Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley has announced a density limit of one person per two square metres will return to indoor entertainment and hospitality venues in Victoria.
Indoor seated cinemas and theatres, where people are seated and masked, will be exempt from the limit.
"We think this is a sensible change, particularly in the face of the continued huge growth in transmission, particularly amongst young people," Mr Foley said.
"Yesterday's formal figures, 40 per cent of those cases where people in their 20s and every indication is it's overwhelmingly from hospitality and related environments."
Mr Foley said authorities were also strongly recommending businesses and their patrons avoid indoor dancefloors and opt for seated service.
Victorians are also being advised to work and study from home where possible.
Change to way Victoria tackles COVID-19 testing
Victoria Health Minister Martin Foley said about a third of Victorians getting a PCR test were testing positive to COVID-19.
"What is clear is that we are in a new phase of this pandemic, and a new phase of how we need to respond."
Mr Foley said rapid antigen tests had to be central to the new way of responding to ease pressure on the PCR testing system.
He said at least 700,000 of the 44 million rapid antigen tests ordered by the Victorian government would be arriving in the next day or so.
He said he would be signing new pandemic orders, which will come into effect at 11.59pm, that recognise people with a rapid antigen test as a "probable case".
"Essentially they will have precisely the same obligations and the same rights as someone, whether it be for clinical support, financial support, from both the state or the Commonwealth, a whole range of other opportunities to be part of that primary healthcare response to keep them safe as they work through their infectivity.
"Essentially this new category based on the rapid antigen test will be the same in the system as if you were diagnosed through a PCR test."
Hospitalisations of people with COVID-19 in Victoria have risen to 631.
There are 51 people in intensive care, with 22 on ventilators.
From today, category two and three elective surgeries will be halted in public and private hospitals in the state.
Emergency surgery, however, will still go ahead.
Victoria recorded 17,636 new COVID-19 cases yesterday, and a further 11 deaths.
Acting Premier Jacinta Allan thanked the almost 60,000 Victorians who had been tested for COVID-19 in the past day.
"We know that these are trying and difficult times to go out and get tested," she said.
Ms Allan announced parents will be able to book in young children to get a COVID-19 vaccination from 1pm on Wednesday, both online or via the phone hotline.
"From next week, children aged five to 11 become eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine," she said.
Royal Children's Hospital Chief of Medicine Associate Professor Tom Connell has said COVID-19 is not necessarily mild in children, as is commonly believed.
He urged parents to get their kids vaccinated.
"We all want what's best for our children," he said.
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2022-01-06 10:21:42Z
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