Tuesday night the Prime Minister announced the country would now move to Stage 2 restrictions. This has been followed by the Premier saying yesterday that stage 3 restrictions will be necessary for Victoria and are not far away, although we don’t yet know what this will include.
What are the new restrictions?
STAGE 2 RESTRICTIONS
From midnight yesterday the following venues and activities are prohibited:
*please note this list includes venues and activities that were prohibited in stage 1 restrictions
- Pubs, registered and licensed clubs (excluding bottle shops attached to these venues), hotels (excluding accommodation), restaurants and cafes – delivery and take away can remain operational;
- Food courts – delivery and take away can remain operational;
- Auction houses;
- Real estate auctions and open house inspections – private appointments for inspection are permittable;
- Outdoor and indoor markets will be a decision for each state and territory – food markets will continue to operate in all states and territories;
- Hairdressers and barber shops – applying the 1 person per 4 square metre rule in the premises, are permitted;
- Beauty therapy, tanning, waxing, nail salons, tattoo parlours;
- Spa and massage parlours;
- Cinemas, entertainment venues, casinos, gaming or gambling venues, and night clubs;
- Strip clubs, brothels and sex on premises venues;
- Concert venues, theatre, arenas, auditoriums, stadiums;
- Amusement parks and arcades;
- Indoor and outdoor play centres;
- Community and recreations centres – facilities may remain open for the purpose of hosting essential voluntary or public services, such as food banks or homeless services;
- Gyms, health clubs, fitness centres, yoga, barre and spin facilities, saunas, bathhouses and wellness centres;
- Boot camps, personal training operating outside and inside – for outside events, limited to groups of no more than 10 people, social distancing rules must be applied;
- Social sporting-based activities;
- Swimming pools;
- Hotels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, campsites, caravan parks and boarding houses will be a decision for each state and territory – excluding permanent residents and workers;
- Galleries, museums, national institutions and historic sites;
- Libraries, community centres and youth centres;
- Local government non-essential facilities and services (such as community halls, clubs, RSLs);
- Religious gatherings, places of worship
- Weddings – weddings with a maximum attendance of no more than 5 people, where the 1 person per 4 square metre rule applies, are permitted
- Funerals – funerals attended by a maximum of no more than 10 people, where the 1 person per 4 square metre rule applies, are permitted
STAGE 1 RESTRICTIONS
The following businesses have closed:
- Pubs, registered and licensed clubs (excluding bottle shops attached to these venues), hotels (excluding accommodation);
- Gyms and indoor sporting venues;
- Cinemas, entertainment venues, casinos, and night clubs;
- Restaurants and cafes will be restricted to takeaway and/or home delivery; and
- Religious gatherings, places of worship (except for funerals and weddings).
At this stage, all other businesses can continue to trade, while observing social distancing measures.
CHECK IN ON PEOPLE AROUND YOU
Please make sure you are checking in over the phone with older, disabled or vulnerable residents in our community wherever you can. If you know someone in your street or neighbourhood who might need assistance, please get in touch with them.
If you have anyone in particular you are concerned about but are not sure what to do or how to contact them, please email me peter.walsh@parliament.vic.gov.au and I will do my best to contact them.
If you have lost work or are facing financial difficulty as a result of the pandemic, you can apply for financial assistance through Centrelink. If you are already receiving a Centrelink payment, you do not need to do anything else to receive the extra financial assistance.
Due to long queues, Centrelink is encouraging people to do this through the myGov website where application forms can be competed online.
However, as a last resort, should you need assistance from a Centrelink office, there are several offices located across our region.
SUPPORT FOR THOSE SELF-ISOLATING
The Victorian Government has promised to deliver care packages to those self-isolating who don’t have anyone nearby to support them.
Please share this information with those who might need assistance and encourage them to phone the coronavirus hotline for more details: 1800 675 398.
STAY INFORMED
The Federal Government has launched a new website https://www.australia.gov.au/ that is an excellent resource for information on restrictions, financial assistance, community support and health advice, including this handy symptom checker.
There is lots of info flying around on social media at the moment, some true and lots not. It’s important we all try to stick to reliable sources of information and advice.
BUSINESS AND HOUSEHOLD SUPPORT
Previous editions of this update containing information on financial assistance available to households and business can be found here.
WHERE TO GO IF YOU BECOME UNWELL
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, breathing difficulties, cough, sore throat, and fatigue or tiredness. If you suspect that you or someone you know might have coronavirus, please call the dedicated hotline on 1800 675 398. You can also use this handy symptom checker.
Locally, screening and fever clinics have been set up at Echuca Regional Health and Swan Hill District Health.
Please keep Triple Zero for medical emergencies.
LOOK AFTER YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
The impact of COVID-19 can lead to feelings of anxiety and concern. Try to remember that health professionals and governments are working to contain the virus and keep our community safe.
Make sure you get regular fresh air, exercise as appropriate and keep in touch with family and friends over the phone.
Please make sure you pass this information on to those that need it most. Beyond Blue also has some excellent resources to help you through this difficult time – you can find them here.
WE’RE HERE TO HELP!
As always, my team is working flat out to help you.
In line with official advice, Parliament has instructed electorate offices to close for walk-in and face-to-face meetings until further notice but if you need us, we’re only a phone call away.
If you are waiting to hear back from me on a regular state government matter, please know I haven’t forgotten you! We are just trying to prioritise urgent requests for assistance relating to coronavirus.
If you need help, don’t hesitate to get in touch and we will do our best to assist you: email peter.walsh@parliament.vic.gov.au or phone (03) 5482 2039.
Kind regards,
Peter