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VIC COVID19 updates

Information and support

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For the latest news on restrictions…

Please check for the latest requirements at the following pages:

Please note – this will be our last update to this page. For any further information please visit – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Victoria | Coronavirus Victoria

  1. Update 7th October, 2022 –

    From 11.59pm on Wednesday, 12 October, the pandemic declaration will end – and Victorians will no longer be required to isolate after testing positive to COVID-19, with isolation for positive cases now strongly recommended.

    Requirements for close contacts like continually testing negative on a rapid antigen test will become strong recommendations – joining the strong recommendation to wear a mask indoors, which will remain in place.

    Every Victorian business or organisation with on-site operations must still keep a COVIDSafe Plan at their workplace and workplaces should regularly review and update their COVIDSafe Plan.

    More details can be found here – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Victoria | Coronavirus Victoria


  1. Vaccination requirements are still in place for select workers. Note this list does not include sport and recreation workers, such as Yoga teachers.  Select workers include Residential Aged Care Facility Workers, Healthcare workers, disability workers, custodial workers, emergency services workers and education workers (specialist schools). 
  2. Update of June 24 – New Covidsafe settings in Victoria.
  3. Launching in March 2022 – 200 Million Business Stimulus Package | Victorian Government (www.vic.gov.au)
  4. Update from Business Victoria February 4, 2022
  5. Current COVIDSafe Settings for business and industry in Victoria
  6. Sport, exercise and physical recreation services sector guidance

  7. Face masks – when to wear a face mask
  8. COVIDSafe plan: Community Sport and Recreation

Other Important Victorian State Government website links:

Update October 11, 2022

From 11.59pm on Wednesday, 12 October, the pandemic declaration will end – and Victorians will no longer be required to isolate after testing positive to COVID-19, with isolation for positive cases now strongly recommended.

Requirements for close contacts like continually testing negative on a rapid antigen test will become strong recommendations – joining the strong recommendation to wear a mask indoors, which will remain in place.

Every Victorian business or organisation with on-site operations must still keep a COVIDSafe Plan at their workplace and workplaces should regularly review and update their COVIDSafe Plan.

More details can be found here – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Victoria | Coronavirus Victoria

This will be the last post here – for further support on Covid-19 please visit the Victorian Government Covid Pages – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Victoria | Coronavirus Victoria.

Update June 24, 2022

  • There are no vaccination requirements for patrons to enter any venues, such as hospitality, retail, entertainment, or gyms.
  • Vaccination requirements are still in place for select workers. Select workers include Residential Aged Care Facility Workers, Healthcare workers, disability workers, custodial workers, emergency services workers and education workers (specialist schools). Note this list does not include sport and recreation workers, such as Yoga teachers. 
  • Rules requiring general workers to work from home unless they are double-vaccinated are lifted. Employers can consider setting COVID-19 vaccination policies as part of their own workplace conditions. Check out the guide to COVIDSafe workplaces here. Also visit Worksafe Victoria here.

  • Find out more about vaccination requirements here.

Update November 18, 2021

Further changes announced today with nearly all remaining restrictions to be lifted statewide for fully vaccinated people from 11:59pm tonight.

There’ll be no limits in the home and no caps or density limits for cafés and restaurants.

Masks will remain in some settings; e.g. for primary school staff and visitors and for students in Years 3 to 6, for workers serving the public at hospitality venues, for workers and customers at indoor retail, for visitors and select workers in hospitals or care facilities, and for people using public transport, taxi/rideshare and planes.

There will still be mask requirements, density limits and caps in place for weddings, funerals, places of worship and other settings if the vaccination status of attendees is not being checked. The usual exceptions will apply. 

Important information for Yoga Studios whose staff may test positive to Covid-19

Self-quarantine obligations will be reduced across the board for COVID-19 cases and fully-vaccinated contacts. 

From 11:59pm tonight, the vast majority of people who come into contact with a confirmed positive case outside their home won’t have to self-quarantine. These contacts will be required to get a standard (PCR) test and isolate until they get a negative result.

This means exposure in places like offices, restaurants or nightclubs won’t automatically result in quarantine for the patrons or staff, who previously would have been designated Primary Close Contacts at Tier 1 exposure sites.

  • Noting that the Department of Health will continue to manage emerging outbreaks of concern and ‘superspreader events’ and can impose a quarantine period on contacts on a case-by-case basis, depending on evidence.
  • Cases are required to notify their workplace, school or childcare about their positive result. Once informed by the case, workplaces will also have to identify and notify employees and sub-contractors – but not customers – who were exposed to advise them to get tested.
  • these changes effectively mean the end of mandatory deep cleaning, and the Departmental ‘clearance’ process. Business owners will now self-manage their exposure in line with public health guidance.
  • Workers exposed at work will need to show a negative PCR test result to return to work or school – with recommended RAT testing thereafter.

  • In addition to isolation changes for contacts, people who have COVID-19 will be required to isolate for 10 days, instead of 14 days.

  • COVIDSafe practices are strongly encouraged and a COVIDSafe plan is still required.

More updates as information becomes available. Note some of the links below will not work until the Government publishes them.

Your links for these changes:

Refresh November 11, 2021

Obligations of business owners and implications of non-compliance

Victoria has now been re-opened for a few weeks and we are all getting used to this ‘new normal’. We understand re-opening has brought with it some new challenges and appreciate there is a lot of information to sift through and understand.

Re-opening resources and key links are provided below and in member communications and events, including a health and safety update and a seminar by our insurance partner GSA. We are reposting this information here in case you missed it.

If you are a yoga business operator, to meet your duties under the model WHS laws and minimise the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in your workplace, you should continue to apply all reasonably practicable COVID-19 control measures including physical distancing, good hygiene, regular cleaning and maintenance and ensuring your workers do not attend work if they are unwell or exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19.

You will also need to comply with any public health orders made by government that apply to you and your workplace, including the wearing of masks, or the checking of vaccination status where applicable, for example. 

It is important to be aware that there are significant penalties for non-compliance and there may also be legal and insurance ramifications (including potential workers compensation claims).

Here are some key links:

Updated November 3, 2021

Masks – Here is further clarification on the requirements for masks indoors in class settings – 

Do I have to wear a face mask outdoors while exercising?   

No.

Masks are no longer mandatory outdoors.

You do not need to wear a face mask indoors when exercising or undertaking strenuous activity.

You must always carry a face mask with you unless you have a lawful reason not to, and you are encouraged to wear one outdoors when physical distancing cannot be maintained.

Updated October 24, 2021

Victoria is expected to reach the 80% double dose vaccination mark towards the end of this week and may possibly reach the 90% mark by the end of November. 

The key points  about the changes announced on Sunday (yesterday) are as follows (links below):

From Friday 29 October at 6.00pm:

  • Settings for Regional and Metro will be the same
  • Gyms and Yoga Studios to re-open

    “Most indoor settings, including restaurants, pubs, gyms and hairdressers will open with no caps subject to a DQ4 (1 per 4sqm) limit, if all staff and patrons are fully vaccinated. Most outdoor settings will remain at DQ2 (1 per 2sqm) limit up to 500, where staff and patrons are fully vaccinated.” 

  • Masks will remain mandatory indoors but are no longer required outdoors.
  • Next milestone (90% Double Dose) predicted for November 24.
  • For more on evidence requirements see the sector guidance or scroll below for more information

Physical Recreation and Sport – from 6pm 29 October

  • Fully vaccinated: Indoors DQ4 (1 person per 4 square metres), outdoors DQ2 and 500 cap

Resources and Links:

Updated October 21

With reference to evidence requirements, “Evidence of clients’ full vaccination status must be confirmed by the personal trainer for record keeping if engaging in outdoor personal training services in a group of five people.”  and “Victorian businesses must use the free Victorian Government QR Code Service to check-in their workers, customers and visitors, with some limited exceptions”.  

In terms of What employers need to do if there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the workplace, all that information is here and also covered in the sector guidance – https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/sport-exercise-and-physical-recreation-services-sector-guidance#4-use-qr-codes-and-keep-business-records.


Updated October 14 – Victorian Government Information about workers required to be vaccinated against Covid-19

Workers required to be vaccinated

The following workers who are leaving home for work:

  • Physical recreation workers (including Yoga Teachers)

A physical recreational worker is someone who:

  • works at or in connection with:
    • a facility used or partly used for sport, sport racing or physical recreation
    • a play centre
    • a trampolining centre
    • a swimming pool, hydrotherapy pool, spa, sauna, steam room or spring facility
  • who provides personal training services

Authorised workers

From 15 October 2021, in order to work onsite at a work premises, you must be able to provide evidence to your employer that you have:

  • received at least your first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, or
  • have a booking to receive your first dose by 22 October 2021, or
  • have a medical exemption evidenced by an authorised medical practitioner

This means that from 22 October 2021 onwards, you need to have received at least your first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine (unless you have a medical exemption) to attend work.

From 26 November 2021, you will also be required to provide evidence to your employer that you have received your second dose (unless you have a medical exemption) to attend work.

A work premises is anywhere you are required to be for your work outside the home (for example, a real estate work premises would include a home inspection, not just head office).

If you are working at or in any of the industries or facilities below, these requirements apply to you – including if you are:

  • an employee
  • a contractor (engaged by the employer or a third party)
  • a volunteer
  • a student on placement.

How do I show evidence of my vaccination?  

Evidence of your vaccination can include your Immunisation History Statement, or digital certificate, or a letter from a GP. 

In the period before your immunisation history is updated, evidence of vaccination can include a recent booking confirmation email, or the card received at the time of vaccination. 

What happens if I don’t meet these requirements?  

If you can’t provide your employer with evidence that you meet the vaccination requirements for your industry which are outlined above, then your employer cannot allow you to enter the work premises (i.e. come on-site) to work. 

If you are unable to attend work, this may affect your employment. 


Update October 8 – Victorian Government Information for Industry & workers required to be vaccinated against Covid-19

Relevant for Yoga Teachers: 

Workers required to be vaccinated 

The following workers will be required to show evidence of their vaccination to their employer by a certain date in order to continue working. 

Authorised worker 

  • personal trainers (with an ABN for this purpose) providing services solely outdoors and not at a residential premise; or 
  • broadcasting online classes from physical recreation facilities (no more than 5 people at the facility) 

What is an authorised provider or authorised worker? 

Authorised providers are businesses and organisations that can open in Restricted Areas (i.e., metropolitan Melbourne and Restricted Area LGAs in regional Victoria) when there are only five reasons to leave your home, with an authorised worker being those individuals required to perform the essential tasks delivered by these businesses and organisations. 

Anyone on this list – even if not in a locked-down area, must comply with this requirement. 

How do I show evidence of my vaccination? 

Evidence of your vaccination can include your Immunisation History Statement, or digital certificate, or a letter from a GP. 

In the period before your immunisation history is updated, evidence of vaccination can include a recent booking confirmation email, or the card received at the time of vaccination. 

What happens if I don’t meet these requirements? 

If you can’t provide your employer with evidence that you meet the vaccination requirements for your industry which are outlined above, then your employer cannot allow you to enter the work premises (i.e. come on-site) to work. 

If you are unable to attend work, this may affect your employment. 

Update September 26 – Victoria To Hit 80 Per Cent First Dose Vaccination Target

STATEWIDE RESTRICTIONS FROM 11.59PM TUESDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2021

The most relevant new changes for Yoga Teachers below:

Metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire

  • Travel limit of 15km from place of primary residence
  • Outdoor personal training: Allowed with up to 5 fully vaccinated
    people and a fully vaccinated trainer

For more information visit:


Updated September 20 – Victoria’s Roadmap: Delivering The National Plan


Updated September 16 – VIC: New Freedoms When 70 Per Cent First Dose Target Reached

Victoria’s Chief Health Officer has recommended some modest easing to restrictions from 11.59pm Friday, 17 September in lockdown areas of metropolitan Melbourne and Ballarat – expanding outdoor social interaction, exercise, the distance you can travel from home and more. There will also be some changes to COVIDSafe settings in regional Victoria – excluding the City of Ballarat. See 210916 Table of Restrictions for all changes.

The most relevant new changes for Yoga Teachers below:

Metropolitan Melbourne and the City of Ballarat

  • Public gatherings: Permitted for personal training for up to two people plus the trainer
  • Indoor physical recreation & sport – closed: Broadcast permitted with maximum five people

Regional Victoria and Greater Shepparton

  • Indoor physical recreation facilities: Open with 10 people indoor and 20 outdoor per venue.

For more information visit:


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