“Hated Covid rules FINALLY end tonight in NSW and Victoria and other states are set to follow,” writes Daily Mail Australia (Apr 22).
“The imminent overhaul comes in response to pressure on state governments in both Victoria and NSW to relax their Covid rules,” writes news.com.au (Apr 20).
New South Wales (NSW), Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and Queensland have announced easing of Covid-19 rules, removing vaccine, mask and isolation requirements.
The changes take effect from 6pm in Victoria and 11.59pm in NSW Fri April 22nd, 11.59pm Tue April 26th in the ACT and 6pm Thur April 28th in Queensland.
NSW
Close contacts of people with Covid will no longer have to isolate as long as they test negative.
They should still work from home where possible and avoid high-risk settings such as hospitals and aged care homes.
“Vaccination status and check-in requirements also continue to be wound back,” continues Daily Mail Australia (Apr 22).
From April 30th, “unvaccinated international travellers arriving in NSW will not be required to undertake hotel quarantine,” writes the Guardian (Apr 20).
Vaccine mandates for workers in NSW will now shift to a risk assessment based mandate model.
Victoria
Under the new rules, which come into effect from 11.59pm on Friday, “patrons no longer need to show proof of their vaccination status to enter hospitality or entertainment venues,” including pubs, restaurants, theatres and sports venues, “and check-in QR codes will no longer be required anywhere,” explains the Guardian (Apr 20).
Masks will only be required on public transport, in taxis and rideshares, at airports and in health, aged care and justice settings.
Quarantine will also be scrapped for unvaccinated international arrivals, with the recently opened purpose-built $200m quarantine facility in Mickleham to largely be used for Covid-positive people who cannot safely isolate at home.
Unlike NSW, existing vaccination mandates for workers will remain in Victoria.
Elsewhere
Queensland will end quarantine for unvaccinated international arrivals at 6pm on Thur April 28th, as the state eases its Covid rules.
In the ACT, household contact quarantine rules will end after Anzac Day (Apr 25) and a similar move is being considered in South Australia.