Coronavirus (COVID-19) update

From 11:59pm on 16 September, outdoor skateparks, trampolining centres, playgrounds, and outdoor communal exercise equipment can open.

Outdoor swimming pools will be open, including communal changing facilities, showers and toilets. Outdoor pools can open for up to 50 people per pool or up to the number of people allowed when the four square metre rule is applied. The smaller number must be applied. Schools and community sport organisations using outdoor pools have an exception to this cap where they have exclusive use of the pool during their visit.

Outdoor sport facilities – such as golf courses and tennis courts – can open if:

• people can exercise outside
• equipment is cleaned and disinfected between users
• no indoor facilities or shared facilities (except communal change rooms and toilets) are used
• people can keep at least 1.5 metres distance between each other
• groups must be limited to ten people, unless your household is greater than ten people.

The risk of spreading coronavirus (COVID-19) is higher in indoor settings and with the risk of communal facilities, or when physical distancing, is not adequately maintained.

For this reason, indoor sports facilities and club-rooms will remain closed until the Victoria Chief Health Officer determines that it is safe and appropriate to re-open them, and under what conditions or restrictions.

Club toilets and change-rooms will be accessible under strict hygiene guidelines.

Indoor public swimming pools, saunas and spas are closed.

Outdoor swimming pools and chlorinated spas will be open, including communal changing facilities, showers and toilets. Outdoor pools can open for up to 50 people per pool or up to the number of people allowed when the four square metre rule is applied. The smaller number must be applied. Schools using outdoor pools have an exception to this cap where they have exclusive use of the pool during their visit.

Yes. You can compete and train in non-contact community sport outside. People who are aged 18 and under can compete and train in both contact and non-contact sport outside.

A sport is non-contact if participants can maintain a distance of 1.5 metres while playing.

You can modify a contact sport to be non-contact for the purposes of training.

You can play sport with the number of people required to play, plus necessary coaches and umpires. Spectators are allowed if they are supervising children or if needed as support persons for persons with additional needs. You should keep at least 1.5 metres from others while supervising children.

You must clean and disinfect equipment between users. Where possible you should minimise the sharing of equipment.

The Victorian Government is taking a phased approach to resuming community sport and recreation. This approach will ensure the safety of participants and the broader community.

From 11:59pm on 16 September 2020, outdoor organised non-contact competitions in regional Victoria are allowed for all age groups where participants can stay 1.5 metres apart.

For people aged 18 years and under in regional Victoria, outdoor full-contact training and competition may resume.

Under the current restrictions, adult sport and recreation in regional Victoria remain at non-contact training and competition only.

The number of people per group is the minimum number of people required to conduct the sport (including training). For example, players, coaches, trainers, umpires and other essential support staff. In the case of a child or person with a disability, a parent or carer is permitted to attend to support a participant.

Each sport’s governing body in Victoria will determine the number of people that can safely participate. This will be based on the number of people who would normally be involved in a match or training, including players on the field/court and allowed substitutes. This applies even if it exceeds the density quotient or group limit on the venue.

For example, cricket can be played with two teams of eleven players and the necessary coaching personnel and umpires.

Individual sports, like running, must cap participants at 10 people per cohort for an event. To prevent mixing of cohorts, measures like staggered start times and modified venue access arrangements should be implemented.

Contact your relevant state sporting association, or governing body, for information on the number of people allowed to participate in your community sport activity.

Yes. From 11:59pm on 16 September 2020, communal facilities such as changing rooms can reopen for outdoor sport venues.

Changerooms at sport venues can open subject to the four square metre density rule.  Use signage to advise the maximum number of people allowed in each enclosed space, use floor markings to promote physical distancing in changerooms and increase cleaning as appropriate. Consider closing off some seats, benches, lockers and cubicles to make it clear how many users are allowed in each area.

Yes, however sporting clubs that operate a restaurant, café or canteen in their facility must adhere to restrictions that apply to the hospitality industry.

Further information on these restrictions is available on the Business Victoria website.

Spectators are allowed if they are supervising children or if needed as support persons for persons with additional needs. You should keep at least 1.5 metres from others while supervising children.

Yes. Golf courses and outdoor driving ranges in regional Victoria can open.

You can play golf with members of your household or in a group of up to 10 people.

Golf carts may be used, but course operators are required to thoroughly clean the carts in between each use.

People playing together must be able to keep at least 1.5 metres distance apart.

If you are not doing exercise or a physical activity where you are out of breath or puffing, then you must wear a face covering, unless you have a lawful reason not to. You must carry a face covering with you and wear it before and after you exercise.

Indoor facilities (except for communal changing facilities and toilets) cannot open. Other indoor areas must be restricted to the public. You must clean and disinfect equipment between users. Where possible you should minimise the sharing of equipment.

You can participate in snow sports with members of your own household or in a group of up to ten people. Alpine resort accommodation in regional Victoria will be open with some restrictions in place on group bookings and accommodation sharing, in line with restrictions on accommodation across all of regional Victoria.

Yes. You can leave home for permitted exercise and recreation activities that are outdoors and can be done by yourself, members of your household, or in a group of up to ten people.

This includes, fishing, hunting, boating, surfing, and recreational diving. There are no limits on the distance you can travel to exercise in regional Victoria. You cannot travel to metropolitan Melbourne for recreational activities.

You must be able to maintain a 1.5 metre distance from others. Where possible you should minimise the sharing of equipment. You must clean and disinfect shared equipment between users.

Yes. You can go horse-riding with members of your household or in a group of up to ten people, plus an instructor if required.

Outdoor horse-riding classes can resume with up to ten people plus the instructor. If your household is greater than ten you can attend riding classes with your household.

There are no limits on the distance you can travel to exercise in regional Victoria. You cannot travel to metropolitan Melbourne for recreational activities.

You need to ensure that you keep a physical distance of at least 1.5 metres from others. You must clean and disinfect equipment between users. Where possible you should minimise the sharing of equipment.

We all have a responsibility to make sure we can safely participate in community sport and recreation.

Participants should practise good hygiene and regularly and thoroughly wash their hands.

Where possible, participants should maintain physical distancing by keeping at least 1.5 metres away from others.

Where it is practical to do so, participants should bring their own equipment and limit sharing equipment. For example, golfers should mark their own card, tennis players should only use their own racquets, minimising shared exercise equipment (e.g. tyres and ropes or scrum machines) and players should not share uniforms (e.g. hockey goalkeeper gear).

Directions will continue to be enforced through spot checks by Victoria Police and use of emergency powers by authorised officers to ensure compliance with the Public Health Directions.

People who do not wear a face covering and do not have a lawful reason can be fined $200.

Industry bodies, Victoria Police, WorkSafe, and Authorised Officers will work together to inform Victorians about the directions, as well as undertake enforcement and compliance activities as needed.

Community members can raise concerns about compliance with directions through the Police Assistance Line (PAL) on 131 444. Workers can raise concerns via WorkSafe on 1800 136 089. Employers can talk to their industry regulator or peak body for specific industry related support.

A Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak Joint Intelligence Unit has been established to support comprehensive preparedness and responses to outbreaks and identify and manage outbreak risks.

The Department of Health and Human Services and WorkSafe will coordinate intelligence and information on businesses that are non-compliant.

Victoria Police can issue on the spot fines of up to $1,652 for individuals and up to $9,913 for businesses for:

• refusing or failing to comply with the emergency directions
• refusing or failing to comply with a public health risk power direction
• refusing or failing to comply with the Public Health Directions to provide information.

Fines of up to $20,000 for individuals and $100,000 for businesses are possible through the court system.

People who do not wear a face covering and do not have a lawful reason can be fined $200.