Live in Victoria? You need this COVID-19 Info
As the number of COVID-19 cases in Victoria rises, the Government has taken more steps to try and keep people safe. People who live in some areas will need to go into lockdown. These are places where lots of people have COVID-19. You might hear these places being called restricted, hot spots or priority.
People who live across the rest of Victoria, still need to do things to do keep safe.
These rules are in place from July 1 until 11.59pm 19th August but they are getting reviewed all the time.
Things do keep changing, IDEAS will update information as it is shared by the Government.
If you have any questions or if it is easier to speak to someone please call the COVID-19 Disability Information Helpline for free on 1800 643 787. Our Information Officers are taking calls and can find information where ever you live. They will have the most up to date information.
Access Easy English has made some Easy English information as well.
Where has gone into lockdown?
Housing Estate lockdowns
For Victorians who do not live hot spots
Everyone needs to
Testing
NDIS Help
Where has gone into ‘lockdown’?
These are the areas, listed by suburb:
-
In line with advice from the Victorian Chief Health Officer, the Victorian Government has announced that metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire will return to Stage 3 Stay at Home restrictions from 11.59pm on Wednesday 8 July 2020.
This decision was made in response to a significant increase in community transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) in these areas.
This includes:
- Banyule
- Hume
- Moreland
- Bayside
- Kingston
- Mornington Peninsula
- Boroondara
- Knox
- Nillumbik
- Brimbank
- Manningham
- Port Phillip
- Cardinia
- Maribyrnong
- Stonnington
- Casey
- Maroondah
- Whitehorse
- Darebin
- Melbourne
- Whittlesea
- Frankston
- Melton
- Wyndham
- Glen Eira
- Monash
- Yarra
- Greater Dandenong
- Moonee Valley
- Yarra Ranges
- Hobsons Bay
- Mitchell Shire
If you live in these suburbs you need to stay at home.
There are only four reasons that you can leave home:
- Shopping for food or other essential items
- To provide caregiving, for compassionate reasons or to seek medical treatment
- For exercise (outdoor exercise only, with only one other person or members of your household)
- Work or study, if you cannot work or study from home
If you need to leave home you need to wear a mask
Additionally, there will only be 3 reasons to cross the border of these metropolitan areas:
- Shopping for food and supplies
- Medical care and caregiving
- Study and work – if you can’t do it from home
Also, you cannot:
- have visitors to your home except for caregiving or compassionate reasons or receiving services.
- visit friends ad family who live at another household, except for caregiving or compassionate reasons or providing services.
- travel except for one of the four reasons above.
What will be open?
Essential services, such as food banks, chemists, health services or supermarkets will be open. Cafes and restaurants can only do take-away or home delivery services. Schools will be open once the school holidays have ended.
For more information, go to I want to know what will be open or not.
See the Premiers Media release from July 7 for up to date information on the regulations from 11.59 pm on July 8 2020.
For Victorians who do not live in hot spots
The Victorian Government has said people are being asked to use common sense when it comes to visiting friends and family, especially those who are more vulnerable.
- That means seeing only those you need to – if you need to.
- shopping centres are required to apply the four square metre rule to limit the number of shoppers.
- outdoor markets are required to apply the four square metre rule to limit the number of shoppers.
- you can visit a restricted postcode for four reasons: shopping for food and supplies, care and caregiving, exercise, and study or work – if you can’t do it from home.
If you need to travel through one of the hot spot areas, you can.
You should plan your trip so that you don’t need to stop there unless it for one of the four reasons.
Everyone needs to
1. Stay safe by washing your hands
2. Keep at least 1.5 metres from other people
3. Staying home if you feel unwell
4. Get tested if you have symptoms or live in a hot spot
5. Stay in Victoria
From 12.01 am on July 8, the borders between Victoria and New South Wales will be closed.
People will not be allowed to travel from one state to the other. The borders will have security to make sure the states remain safe.
There will be some permits given out to people who need to travel between the two states for work, health care or other special reasons.
More information to come, once shared by the State Governments.
Testing
Testing is happening across the state.
Finding out who has COVID-19 will help to stop it from spreading.
Testing is free.
Bring your Medicare card or some identification with you. You usually get your results in 1-3 days after the test.
You should get tested if you have any of these symptoms, even if they are mild
- Fever chills or sweats
- Cough, sore throat, shortness of breath,
- Runny nose
- Loss of sense of smell or taste.
People from the hot spot areas should also get tested, even if they don’t have any symptoms.
There are many places you can go to get tested
- Your local GP or Doctor. Call them before you visit. They may perform the test or refer you to a pathology provider for the test.
- A GP respiratory clinic. Visit the Australian Government coronavirus (COVID-19) site for a full list of GP respiratory clinics and how to book an appointment.
- A Victorian hospital respiratory clinic.
- A Community Health Centre respiratory clinic.
- A drive-through testing site
- A regional walk-through clinic.
Check here to find a place that suits you.
There is a map to work out where is close to you and, you can check the waiting times before you go for the drive-through clinics. In some places, they are doing door to door testing. More places are getting added so check back before you go.
Testing for Children
Over 5 they can be tested at a drive-through testing location or one of the other testing sites across Victoria.
Under 5 they can be tested at hospital testing clinics. In some cases, parents may be referred to a hospital emergency department.
All Monash Health sites (including drive-throughs) offer COVID testing for babies under one year old and upwards.
You can also call us to ask about testing. Free Call: 1800 643 787.
We have helped many people find testing in their local area.
Plus work through questions about the test, accessibility, transport and support.
Read more about COVID-19 Testing
NDIS Help
If you need more help to stay at home at this time, please contact the NDIS. You can call 1800 800 110 if you need to talk to a planner, make changes to your plan or are havingtrouble getting services due to COVID-19. For more, go to NDIS COVID-19 Melbourne Information.
The NDIS is doing proactive outreach to people living in the housing estates in complete lockdown.
https://www.ndis.gov.au/coronavirus/latest-advice-ndis/advice-victoria
Making a Plan
To help you plan what you need over the next month this guide on Making a Plan might be helpful. You can work through things like
- Managing your health
- Having enough supplies like medicines and food
- Organising support staff or carers
- Your budget
These Easy Read Fact Sheets about staying at home might help too.
General health and wellbeing for home isolation
What to expect when you get disability services
Coronavirus - looking after your mental health
Please note that things are changing all the time
This information was correct when we shared it and we will keep updating it.
Our Information Officers always have the latest details and are just a free phone call away: 1800 643 787
More Information
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