Face mask rules have now been eased again in Victoria as droves of people prepare to return to working life in the office.
As of midnight last night, masks are only mandatory in the following places: on flights, in airports, in hospitals, on public transport, in supermarkets, commercial passenger vehicles, shopping centres and other large retail stores.
People should still carry masks with them at all times, even when not intending to use it.
In another change, as of today private sector employers will be able to have up to 50 per cent of staff working from the office.
For public sector offices the cap will be 25 per cent.
New research shows most feel people safe to get back to work after being home-bound for nine months.
"Our message to workers returning to the city is that we've missed you, welcome back," Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp said in a statement.
A Roy Morgan survey of 503 city workers from late November to mid-December shows almost two-thirds were either willing to return to their central Melbourne workplaces (44 per cent) or had already (15 per cent).
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The most commonly cited factors making workers feel safe to return were COVID- safe plans and adherence to health measures.
Nearly 60 per cent of people surveyed wanted to return to the workplace for improved health and wellbeing, while 53 per cent were motivated by the improved productivity of the office environment.
The survey, commissioned on behalf of the City of Melbourne, found only 10 per cent of respondents were not willing to return to the office at all.
"Our research shows that while many people have embraced greater flexibility and convenience working from home, they don't want to live at work," Ms Capp said.
Victoria's staged return-to-work plan was delayed a week to allow health authorities to mop up the Black Rock cluster, seeded by Sydney's northern beaches outbreak.
