Overview
When the Victorian Government made masks mandatory again indoors just before Christmas, it also served up a big dose of déjà vu. Here's another: the return of the one person per two-square-metres rule in indoor hospitality and entertainment venues, which'll kick in at 11.59pm tonight, Thursday, January 6.
At the state's daily COVID-19 press conference, Health Minister Martin Foley announced that density limits were coming back in an effort to help stop Victoria's rising case numbers.
"Interaction in those hospitality and entertainment venues is close, it's crowded, it's active and it's mobile. It's what young people do and we don't begrudge them that," Foley said. "These relatively mild restrictions are about making sure that that activity can continue, but it can continue in a less congregated and less active space when it comes to hospitality."
The returning density rule will apply at restaurants, cafes, pubs, bars and nightclubs, as well as at arcades, amusement parks, casinos and gaming venues across the state.
The one exception: indoor seated cinemas and theatres, which can still operate without density limits because people are seated and masked in those venues.
Julia Sansone
Mask rules are still in effect, too, but no other restrictions are being introduced at present. That said, the Victorian Government is also recommending that entertainment and hospitality venues, and folks attending them, choose seated service only — and, because it's time to feel like you're living in Footloose again, to avoid indoor dancefloors.
Just like before Christmas, Victorians are still being encouraged to work from home — and to study from home as well — with that recommendation remaining in place until January 26.
Victoria currently has 61,120 active COVID-19 cases, including 21,997 new cases reported today, Thursday, January 6.
For more information about the status of COVID-19 and the current restrictions, head over to the Department of Health and Human Services website.
Top image: Julia Sansone.