Lockdown easing allows brothels to reopen in regional Victoria under same terms as gyms, aquatic facilities and entertainment venues

June 9, 2021

Melbourne will have its lockdown measures eased as of Thursday night, with the Victorian Government today announcing that with the state had recorded just one new case of COVID-19 in the previous 24 hours.

However, Melburnians must stay within 25 kilometres of home, meaning travelling for the Queen’s Birthday long weekend is not allowed while aquatic, entertainment and fitness facilities will remain closed in the metropolitan area.

With the two-week lockdown to be eased as of 11.59pm on Thursday, new measures in regional Victoria will see brothels allowed to reopen under similar conditions to those that apply for gyms, aquatic facilities and entertainment venues.

The measure allowing facilities in regional Victoria to operate again applies the “density quotient of one person per 4sqm” for the following venue/activities:

Indoor physical recreation and sport (includes aquatic and fitness facilities):
• Maximum venue capacity 150, including no more than 50 indoors
• Maximum group size: 10 people indoors, 20 outdoors

Indoor play centres, indoor skateparks, indoor trampolining centres:
• Maximum venue capacity 150, including no more than 50 indoors.
• Maximum group size: 10 people

Fixed seated entertainment
Open up to 50% of seated capacity up to a maximum of 75 people per venue (indoor) and 150 people per venue (outdoor).

Amusement parks
Open to a maximum of 100 people per venue, including up to 50 people indoors

Retail betting venues
Open to a maximum of 150 people, no more than 75 indoors

Sex on premises, brothels and sexually explicit venues
Open to a maximum of 100 people per venue, no more than 50 people indoors.

Outdoor physical recreation & sport:
• Maximum venue capacity 150 people, including no more than 50 indoors
• No venue limit if 100m distance can be maintained between groups (e.g. golf)
• Maximum group size: 20 people

Community sport in regional Victoria is also open for all ages, training and competition.

In Melbourne, most of these activities will remain closed, the exceptions being training for community sport, outdoor play areas and skateparks, fixed seated entertainment areas (up to up to 25% of seated capacity indoors and a maximum of 100 people outdoors - both up to a maximum of 50 people per venue) and retail betting venues to a maximum of 50 people.

Explaining the moves, Victoria’s acting Premier James Merlino urged Victorians to “stay COVIDSafe (and to get) tested if you have any symptoms”.

Commenting on the easing in regional Victoria he added “indoor sport, including gyms, will also be able to reopen with careful limits on the number of people permitted at any point in time.”

Explaining the plight of many Victorian gym owners and fitness facility franchisees through the state’s multiple lockdowns, Ballarat-based gym owner Mel Tempest today wrote “one million gym users, 40,000 plus unemployed (and) 2000 plus fitness facilities closed.

“Many will not re-open (and) many business owners will suffer long term mental health issues.”

Click here to view restrictions that will apply from 11.59pm on Thursday.

9th June 2021 - Victoria’s Chief Health Officer repeats ‘misinformation’ that gyms are ‘high-risk’ infection environments

9th June 2021 - Adventure Tourism Victoria denounces partial lifting of lockdown

9th June 2021 - Fitness Australia and Vic Active demand exercise facilities be allowed to open in regional Victoria

8th June 2021 - Highlighting safety of gym visits Vic Active says Victoria’s Chief Health Officer has ‘got it wrong’

8th June 2021 - Victoria’s Chief Health Officer warns of no large crowds when Melbourne lockdown ends

4th June 2021 - Fitness Australia asks why Victoria’s Chief Health Officer is again targeting gyms

4th June 2021 - Return of international tours vital for Australia’s entertainment venues and promoters

3rd June 2021 - Victorian lockdown impacts the aquatic industry

2nd June 2021 - Melbourne’s stage three lockdown to be extended for another week while restrictions to ease in regional Victoria

1st June 2021 - Victorian lockdown leads to fitness industry losses in excess of $10 million

31st May 2021 - Bendigo gym returns to online classes through Victoria’s latest Coronavirus lockdown

28th May 2021 - Fourth COVID lockdown ‘a monumental kick in the guts’ for Victorian fitness operators

28th May 2021 - Victorian COVID lockdown forces AFL to change weekend fixture plans

27th May 2021 - Victoria Government announces seven-day lockdown

27th May 2021 - Fitness Australia urges locked down Victorians not to forget the importance of physical activity

21st May 2021 - Save Victorian Events founder slams Victorian Government’s lack of support for business event sector

30th April 2021 - New wave of global innovation supports Victoria’s sports and major events

27th April 2021 - Australia Government to fast-track COVID-19 vaccines for Olympic team athletes

21st April 2021 - Victorian Government releases $633 million ‘roadmap’ funding to boost tourism and major events

14th April 2021 - Victorian Parliamentary inquiry into tourism and events support hears plea to save ‘industry in crisis’

13th April 2021 - Uncertainty over Victorian stadia returning to full capacity

2nd April 2021 - Save Victorian Events highlight Bluesfest cancellation as confirmation of need for Governments to back event cancellation insurance

30th March 2021 - 70% of Australian casual workers more likely to get COVID-19 vaccine if it’s recommended by employer

30th March 2021 - Save Victorian Events calls for Industry Taskforce

23rd March 2021 - Fitness Australia says industry ‘continues to strengthen’ 12 months since COVID-19 shutdowns

2nd March 2021 - VIC Active continues to highlight the safety of fitness centres

19th February 2021 - VIC Active calls on Victorian Government to fulfill its promise of financial assistance

19th October 2020 - Victorian Premier omits ‘high-risk’ gyms from state’s reopening plans

6th February 2015 - Pole dancing grows as a fitness activity

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