On 14 December 2019, the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019 came into operation. The Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019 support the operation of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 and provide a framework for businesses, councils, the Department of Health and individuals to protect the health and wellbeing of Victorians.
The regulations cover a range of measures to prevent and respond to the spread of infectious diseases and minimise public health risks associated with certain businesses, such as aquatic facilities, tattooists and businesses that perform skin penetration procedures.
The regulations include:
- Vector-borne infections disease control
- Registered premises (hairdressing, cosmetic application, beauty therapy, colonic irrigation, skin penetration and tattooing) – infection control
- Aquatic facilities
- Cooling tower systems
- Legionella risks in certain premises (water delivery systems)
- Pest control (licenses, qualifications and training)
- Notification of infectious diseases, micro-organisms and medical conditions
- Immunisation and exclusions (infectious disease prevention in schools and children’s services )
- Closed court orders for prescribed diseases
- Consultative councils.
Amendments to the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019
Amendments have been made to the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019 to:
- Prescribe HIV and Hepatitis C as prescribed diseases and HIV and hepatitis as specified infectious diseases (commenced 1 October 2022).
- Prescribe influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and chlamydia trachomatis infection as notifiable conditions for which testing information needs to be notified by pathology services on a weekly basis (commenced 1 January 2023).
- Make minor miscellaneous amendments.
Details of the changes to the law can be found here in the Public Health and Wellbeing Further Amendment Regulations 2022 and are now included in the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019.
Regulations may be amended from time to time, please visit Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations on the Legislation Victoria website for updates.
Reviewed 01 March 2023
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