COVIDSafe Principles for business
- ensure physical distancing (1.5 metres)
- wear a face mask
- practise good hygiene
- keep good records and act quickly if staff become unwell
- avoid interactions in close spaces
- create workforce bubbles
COVIDSafe Plans
All businesses must have a COVIDSafe plan for onsite operations.
Density quotients
Market stalls can open provided they adhere to the density quotient of one person per two square metres. The density quotient limits the members of the public that are permitted in a space at any one time to the number calculated by dividing the total publicly accessible space (measured in square metres) by 2 and: for an outdoor space, market or retail shopping centre, applies to the total space permitted to operate under these directions.
A person who owns, operates or controls a market stall, market or retail shopping centre must:
- Limit the number of members of the public permitted by the density quotient as it applies respectively to the market stall, market or the retail shopping centre; and
- Comply with the cleaning requirement respectively for the market stall, market or the common areas of the retail shopping centre; and
- Use reasonable endeavours to implement relevant recommendations by the Victorian Government to manage public health risks arising out of the operation of the facility.
Facemasks
Face masks must be worn in all indoor spaces in indoor markets of 2000 or more square metres. Face masks are also strongly recommended outdoors when you cannot keep 1.5 metres from others: Face masks | Coronavirus Victoria
Face painters
Facepainters should wear face masks while providing facepainting services. For information on face-painting refer to Industry Restart Guidelines: Hair and Beauty Services | COVIDSafe Summer under Retail Trade sector guidance.
Musicians and Performers
At outdoor markets, performers should be set-up to maintain a minimum of 1.5 metres distance from others. For more information on performances: Entertainment and culture | Coronavirus Victoria
Record-Keeping
An employer is not required to comply with the record keeping requirement […] where they are operating a Work Premises which is a market [or] market stall […] with respect to customers who attend that Work Premises, where it is not practicable to do so: Workplace Directions (No 21)
Samples / Tastings
“Under the Third Step of the roadmap for reopening, a person who owns, controls or operates a market stall (whether indoor or outdoor) is permitted to serve food samples, as long as its predominant business is the provision of food and drink for consumption off the premises of the market. Each market stall must comply with the relevant food safety regulations. Kind Regards, Industry Coordination and Recovery, Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions. djpr.vic.gov.au” 6/11/2020
Seating
There is no provision for outdoor seating at markets in the current Retail Goods directions. There are specific directions for seating provision as part of an outdoor food and drink retail facility. Markets or stalls wishing to provide seating must read and follow the specific directions for seating provision as part of an outdoor food and drink retail facility: Cafes and restaurants | Coronavirus Victoria
Signage
Each public entry must display a sign specifying the maximum number of members of the public that may be present in that space at a single time, being the number permitted by the density quotient, rounded down to the nearest whole number: Workplace Directions (no 21)