Skip to content Skip to navigation
MENU
COTA Victoria Logo
Login
Get Involved
Home CLOSE
MENU
  • About
    About
    CLOSE MENU
    • Annual reports and financial statements
    • Board of Governance
    • Contact Us
    • Work with us
      • Current Job Opportunities
    • Our supporters
    • COTA Victoria Privacy Statement
  • Policy
    Policy
    CLOSE MENU
    • Stories of Change
    • Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety
      • Telling your story
    • Our policy priorities
    • Age friendly communities
    • Assistive Technology for All
    • Social Isolation
    • Ageism in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic
    • Seniors Rights Victoria
    • End of life
    • COTA Green Sages
      • COTA Green Sages events
    • Submissions
  • Information
    Information
    CLOSE MENU
    • Looking for information?
    • COVID-19 resources for older Victorians
    • WISE services
    • Aged Care Navigators
    • How-to guides
    • It’s Your Energy - New Energy Rights for Victorians
    • Resources
  • News
    News
    CLOSE MENU
    • Latest News
    • Media
      • Media Releases
    • COTA Connects
      • COTA Connects Archive
      • Sign-up for e-Newsletter
    • ONE COTA magazine
  • Events
  • Our Programs
    Our Programs
    CLOSE MENU
    • Living Longer Living Stronger
      • Find a Living Longer Living Stronger program in your area
      • Living Longer Living Stronger Online
      • Exercising at home
      • Living Longer Living Stronger providers and instructors
    • Reach, Train, Employ
    • Reminiscing Story Cards
    • Older Men’s Discussion Group
    • A Pat, Chat and a Walk a Day
    • Victorian Seniors Festival
      • Victorian Senior of the Year Awards
    • COTA Cycling
  • About
  • Policy
  • Information
  • News
  • Events
  • Our Programs
  • Login
About
  • Annual reports and financial statements
  • Board of Governance
  • Contact Us
  • Work with us
  • Our supporters
  • COTA Victoria Privacy Statement
Work with us
  • Current Job Opportunities
Policy
  • Stories of Change
  • Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety
  • Our policy priorities
  • Age friendly communities
  • Assistive Technology for All
  • Social Isolation
  • Ageism in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Seniors Rights Victoria
  • End of life
  • COTA Green Sages
  • Submissions
Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety
  • Telling your story
COTA Green Sages
  • COTA Green Sages events
Information
  • Looking for information?
  • COVID-19 resources for older Victorians
  • WISE services
  • Aged Care Navigators
  • How-to guides
  • It’s Your Energy - New Energy Rights for Victorians
  • Resources
News
  • Latest News
  • Media
  • COTA Connects
  • ONE COTA magazine
Media
  • Media Releases
COTA Connects
  • COTA Connects Archive
  • Sign-up for e-Newsletter
Our Programs
  • Living Longer Living Stronger
  • Reach, Train, Employ
  • Reminiscing Story Cards
  • Older Men’s Discussion Group
  • A Pat, Chat and a Walk a Day
  • Victorian Seniors Festival
  • COTA Cycling
Living Longer Living Stronger
  • Find a Living Longer Living Stronger program in your area
  • Living Longer Living Stronger Online
  • Exercising at home
  • Living Longer Living Stronger providers and instructors
Victorian Seniors Festival
  • Victorian Senior of the Year Awards

Stage 3 Stay at Home restrictions – what do they mean for you?

14 July 202016/07/2020
Community, COVID-19, COVID-19, Health and Wellbeing, Information
Stage 3 Stay at Home restrictions – what do they mean for you? preview image

In an effort to control recent COVID-19 outbreaks, the Victorian Government has reintroduced Stage 3 Stay at Home restrictions across metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire. These restrictions will be in place for at least six weeks from 11.59 pm on 8 July.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions.

What areas are affected?

The Stage 3 restrictions affect Mitchell Shire and all greater Melbourne local government areas (LGAs), including Mornington Peninsula. Restrictions apply to both the metropolitan and rural parts of these outer Melbourne LGAs. Greater Geelong is not included in the Stage 3 restrictions.

Outside of these areas, the Stay Safe restrictions apply. Check the DHHS restrictions map to see if your area is affected.

One public housing estate in North Melbourne remains under increased restrictions. Residents of this tower may not leave home for any reason. A hotline has been set up for information and should be the first point of contact for residents. Call 1800 961 054.

What restrictions apply?

People living in greater Melbourne and Mitchell Shire must follow the Stay at Home directions and may only leave home for four reasons:

  • shopping for food and supplies that you need
  • care and caregiving – including attending regular medical appointments
  • exercise (outdoors, with one other person from your household)
  • work and education – if you can’t do it from home.

Many businesses and services that have re-opened in recent weeks have now been closed in these areas. This includes:

  • gyms, sports facilities and swimming pools
  • libraries and community facilities (like community halls and RSL clubs)
  • cafes, restaurants and pubs – except for takeaway
  • places of worship
  • galleries, museums, cinemas, theatres and other entertainment venues.

Victoria Police and Authorised Officers are conducting spot checks to make sure everyone is following the directions. Road blocks have been set up on some main roads in and out of the city.

Can I visit friends or family?

Melbourne and Mitchell Shire residents cannot have social visitors to their home. Visitors are only allowed if that person is providing care or essential services, but remember to practice good hygiene and keep physical distance between yourself and others. Partners that live separately can still visit each other at home.

I live in the restricted area – can I leave or visit country Victoria?

You can only leave a restricted area for three reasons:

  • shopping for essential goods or services
  • care or caregiving
  • work or education, if you can’t do this from home.

Exercise and recreation are not reasons to leave Melbourne or Mitchell Shire.

Remember, your restriction levels travel with you. While you are outside of the restricted area, you still need to follow the same guidelines that would apply if you were at home. This means you can’t eat in a café or visit friends in regional Victoria, even though these activities are allowed elsewhere.

You can still travel within the Melbourne and Mitchell Shire area, but only for the four reasons listed above. Try to keep your activities close to home – if you want to exercise outdoors, visit a park near to your house rather than one further away.

I don’t live in Melbourne

You can still travel through Melbourne or Mitchell Shire if you need to, but try to plan your trip so you don’t need to stop. You can only stop or visit the area if you are shopping for essentials, getting care or caregiving, or to go to work if you can’t work at home. Exercise and recreation or social visits are not reasons to travel into a restricted area.

Should I still attend medical appointments?

Yes. You can leave home for care and caregiving – including visiting a health professional or buying medical supplies. You can travel into or leave a restricted area to access any of these services too. It is important you keep up with your regular medical appointments. If you don’t feel comfortable attending an appointment in person, contact your clinic to ask about telehealth consults.

Can I go to the shops?

Yes, you can go shopping for essential goods and services. Shopping for recreation or entertainment is not allowed. Try to shop locally if you can. Keep your distance from others and if practical, avoid going at busy times.

Anyone can visit a shopping centre in Melbourne or Mitchell Shire if it is to buy essential goods or services. If a service has been closed because of restrictions in your area, you can’t go and purchase this service in an area where it is still open.

Can I get deliveries or pick up online orders?

Yes, deliveries for online purchases or takeaways are still available as usual. Make sure you keep 1.5 metres between you and the delivery person. If your delivery is dropped at a post office, you can go to collect it. Many supermarkets offer click and collect options – you can leave home to pick these up.

More questions?

The Department of Health and Human Services website covers a wide range of questions, while our Resources for Older Victorians page offers general information for older Victorians. You can also call the National COVID Older Persons Information Line on 1800 171 866.

COVID-19, new restrictions, Victoria

2 thoughts on “Stage 3 Stay at Home restrictions – what do they mean for you?”

  1. Kay Boyle says:
    15/07/2020 at 1:01 pm

    I am scheduled to have Colonoscopy / gastroscopy mid-August, but because of current travel restrictions I cannot ask anyone to take me / bring me home from day procedure nor stay with me. Also I do not want to be in hospital surrounds at present. What do you suggest? Thank you. I am 77 yrs and any friend for driving me is similar age.

    Reply
    • Nicky Barry says:
      19/07/2020 at 4:18 pm

      Hi Kay,

      We do understand your concerns. However we are not in a position to provide people with advice about medical issues.

      Part of the answer depends on your reason for requiring a colonoscopy. If it is for routine reasons you can probably ask your doctor to have it rescheduled for after the restrictions ease. If it is for a more urgent reason it might be important for you to have it now. We strongly urge you to speak with the doctor who ordered your procedure and ask them to explain to you the safest way to have this done and whether it can be delayed.

      Regards,
      Team COTA

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

RELATED NEWS

Have your COVID-19 test done at home using the Call to Test Service preview image

Have your COVID-19 test done at home using the Call to Test Service

14 January 2021
Read more
Read more
Team Leader Advocacy preview image

Team Leader Advocacy

12 January 2021
Read more
Read more
Older Victorian’s keen to share pandemic experiences preview image

Older Victorian’s keen to share pandemic experiences

15 December 2020
Read more
Read more
SHARE THIS CONTENT:
COTA Victoria Logo
  • About
  • Policy
  • Information
  • News
  • Events
  • Our Programs
Registered charity
Follow on
Facebook
COTA FEDERATION
  • Australia
  • ACT
  • New South Wales
  • Northern Territory
  • Queensland
  • South Australia
  • Tasmania
  • Western Australia
COTA Western Australia COTA Northern Territory COTA Queensland COTA New South Wales COTA ACT COTA Victoria COTA South Australia COTA Tasmania
Follow on
Twitter
GET INVOLVED
  • Sign up for E-News
  • Get Involved
  • COTA Insurance
  • Follow on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Contact Us
Registered charity
TERMS PRIVACY CONTACT SITEMAP
© 2021 COTA Victoria ABN 81 960 500 420 WEB DESIGN CODE AND VISUAL
Back to top
All correspondence may also be collected and stored, particularly in regard to registrations, including Email. Any information collected by COTA Victoria is collected via correspondence from you or your organisation. This may be via the telephone, Email, mail, fax or directly through our website.AcceptReject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.