COVID update - April 2021

Latest COVID-19 advice for community sport and physical recreation from the Department of Jobs, Precincts & Regions

On Friday 26 March, the Victorian Government announced that Victoria will further relax its COVIDSafe Settings, allowing for more visitors in the home, reduced mask wearing and an increase in the number of people allowed in live music venues and other settings.

The full list of COVIDSafe Settings that now apply are available for you to review, and updated Restricted Activity Directions have been published.

A broad summary of restrictions as they impact physical recreation and community sport can be found below.

Indoor and outdoor physical recreation and community sport:

• A density quotient of one per two square metres applies to each space, up to a maximum of 1,000 people.
• No group caps on indoor or outdoor gym and exercise classes (other than limits imposed by density quotients)
• COVID Marshals required when gyms are staffed.
• Signage must state the number of people permitted inside.
• At times when gyms are unstaffed, a density quotient of one per four square metres applies.
• Gyms must supply disinfectant and other cleaning products must be supplied for use by patrons, and electronic record keeping through the Services Victoria application or a government API-linked digital system is required (venues will have a 28-day compliance amnesty).
• Venues with capacity of greater than 500 patrons must publish a COVIDSafe Plan online.

Pools, spas, saunas, steam rooms and springs:

• Indoor and outdoor pools open with a density quotient of one per two square metres.
• The density quotient does not apply to any part of a swimming pool that is being used exclusively for swimming lessons or water safety instruction.
• Electronic record keeping through the Services Vic app or a government API-linked digital system is required (venues will have a 28-day compliance amnesty).

Outdoor communal gym equipment: Open

Publicly accessible playgrounds: Open

CRITICAL UPDATE ON RECORD KEEPING:

It is now mandatory for businesses to use the free Victorian Government QR Code Service or a QR Code provider that is connected to the Application Programming Interface (API).

The API allows the QR code system to ‘speak’ with Victoria’s contact tracing system technology. This change will allow contact tracers to quickly access check-in data and strengthen the privacy of data collected across the state.

If you are already using the free Victorian Government QR Code Service for your record keeping, you do not need to do anything.

If you are not using the Victorian Government QR Code Service, find out if the app you are using is connected to the Victorian Government Visitation API. If it is, you don’t need to do anything – just keep using the app as normal.

If you need to change providers because your current provider does not intend to connect to the Victorian Government API, the Victorian Government QR Code Service is easy to use and is free for all Victorian businesses and organisations.

There will be grace period until 6pm, 23 March 2021 to allow businesses to adapt to the new requirement.

If you would like to learn more about your record keeping obligations, two information sessions are available:

• Thursday 1 April from 10.00am to 11.00am
• Wednesday 7 April from 10.00am to 11.00am

You can register online today.

If you have any additional questions, please contact DJPR on  info@sport.vic.gov.au.