COVID-19 (Coronavirus) resources for business

COVID-19 Shutdown. What must close in Victoria?

COVID-19 restrictions on non-essential venues and activities as of 30 March 2020.

If your business is not included in the descriptions on this list, you may continue operating at this time, but businesses in operation must observe:

• Physical distancing to reduce in-person contact. A limit of one person per four square metres applies and distancing of 1.5 metres between people at all times. Retailers must display a sign showing the maximum number of people permitted on the premises based on the occupancy rule of no more than 1 person for every 4 square metres of floorspace. Retailers must also manage the entry and exit of customers to maintain a total occupancy of no more than 1 person for every 4 square metres of floorspace.
  
  
• Stricter hygiene and cleaning practices throughout opening hours, especially for frequently touched surfaces. These include fixtures such as benchtops, counters, door handles, touch screens and EFTPOS equipment. Cleaning and disinfecting to reduce COVID-19 transmission - tips for non-healthcare settings guide (Word) has advice on cleaning and disinfecting to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in all non-healthcare settings in Victoria.
  
  
• Other Actions for organisations, workplaces and employers recommended by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

If you have specific questions about your business’s ability to continue operating, or how to apply the recommended actions in your setting, contact the Business Victoria coronavirus hotline on 13 22 15 or use this Contact form. 

All Victorians

Everyone

• Exceptions: All Victorians only permitted to leave their homes for four reasons:
  
  
  
  1. to purchase food and necessary supplies
  2. for medical or health care needs
  3. for personal exercise in compliance with ban on public gatherings
  4. to attend work or education where they are not able to work or learn remotely 

No gathering in public places, no more than two people together at any one time

National Cabinet’s strong advice is for self-isolation at home to the maximum extent practicable for Australians:

• over 70 years of age;
• over 60 years of age who have existing health conditions or comorbidities;
• indigenous Australians over the age of 50 who have existing health conditions or comorbidities.
• These groups should limit contact with others as much as possible when they travel outside. 

Food and drink

Restaurants and cafes must stop providing table service

• Exceptions: Takeaway and/or home delivery
• Exceptions:Cafés or canteens at hospitals, care homes or schools; prison and military canteens;
• Exceptions:Food services for the homeless
• Exceptions:Workplace canteens can provide takeaway only

Food courts must stop providing table service 

• Exceptions: May continue to offer delivery and takeaway

Retail

Auction houses

Real estate auctions and open house inspections

• Exceptions: Private appointments for inspection, physical distancing of 1.5 metres between people and only one person per four square metres 

Outdoor and indoor market stalls

• Exceptions: Those that provide food and drink for consumption off the premises of the market. A limit of one person per four square metres applies 

Beauty and personal care services

Hairdressers and barber shops

• Exceptions: Must observe 1 person per 4 square metre rule in the premises

Beauty therapy, tanning, waxing, nail salons, tattoo parlours

Spas and massage parlours

• Exceptions: Allied health services, such as physiotherapy and podiatry are not required to close.

Entertainment venues

Pubs, registered and licenced clubs and hotels

• Exceptions: Bottle shops attached to these venues 

Concert venues, theatre, arenas, auditoriums, stadiums

• Exceptions: Live streaming of a performance by a small group could be permissible with social distancing observed

Casinos, gaming or gambling venues

Strip clubs, brothels and sex on premises venues

Cinemas, entertainment venues and night clubs

Amusement parks, arcades and children’s play centres (indoor and outdoor) 

Leisure and recreation

Gyms, fitness centres and sporting venues, including outdoor gyms in public places

Community and recreation centres

• Exceptions: Facilities may remain open for the purpose of hosting essential voluntary or public services, such as food banks or homeless services.

Health clubs, yoga, barre and spin facilities, saunas, bathhouses and wellness centres

• Exceptions: Allied health services, such as physiotherapy and podiatry are not required to close.

Personal training facilities both indoor and outdoor and boot camps

• Exceptions: Outside personal training is limited to two people, including the trainer and physical distancing must be observed.

Social sporting-based activities

Swimming pools

Playgrounds and skate parks 

Residential facilities

Hotels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, campsites, caravan parks, and boarding houses will be a decision for each state and territory

• Exceptions: Excluding permanent residents and workers.

Access to residential aged care facilities has been restricted 

• Exceptions: Regular staff, visiting clinical staff, up to two family or personal visitors per resident for for up to 2 hours per day
• Exceptions: Essential visitors will need to: visit only the resident, wear personal protective equipment as directed by staff, enter and leave the facility directly without spending time in communal areas and perform hand hygiene before entering and after leaving the resident’s room. 

Outdoor recreation

Caravan parks and camping grounds 

• Exceptions: Where people live permanently in caravan parks or are staying in caravan parks as interim abodes where their primary residence is not available, they may continue to do so.
• Exceptions: Where the accommodation is for the purposes of respite, for victims of family violence, other vulnerable groups or for care purposes. 

Non-residential institutions

Zoos, petting zoos, aquariums and wildlife parks

• Exceptions: The maintenance, care or rescue of animals

Galleries, museums, national institutions and historic sites

Libraries, community centres, and youth centres

Local government non-essential facilities and services (such as libraries and pools)

Community facilities (such as community halls, clubs, RSLs, PCYCs)

• Exceptions: These facilities may remain open for the purposes of hosting essential voluntary or public services, such as food banks or homeless services 

Places of worship, religious gatherings or ceremonies 

• Exceptions: Weddings may be held in places of worship (or other venues), but only with the couple, celebrant and maximum of two witnesses in attendance.
• Exceptions: Funerals may be held in places of worship, funeral parlours or other venues, with a maximum of ten mourners in attendance.

For all businesses that are still allowed to operate and trade, the Department of Health and Human Services has information on Actions for organisations, workplaces and employers to help reduce the risk of transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19).

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Workplace impacts

We encourage employees and employers to work together to find appropriate solutions that suit the needs of individual workplaces and staff.

For information and assistance on any aspect of your employment obligations, the Victorian Chamber Workplace Relations Advice Line (03) 8662 5222 can help.

Working from home

A working from home assessment doesn’t just stop at the workstation set up. It should also include the general home layout and functions such as entry and exit points, first aid and emergency management. Our Health Safety and Wellbeing consultants can perform home workstation assessments for your employees to ensure that their home set up is set up correctly to reduce the risk of injury, ensure they have the correct equipment to work comfortably. When employees work from home, this becomes their workplace – and employers must manage hazards and risks at their home as if they are on site.

If you have any questions around ergonomics and workstation assessments or procedures contact us online or call 03 8662 5333.

WorkSafe Victoria

WorkSafe Victoria are working as part of a whole-of-government approach to mitigate the risk of Coronavirus in Victoria.

As part of this approach, WorkSafe Victoria have produced guidance to ensure that employers understand their obligations in relation to protecting employees from risks to their health, and that employees know what controls should be in place.

Where there is a risk to health and is identified at the workplace, employers must, so far as reasonably practicable, eliminate the risks or minimise the risks. The type of control measure required depends on the level of risk and as well as the availability and suitability of controls for each workplace.

This may include providing adequate facilities or products such as hand sanitizers to allow employees to maintain good hygiene practices, advise employees to self-isolate at home for 14 days if they have been in contact with confirmed cases of novel coronavirus.

The following information includes links regarding Coronavirus:

• Worksafe Victoria - Safety alert – Exposure to Coronavirus in workplaces factsheet
• Worksafe Victoria - Guide for Employers - preparing for pandemic, which includes information on managing the direct risks of infection.
  • Incorporate OHS Risk Controls measures in Business Continuity Plans
  • Hygiene and Cleaning – such as additional workplace cleaning, hand hygiene,
• Australian Institute of Health and Safety – Safe Work Australia underscores PCBU responsibilities with COVID-19
• Safe Work Australia – Information from WHS Regulators and Workers Compensation Authorities

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Government economic rescue measures

The Federal, Victorian and some local governments have announced measures to help business continue operating. Information on what these mean for members can be found on our dedicated webpage.

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Other resources

The Small Business Mentoring Service offers low-cost sessions with a diverse range of mentors that can help you to navigate difficult business decisions, prepare business continuity plans, review your business strategy or revise your business plans. Or a free 45-minute session with an experienced business adviser is available via the Small Business Bus.

See your local Victorian Government Business Office (VGBO) - staffed with Business Development Managers (BDMs) who are specialists in business and industry, they can support you and help you navigate any relevant government services, programs and regulations. 

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