SWEEPING changes to the state’s mask mandate are set to come into effect later this week.

As of 11:59pm on Friday, a Victorian recommendation to work or study from home where possible will be removed, with masks no longer required in most indoor settings.

According to Minister for Health Martin Foley, an increase in third dose vaccination rates has allowed mask expectations to relax, with facial coverings only required in specific circumstances, including:

• People on public transport, in taxis and rideshare, on planes, and indoors at an airport;
• People working or visiting hospitals and indoor areas at care facilities;
• Hospitality, retail and court system workers;
• Workers at justice and correctional facilities;
• Students in year three or above at primary school, and workers at early childhood centres and primary schools (masks can be removed in secondary school); and
• People working indoors at an event with more than 30,000 people attending in special circumstances, such as if you have COVID-19 or are a close contact and you’re leaving home.

As of Monday, restrictions on elective surgery will lift, with private hospitals to return to 100 per cent of pre-COVID activity where possible.

Public hospitals will be permitted to resume all surgery, but capacity will be dictated by staff availability and additional COVID demands.

“Victorians have done such a great job getting vaccinated, so we’re able to take safe steps to get more people to return to the office,” Mr Foley said.

“We’re balancing the need to support our health system with the benefits of easing restrictions in a careful and sensible way.”

Mr Foley also announced extensions would be provided for workers to receive their third dose of a vaccine, with education workers expected to be “up to date” by March 25.

Fully vaccinated workers yet to be eligible for a third dose will have a deadline of three months and two weeks from their second dosage, while workers who have recently arrived from overseas will be required to receive their third dose within four weeks of their arrival.

Those with a temporary medical exemption will have a two week deadline from the exemption’s expiry.

For full details on the new restrictions, visit www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au.