.

As of 11.59pm on Wednesday, February 3, the number of people allowed to gather in a household has now been reduced from 30 to 15. Members of the household and children under 12 are not included in the 15 visitors limit.

Face masks are now mandatory in public indoor spaces and it's strongly recommended that you wear a face mask when visiting someone at their house or when having visitors over.

In addition to the reintroduction of these restrictions, the states plan to reintroduce 75 percent of both the public and private sector to their workplaces on Monday, February 8 has been placed on hold. Instead, the current cap of 50 percent will remain.

Up to 100 people can still gather in outdoor places and there has not yet been any changes to restrictions surrounding hospitality, weddings or funerals.

The worker last worked at the hotel on Friday, January 29 and returned a negative result at the end of their shift before developing symptoms and being retested on Tuesday, February 2. Premier Andrews said while there was no need for people to panic, "we have to assume that this person has in fact infected others".

A full list of exposure sites is available on the Victorian Health website. Anyone who attended these venues at the specified times is required to get tested immediately and self isolate for 14 days.

For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Victoria and current restrictions, head to the DHHS website.