STATEMENT FROM THE PREMIER 

I know plenty of people were looking forward to some good news today. And soon, very soon, we’ll have some.  

But for now, we need to do again what we’ve done throughout this pandemic: follow the advice of our public health  experts. That means there can be no changes to restrictions in Melbourne today. 

As we know, today 6 new cases have been identified in our northern suburbs, meaning there have so far been 39 cases  spread across 11 households. Concerningly, while these cases have locations in common it is not yet clear how they  link together. It means we may still have transmission happening where we can’t see it. 

The local community, working alongside our public health team, are doing everything they can to stop this spread.  

In the last 24 hours, over 3,000 Victorians from our northern suburbs did a profoundly powerful thing and got tested.  With thousands of tests comes thousands of results.  

We have around 1,000 swabs currently being processed – and we’re expecting even more today.  We’ll use the next couple of days to review those results and understand exactly how this virus is travelling. 

Put simply: this is a couple of extra days that might put us weeks ahead of this virus. To not only get on top of this  outbreak – but to stamp it out. 

I know everyone will be disappointed we’re not making that move today. I get that. I am too.  

But I want to reassure you, this is not us taking a step back. This is us making sure we can take a step forward – and  stay there. 

We can’t let everything Victorians have sacrificed, everything we've given up, simply slip away.  Until then, we’ll continue to keep a careful eye on the numbers – and the all-important stories that sit behind them. 

To anyone who might be considering it. Who’s got a scratchy throat, or a runny nose. Who’s connected to one of those  school communities. Please, please get tested.  

The more tests, the more data. The more data, the more certainty.  

And with more certainty, we can make more decisions about Melbourne’s transition to the Third Step.  

While we can’t deliver that good news for Melbourne today, due to the continued low number of regional cases, we’re  able to announce some additional changes for regional Victoria.  

As part of the Third Step and from 11:59pm on Tuesday 27 October, indoor gyms and fitness spaces will be able to  open for up to 20 people, with a maximum of ten per space and a density of one person per 8 square metres. 

Indoor pools will open to 20. Indoor sport will begin for those 18 and under.  

Food courts can open. Live music can resume as part of outdoor hospitality.  

School graduations can be held within school communities. 

And for religious celebrations, 20 people can gather together indoors with their faith leader – or 50 outdoors. 

Thanks to the efforts of the local community, from 11:59pm tonight, Greater Shepparton will also come into alignment  with the rest of regional Victoria and then progress under these changes. 

Regional Victorians should be proud of this success. Everyone should be proud of this success. Because soon, it will  belong to our whole state.  

From hundreds of cases to single digits, we have driven this virus down.  

And we are so close – so close – to beating this thing. 

I’m asking each of you: keep going.  

Dig deep. Stay strong.  

Let’s win this fight, and let’s win it for good.

REGIONAL VICTORIA 

Summary of further easing in the Third Step 

Note: Cleaning, signage and record keeping and other COVIDSafe requirements continue to apply for many of these venues and facilities. the density quotient applies to all  indoor venues and spaces, except for workplaces that are not accessible to the public, private residences, outdoor hospitality, and areas of accommodation facilities that are  for the exclusive use of a single group.  

Newly announced items in purple 

Category From 11:59pm Tuesday 27 October 

Reasons to leave your  home 

• Stay safe: no restrictions for reasons to leave the house, except where this would necessitate travel to an area under higher restrictions  
• Intrastate travel: no change  

o necessary goods or services if it is the closest location  

o care or other compassionate reasons  

o work or education if you have a permit 

• Travelling through metropolitan Melbourne to another regional destination is allowed if necessary 
• Face coverings: no change 
  

Gatherings of people • Home: up to two people plus dependents can visit a household once per day.  Each household can only have two visitors per day. The two people may be from different households 

• Public places: up to 10 people outdoors, infants under 12 months not included in cap 
  

Sport and recreation (including pools) 

• Indoor Physical Recreation for those aged 18 and under: 

o Non-contact physical recreation for those aged 18 years and under to a maximum of 20 people (e.g. dance classes)  o Non-contact physical recreation means that the activity can be done with a distance of 1.5m 

o Spectators limited to one parent, guardian or carer only, where the child requires parental supervision 

• Indoor Community Sport:  

o Non-contact sport for those aged 18 years and under  

o Non-contact sport means a sport capable of being done with a distance of 1.5m 

o Spectators limited to one parent, guardian or carer only, where the child requires parental supervision 

• Indoor non-contact fitness (including gyms) to resume with: 

o density quotient of 1 per 8 sqm and patron cap of 10 per space (max 10 per group/class), cap of 20 per venue  o COVIDSafe practices 

o Indoor physical recreation businesses to only provide services to patrons from regional Victoria until settings in metropolitan Melbourne  are aligned with regional Victoria. Businesses must use reasonable endeavours to check the place of residence of patron

Category From 11:59pm Tuesday 27 October 

Sport and recreation (including pools) 

Community facilities    

  

  

• Outdoor physical recreation: 

o A household or up to 10 people in any group, trainer is additional to group limit 

• Outdoor community sport:  

o Outdoor contact and non-contact sport: allowed for people 18 and under 

- Limited to minimum number of people to play and facilitate the activity (e.g. cricket may be played with two teams of eleven players  and the necessary coaching personnel and umpires 

- Spectators only permissible for supervising of children 

o Outdoor non-contact sport: allowed for adults 

- Limited to minimum number of people to play and facilitate the activity (e.g. cricket may be played with two teams of eleven players  and the necessary coaching personnel and umpires) 

- Non-contact means participants must be able to maintain distance of 1.5m 

- No shared equipment. 

• Outdoor Fitness or dance classes: 

o Outdoor: permitted, up to 10 people, plus the person require to conduct the activity 

o Shared equipment may be used if cleaned between each user  

• Personal training: outdoors, up to 10 people, trainer not included in cap 
• Outdoor communal gym equipment: open 
• Indoor pools (including swimming classes): open subject to pool maximum of 20 patrons or density quotient (1 person per 4m2) 
• Outdoor swimming pools (including swimming lessons): Limited to density quotient of the pool itself (1 person per 4m2) or 50 per pool,  whichever is smaller, other than for the following exceptions: 

- Exclusive use by a single school at any one time for education purposes  

- Exclusive use for community sport 

• Publicly accessible playgrounds: open, outdoor only 
• Playcentres: closed 
• Skateparks: open outdoors only, indoor closed 
• Trampolining centres: indoor open for years 18 and under with same requirements as indoor physical recreation below on spectators and  distance requirements 
• Libraries and toy libraries: Gathering limit of 20 people maximum indoors, with no more than 10 in a space, subject to density quotient  
• Community venues: closed except for: 

o hosting an essential public support service (20 people); hosting an essential support group (20 people); hosting a wedding (10 people) or  funeral (20 people); or providing an exclusive venue for a single school at any one time for educational purposes; and o activities in an outdoor space, subject to the public gathering limits, plus the person required to conduct the activity

Category From 11:59pm Tuesday 27 October 

Childcare facilities • Childcare: open 

• In-home child minding: allowed for all children subject to the indoor gathering restriction (two adult visitors and their dependents) 

Hospitality • Food and drink facilities open for seated indoor and outdoor service (both food and/or drink): 

o Maximum 10 people per group, seated 1.5m from other groups 

o For indoor space: Open with a cap of 10 persons per indoor space, with a maximum of 40 patrons per venue indoors, subject to density  requirements (1 per 4m2). 

o For outdoor space: Increasing to a patron cap of 70 patrons per venue outdoors subject to the density quotient (1 per 2m2) 

• Live music permitted outdoors only with band included in venue limit, members must be at least two metres apart, wear a face mask  (except singers). Other requirements apply 
• City of Greater Shepparton: Align restrictions with rest of regional Victoria (from Sunday 11.59, 25 October) 
• Hospitality in arenas/racetracks: hospitality venues in other sectors such as sports arenas are subject to the same restrictions as other  hospitality if open to the public 
• Food courts: open 
• Indoor seating: a maximum of two people per table, venue limited to the lesser of 25 per cent of a venue’s fixed seating capacity or a density  quotient of one person per eight square metres. This would be subject to regular cleaning and taking of names. 

o Outdoor space: Outdoor areas with a maximum of 50 diners per area, group limit of 10, each area separated by 10 metres from the next.  Maximum of 4 areas (200 people) 

Study • Adult education students: learn from home if you can 

• School: on-site learning for all year levels 
• Grade 6 & Year 12 Graduations:  

o permitted if within the existing grade cohort (e.g whole grade six cohort, not individual classes) 

o students and staff only. Can be broadcast for parents and others.  

o COVIDSafe requirements

Category From 11:59pm Tuesday 27 October 

Shopping, retail and  personal services 

• Hairdressing, beauty and personal care services: open, with requirement that only services where the client can wear a face covering for the  duration of the service or procedure are permitted (e.g. hairdressing, manicures, pedicures, body waxing, tattooing) 
• Market stalls: open 
• Auction houses: open 
• Real estate inspections: allowed in accordance with record keeping requirements and density quotients, limit to 10 people from any number  of households, subject to density quotient 
• Real estate auctions: can be conducted onsite if outdoors up to 10 members of the public, plus the minimum number of people required to  conduct the auction and the owners and/or residents of the property 
• Other retail: open 
  

Entertainment • Indoor entertainment venues (including cinemas, performing arts and music venues): ): closed • Museums and galleries (indoor): closed 

• Nightclubs and karaoke (indoor): closed 
• Retail betting venue: 

o if wholly contained within a licensed premises: open, subject to both licenced premises and retail restrictions, including seated only  service 

o if not wholly contained within a licensed premises: open subject to requirements on open retail 

• Adult entertainment: closed 
• Non-seated outdoor attractions (excluding events): (large outdoor areas where people are unlikely to congregate, such as zoos or live  museums like Sovereign Hill): 

o indoor spaces closed except toilets and thoroughfare to outdoor spaces (e.g. foyer, reception) 

o outdoor spaces open with density quotient  

• All require a COVIDSafe Plan, venues with 500 or more capacity at one time must publish their COVIDSafe Plan online prior to opening 
• Seated outdoor spaces with fixed seating: open 

o Groups up to 10 people, seated 1.5m apart from other groups 

o Members of the public must be seated  

o Number of members of the public limited to the lower of 50 people or 25% of the venue’s fixed seat capacity 

• Stadiums and arenas can operate for exclusive use by a single school for educational purpose 
• Indoor space: closed, except toilets and where used as a thoroughfare to outdoor space (e.g. foyer, reception area) and exceptions for  broadcasting and professional sport

Category From 11:59pm Tuesday 27 October 

Entertainment • Drive-in cinemas: outdoor space open, no seating outside vehicles permitted  

• Arenas and stadiums: can operate for exclusive use by a single school at any one time for education purposes for broadcast or professional  sport. 
• Arcade, amusement park, escape room, casino, gaming machine area, bingo centre, brothels, sex on premises venues: closed 
  

Ceremonies and  religious gatherings 

• Indoor religious gatherings: Allowed for up to 20 people, plus one faith leader.  

o Strict requirements to be contained in a COVIDSafe Plan 

o Can only have one gathering at a time whether indoor or outdoor 

• Outdoor religious gatherings and ceremonies: up to 50 people, plus 1 faith leader, proximate to a place of worship o Can only have one gathering at a time whether indoor or outdoor 
• Private worship: allowed for up to two adults and their dependents, plus a faith leader 
• Weddings: up to 10 people outdoors, including couple and two witnesses, celebrant and one photographer excluded from cap 
• Funerals:  

o Indoors – 20 indoors 

o Outdoors – 50 outdoors 

o infants under 12 months and people to conduct funeral not included in cap 

Accommodation • Open, for travel within regional Victoria 

• o each group booking is restricted to: 

- Only members of a single household; OR  

- Only intimate partners; OR 

- Only members of a single household and two adults and their dependent children or dependents; AND - Cannot stay with people living in metropolitan Melbourne; AND 

- Members of separately booked groups do not share bedrooms at the facility 

Tourism (tours and  transport) 

• Outdoor spaces: tour vehicles that supports the primary outdoor offering of the tourism facility, for trips of up to 30 minutes • Smaller vehicles: private gathering limit of household plus 2 people and their dependents 
• Larger vehicles: up to 10 people, infants under 12 months not included in cap.
  

Category From 11:59pm Tuesday 27 October 

Industry • Work: work from home if you can 

• COVIDSafe Plan: all businesses are required to have a COVIDSafe Plan for onsite operations  
• High risk food industries: additional obligations including regular surveillance testing of the workforce, nightly deep cleaning, separating  workers into consistent teams/bubbles to maintain separation and providing regular worker training 
• Poultry processing facilities: High Risk COVIDSafe Plan, surveillance testing, additional PPE, mobility restrictions, workforce capacity limits,  pre-shift declaration, temperature screening, COVID Marshal 
• Abattoirs and meat processing facilities: High Risk COVIDSafe Plan, surveillance testing, additional PPE, mobility restrictions, workforce  capacity limits, pre-shift declaration, temperature screening, COVID Marshal 
• Seafood processing facilities: High Risk COVIDSafe Plan, surveillance testing, additional PPE, mobility restrictions, workforce capacity limits,  pre-shift declaration, temperature screening, COVID Marshal 
• Construction: No workers cap, High Risk COVIDSafe Plan for onsite operations 

• Manufacturing, wholesale, medical supply, pharmaceutical supply and PPE supply: High Risk COVIDSafe Plan, mobility restrictions, no  workers cap, pre-shift declaration