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THE Bendigo Motel Association is cautiously optimistic a further easing of COVID-19 restrictions will give their industry a much-needed boost.
Earlier
CENTRAL Victorians will be able to have overnight stays from next weekend as more COVID-19 restrictions ease across the state.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Sunday announced the series of changes.
From Tuesday, outdoor playgrounds, skateparks, and outdoor communal gym equipment will reopen.
The next lot of changes will come into affect from 11.59pm on May 31.
People will be able to have 20 people in their homes. Outdoor gatherings can also increase to 20 people.
Overnight stays can resume at private residences and at accommodation. This will also apply to campgrounds and caravan parks, but not with communal facilities like kitchens or bathrooms.
Limits on weddings and funerals will also be lifted. From May 31, up to 20 people will be allowed at weddings - plus the celebrant and couple - and up to 50 people allowed at a funeral, in addition to those required to conduct the ceremony.
Up to 20 will be allowed at other religious ceremonies, in addition to those required to perform the service.
Libraries, youth centres and other community facilities will also be able to open with no more than 20 people in a single area, plus those needed to operate the space. That means men's sheds, and arts and crafts classes can resume.
From 11.59pm on May 31, entertainment and cultural venues like galleries, museums, drive-in cinemas and historic sites will be able to open their doors, alongside zoos and outdoor amusement parks.
Physical distancing and a limit of up to 20 patrons per space will apply, and indoor venues will be required to keep customer contact details.
Swimming pools will also open with limits of 20 people and additional safety requirements in place.
Community sporting activities will also be permitted with up to 20 people in undivided spaces, provided the sport is outdoors, non-competition, non-contact, and people are able to play 1.5 metres apart.
Restrictions on professional sport will remain unchanged.
Beauty and personal care services like nail salons, spas, tattoo parlours will be able to open with up to 20 customers per space - with customer contact details required to be kept.
Auctions and open for inspections will also be subject to the 20-person limit - plus those required to conduct the activity - with agents also required to keep the contact details of everyone who attends.
Non-food and drink market stalls will also be able to open from 11.59pm on May 31.
If community transmission rates continue to remain low and testing rates continue to remain high, Mr Andrews said the government would look to further relax restrictions from June 22.
From that date, indoor fitness and recreation facilities would open with up to 20 people per space and up to 10 people per group or activity at any one time.
Up to 50 people would be permitted in restaurants, cafes, galleries, museums and for the first time, cinemas and theatres.
The ski season would open slightly later this year on June 22.
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