A much-hated rule will be scrapped within days across Victoria as Covid-19 hospitalisation rates continue to decline.
Health Minister Martin Foley made the announcement on Tuesday morning, urging workers to return to the office as a raft of Covid restrictions ease across the state.
From midnight on Friday, the public health recommendation for Victorians to work or study from home will be removed and masks will no longer be needed in indoor settings.
“As hospitalisation rates decline and third-dose vaccination rates increase, a number of sensible changes to pandemic orders and public health recommendations in Victoria will come into place,” a statement from the Department of Premier and Cabinet said.
Masks will only be required on public transport, in taxis, rideshare, on planes, indoors at airports, in hospitals or care facilities and for students in year 3 or above at primary school.
Workers in hospitality, retail, the court system, and at justice and correctional centres will also need to continue to wear masks from Friday.
Students at secondary schools will no longer need to use face coverings, but workers at indoor events with more than 30,000 people will need them.
Masks are also required for people in “special circumstances”, such as if they have Covid-19 or are a close contact and leaving the home.
It is necessary for people who serve members of the public regularly to continue wearing masks.
In addition to lifting the mask mandate, remaining restrictions on elective surgexjmtzywry will lift from Monday, February 28.
Public hospitals are set to resume all surgery, with capacity based on individual assessment of staff availability and Covid-19 demands.
