Melbourne clubs, venues could fully reopen this weekend as state nears 90% threshold: ‘Might be Thursday, it might be Friday’
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16.11.2021

Melbourne clubs, venues could fully reopen this weekend as state nears 90% threshold: ‘Might be Thursday, it might be Friday’

Melbourne lockdown

Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has said that the state is scheduled to hit the 90% double-vaccinated threshold this week, which will signal the end of venue density-limits among other restrictions.

The last of the major COVID-19 restrictions on Melbourne clubs and live music venues could lift as early as Thursday according to Andrews, who told media today that Victoria could hit the 90% double-vaccinated threshold this week, which would trigger a significant easing of restrictions.

“It might be Thursday, it might be Friday,” he said, as quoted by The Age. “That means we go down to masks in very sensitive settings only: public transport, hospitals, aged care, things of that nature.

“And also density quotients and other caps go, other than for the 10 very biggest venues in the state.”

What you need to know

  • Daniel Andrews has told the media that Victoria could hit 90% double-dose as early as Thursday
  • When the state hits its final vaccination target, density limits on venues will end
  • These changes represent the final major easing of restrictions on the government’s reopening roadmap

Stay up to date with what’s happening in Melbourne here.

If Victoria reaches the 90% threshold this week, it will be substantially faster than the originally forecasted date of November 24. According to the Department of Health statistics, 92.7% of Victorians have currently had their first dose and 87.1% have received their second dose.

Under the Victorian government’s reopening roadmap, once 90% of Victorians aged 12 and over are fully vaccinated, all gathering limits, capacity and density limits will no longer apply.

However this seems set to be altered slightly, with Andrews forecasting that the state’s 10 biggest venues – such as the MCG, Marvel Stadium and Rod Laver Arena – will continue to face some density restrictions.

Nevertheless, for the smaller venues and nightclubs that have been hardest hit by the closures, the following restrictions appear set to ease as planned:

Social:

  • No limits to number of people who can gather in the home and outdoors.
  • Masks are not required except in limited high-risk or low vaccinated settings and where is it difficult to socially distance.

Work:

  • On-site work can return for anyone fully vaccinated.

Retail, hospitality and entertainment:

  • Venues can operate at maximum capacity subject to vaccination requirements and COVIDSafe measures.

Major Events:

  • Events may proceed with no attendee caps or density limits for the fully vaccinated.
  • State significant venues hosting major events will need to have one-off approval of their COVIDSafe venue plan. Events with significant numbers of children may not be able to operate at full capacity while vaccines remain unavailable for children.

This will be welcome news for Melbourne clubs and venues that are currently limited to one person per four-square-metres, which effectively rules out many live music venues, bars and nightclubs from reopening due to their small indoor venue sizes.

The premier’s statement came as protestors continue to gather outside parliament house, protesting new proposed pandemic laws.