By Parker McKenzie
Changes to the way Mount Evelyn residents test for Covid and new restrictions have been announced, with an increased reliance on rapid antigen testing and density limits for hospitality.
From 7 January people who receive a positive rapid antigen test must report it to the Department of Health via either a phone call or an online form.
Once a probable case has reported their positive RAT result, they will be asked questions about their symptoms and directly provided critical information about their next steps, how long they must isolate and how they can get care and advice just as they would if they tested positive on a PCR test. Probable cases will be reported alongside confirmed cases in Victoria’s daily numbers.
Minister for Health Martin Foley said he will sign pandemic orders that establish a person with a positive rapid antigen test is a probable case, meaning they have the same obligations and rights as someone who is a confirmed Covid case.
“What is clear is that we are in a new phase on the pandemic and a new phase of how we need to respond,” he said.
“The strategies of the past two year have served us well in regards to those earlier variants, but we are changing to a whole heap of new approaches when it comes to how we respond to the omicron variant.”
Moving forward, this change means PCR testing can increasingly be reserved for confirmation of clinical diagnoses in vulnerable settings and critical workforce testing.
Mr Foley said the changes were made based on decisions from the national cabinet meeting held on 5 January.
“From tonight there will be changes to how the density limits in some areas of hospitality and entertainment apply,” he said.
“A density limit of one person per two squared metres will be in place for indoor entertainment and hospitality venues which is a similar rule that has been in place in New South Wales since before the New Year.”
This includes restaurants, cafes, pubs, nightclubs, arcades, amusement parks, casinos and gaming venues. Indoor seated theatres and cinemas are exempt from this rule.
Mr Foley said Victoria has ordered 44 million rapid antigen tests with 700,000 arriving in Victoria by the end of the week.
The strong recommendation to work from home and study from home for adult education if you can will remain in place until Australia Day and will continue to be assessed.
The changes will take effect at 11.59pm 6 January.
