The Victorian Government announced an easing of COVID-19 restrictions in Melbourne from 11.59pm Thursday, 7 July to match those in regional Victoria.

From Friday, all disability services in Victoria will operate according to the same guidance with the exception of residential disability providers in Melbourne, who are required to continue to apply tighter PPE guidelines. DFFH are currently reviewing these with the Chief Health Officer.

PPE guidelines

Across all Victorian disability services, masks will continue to be required in indoor public-facing settings unless an exemption applies and are strongly recommended for outdoors where social distancing is not possible.

Melbourne

Melbourne residential disability services staff, contractors, and volunteers:

• Must wear a surgical mask and eye protection with COVID-19 negative residents
• Must use a P2/N95 respirator, eye protection (face shields are preferred), disposable gloves, disposable fluid-repellent gowns, and exercise hand hygiene when supporting residents low to high risk suspected or confirmed, with COVID-19.

Regional Victoria

In regional Victoria residential disability services staff, contractors, and volunteers:

• Must wear a surgical face mask with COVID-19 negative residents
• Must wear a surgical face mask, eye protection (face shields preferred), disposable gloves, disposable fluid–repellent gowns and exercise hand hygiene, for supporting low-risk suspected residents. A P2/N95 respirator is not required
• Must use a P2/N95 respirator, eye protection (face shields preferred), disposable gloves, disposable fluid–repellent gowns and exercise hand hygiene when supporting residents high risk suspected or confirmed with COVD-19.

Workplace

Masks are no longer required in a workplace where there is no public interaction.

Workplace densities will be 75 per cent or up to 30 people if the total workplace is 40 or less. The density limit is one person per 2sqm.

Community and non-residential disability services density limit is one person per 2sqm provided a COVID Check-in Marshal is stationed at the entrance. Without a check-in marshal, the density is one person per 4sqm

There are no caps on maximum numbers at venues and group numbers have been removed.

Visitors

A maximum of two visitors at one time, and up to five visitors per day - no time limit applies.

For end-of-life reasons, there is a maximum of two visitors at one time, with no daily visitor limit and no time limit.

NDS recommends that providers regularly check the  Victorian Government disability services sector – COVID-19 website for updated fact sheets for care facilities, community and non-residential settings.

Useful resources

• NDS COVID-19 Hub
• NDS Member PPE Marketplace
• Victoria COVID-19 Response hub
• COVID-19 toolkit