The latest Victorian restrictions [PDF] are expected to apply until Friday 26 February, which will be 14 days after the latest case of COVID-19 was detected in the community.

Restrictions for the disability sector

While the Department of Families Fairness and Housing (DFFH) is in the process of updating fact sheets for community and disability settings, NDS has received advance notice of restrictions that remain applicable for the disability sector.

Please note that the situation is fluid and the details could change.

Face Masks

Face masks must be worn by all staff, contractors and volunteers working in disability services, both indoors and outdoors. All visitors must also wear a fitted face mask at all times indoors and outdoors where physical distancing is not possible.

Workplace return and setting density

Workplaces in both the public and private sector can re-open with a ‘return to work’ cap of 50 per cent.

Indoor facilities (including disability day programs) can open.

There is no cap on numbers where the facility density does not exceed:

• one person per 2 sqm if using electronic record-keeping (including staff)
• one person per 4 sqm with manual recording (including staff).

Visitors

Some visitor restrictions have changed for community-based residential services, which includes eligible Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA):

• One household may visit a resident in a care facility once per day.
• Secure welfare services for children no longer have limits on the number of family members that can visit.
• Existing exceptions allowing visits to care facilities continue (parent, guardian, partner, carer, support person, end-of-life, interpreters).

There are no other changes to excluded persons and requirements for visitor declaration.

Screening

It is recommended that providers continue to monitor the Tier 1 exposure site list which is updated regularly.

Testing

Anyone who is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 must isolate and get tested.

For more information

• Victorian Government Coronavirus website
• The DFFH website or call 1800 675 398.
• NDS’s Victorian COVID-19 Response Hub