NSW and Victoria have today scrapped most remaining Covid rules with household contacts no longer required to self-isolate.
For Victoria, the changes come into effect on Friday at 11.59 pm while the NSW government announced similar rule changes about the same time.
#BREAKING: Victoria lifts most remaining restrictions, including mandatory masks, vaccine mandates and quarantine for international arrivals.
— Avi Yemini (@OzraeliAvi) April 20, 2022
The changes come as both states are reported to have passed the peak of the latest surges of the Omicron variant.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet announced on Wednesday that mask requirements on public transport is one of the only restrictions to remain.
The current rules dictate that those who live with someone with a positive coronavirus case must isolate at home for seven days after a positive test.
News.com.au reports that household contacts will need to carry out five rapid antigen tests over the course of the seven days that they previously would have been in isolation and those who contract Covid will still need to self-isolate for a week.
Importantly, masks will no longer be required in primary schools.
Unvaccinated Victorians will once again be allowed back into key parts of everyday life and will no longer be required to show their vaccination status before entering venues.
Wow. It looks like the construction vaccine mandate in Victoria remains.
— Avi Yemini (@OzraeliAvi) April 20, 2022
Because sCiENcE. https://t.co/Mp7VqaGFTk
All visitor restrictions in hospitals will be removed, except for mask requirements, with health services able to tailor their own settings based on their own circumstances.
The federal government announced another major change this week with international arrivals no longer required to get tested prior to departure, making it easier for returning travelers and tourists to enter the country.
In the coming weeks, the remainder of Australia's states and territories are also likely to ease the remaining restrictions.
