If It’s Friday, life has changed, again
And masks are still required!
From Victoria’s Premier, Dan Andrews:
The We’re making some changes to help reduce the strain on our testing system, and slow the spread of new infections too.
From 11.59PM tonight, you won’t have to stand in line to get a PCR test anymore, or wait for your results to receive a COVID diagnosis.
If you test positive on a rapid test, it’s considered a probable cause, and you’ll need to isolate for seven days and notify your contacts.
And from tomorrow, it’ll be mandatory to report a positive rapid test online, or by phoning the Department of Health.
Our state testing centres remain open and ready for Victorians to go get a test – this change just makes things a little bit easier, and will help reduce some of the pressure on testing sites across the state.
But I know a lot of you will be asking how you find a rapid test in the first place, and the good news is that we’ve ordered over 44 million of them just for Victorians.
We’re also making some small changes to help slow the spread – and hospitality venues, including restaurants, cafés, and nightclubs and entertainment venues like arcades and casinos will now have an indoor density quotient of one person per two square meters.
This is very similar to the rules already in place across New South Wales, and they aim to reduce the risk of more super-spreader events across Victorian venues.
We’re also recommending that all hospitality and entertainment venues only offer seated service to customers, and close indoor dance floors too.
And for the time being, we’re asking Victorians to work and undertake adult education from home if they can, but we’ll continue to assess this as the situation evolves.
I know the rise in cases is worrying for so many Victorians, but believe me, the best peace of mind you can ever get is with a third dose.
Getting vaccinated – whenever it’s your turn – is the single biggest weapon we have against this virus.
Because the fact of the matter is this – almost all the Victorians getting care for COVID in our hospitals are not fully vaccinated.
It will reduce your symptoms, and reduce your chance of spreading it to your loved ones too.
And if you get COVID, it will almost certainly save your life.
So please – just book it in today. Get vaccinated, get a third dose, and protect yourself.