Victoria Is Reverting Back to Pre-NYE Gathering Restrictions from Midnight on January 22

On New Year's Eve, Victoria's 61-day run of no new locally acquired COVID-19 cases came to an end. As a result, the Victorian Government introduced new restrictions on gatherings and masks. Thankfully, Victoria has now notched up another solid run of doughnut days — with today, Friday, January 22, the 16th consecutive day of no community transmission — and restrictions are easing again in response.

Last week, the state relaxed its mask rules, making them mandatory in only some indoor settings, not all. From 11.59pm tonight, the gathering restrictions will also revert back, allowing you to have up to 30 visitors in your home, double the current limit of 15. Which means, you may be able to invite a few more people to that Saturday dinner party you're hosting.

"Victorians have done an incredible job getting tested and we're happy to be able make these changes to private gatherings in time for a public holiday — so families can continue to enjoy a COVIDSafe Summer," Premier Daniel Andrews said in a statement about the eased restrictions.

The Premier also announced relaxed border restrictions with NSW and Queensland today. From 6pm tonight, it's reclassifying nine Greater Sydney LGAs as 'orange zones', which means travellers from anywhere in the city except the Cumberland LGA (which is still classified as a 'red zone') can enter the state, but they'll need apply for a permit, isolate on arrival and get tested within 72 hours, then when they receive a negative result they're free to leave isolation.

The rest of regional NSW (apart from Greater Sydney, Wollongong and the Blue Mountains, which are all 'orange zones') and Greater Brisbane will also be redesignated as 'green zones'. Travellers entering Victoria from a 'green zone' still need to apply for a permit, but do not need to get tested or isolate on arrival, unless they develop symptoms. You can read more about these changes over here.

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