The Victorian Government has confirmed the City of Greater Geelong and Surf Coast Shire will exit lockdown as planned at 11:59pm tonight on Sunday 26 September. With these changes, Geelong and the Surf Coast will move to the same COVIDSafe settings as the rest of regional Victoria, with no reasons required to leave the home and no limit on travel throughout regional Victoria. Limited outdoor community sports training will also resume.
From 11:59pm tonight, VSBL club Geelong Baycats can return to training with the minimum number required to train. Spectators are prohibited except one parent permitted to supervise children. All players must complete the return to training registration for regional Victoria, and the club must maintain an attendance register and COVID-19 restriction compliance documentation.
Mitchell Shire has more than twice the number of active cases as Greater Geelong and will remain in lockdown due to its close proximity to areas of highest concern in metropolitan Melbourne.
As a reminder, the lockdown restrictions in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire include:
- Six reasons to leave home:
- shopping for necessary goods and services (within 10km radius of home unless not available within)
- four hours of exercise (within 10km radius of home unless not available within, and with only one other person)
- caregiving/compassionate/medical reasons
- authorised work or permitted education – with valid permit only
- getting the coronavirus vaccine
- outdoor social interaction (picnic, walk, or other outdoor activity) with another person not from your household. Up to five adults (plus dependents) from two households may gather outdoors if all adults are fully vaccinated.
- No public or private gatherings other than for permitted outdoor social interaction
- Two people may train outdoors with a personal trainer
- No community sport
- Masks must be worn both indoors and outdoors unless an exemption applies
- Daily curfew from 9pm – 5am (metropolitan Melbourne only)
Premier Daniel Andrews also confirmed Victoria is set to hit its first vaccination target on the Roadmap to Deliver the National Plan and a modest easing of restrictions will be able to occur this week. For full details, please read the latest update from the Victorian Government HERE.
“We are pleased to see lockdown lifting in Geelong and anticipate further clarification from the Victorian Government on the state’s reopening roadmap and what COVIDSafe measures will be required to resume community sport,” Baseball Victoria Interim CEO Gemma Scales said. “We continue to consult with stakeholders and communicate with VSBL clubs as we prepare for a safe and successful summer season.”
COVID-19 vaccines are currently available for all Victorians aged 12 years and over. Getting vaccinated helps protect you from getting sick with COVID-19. The vaccines being used in Australia are safe, free, and very effective at preventing serious illness and loss of life from COVID-19.
Click HERE to book your vaccine appointment.
It remains very important that Victorians monitor for symptoms, get tested, and get vaccinated when eligible.
To stop the spread, everyone should check this list of exposure sites and follow these instructions:
- Anyone who has visited a Tier 1 exposure site during the times listed must immediately isolate, get a coronavirus (COVID-19) test, and quarantine for 14 days from the date of exposure.
- Anyone who has visited a Tier 2 exposure site during times listed should urgently get a test and isolate until they receive a negative result.
- Anyone who has visited a Tier 3 exposure site during times listed should monitor for symptoms - If symptoms develop, immediately get tested and isolate until you receive a negative result.
If you have been to an exposure site, are a close contact of a confirmed case, or exhibit any symptoms of COVID-19 – such as fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, chills or sweats, or change in sense of smell or taste – get a test immediately. Find out where to get tested HERE.
While Victoria works to get more people vaccinated, you can stay safe by washing your hands regularly, wearing a face mask, coughing and sneezing into your elbow, and keeping at least 1.5 metres from others. If you have any symptoms of COVID-19, no matter how mild, you must get tested and stay home.
Click HERE to view our frequently asked questions.
Click HERE to view all COVID resources, including the Baseball Victoria Return to Play COVIDSafe Plan.
We encourage our members to stay connected and prioritise their mental health. Please view mental health resources on our website HERE, including information from Beyond Blue, Headspace, Kids Helpline, Lifeline and R U OK?
To view more COVID-19 resources from the Victorian Government, click HERE.