Benjamin Millar
Victoria’s lockdown will be lifted at 11.59pm on Thursday, with record vaccination rates putting the state on track to hit its 70 per cent double dose vaccination target nearly a week early.
With the first dose vaccination rate at almost 90 per cent, Victoria is expected this week to hit a significant milestone on the Roadmap to Deliver the National Plan– 70 per cent of Victorians 16 years and over having received both their vaccine doses.
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton has therefore brought forward the easing of significant restrictions to 11.59pm Thursday, October 21.
Premier Daniel Andrews said Victorians have sacrificed so much to protect their families, friends and the whole community from coronavirus – and have saved countless lives because of it.
“The milestone we’re about to hit marks a new and hopeful path for the whole state – allowing businesses to reopen and Victorians to get back to things they love,” he said.
The curfew and the 15km travel radius will be lifted, however movement between regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne will only be allowed for permitted reasons.
Under the changes, up to 10 people including dependents per day will be able to visit homes in both regional and metropolitan Melbourne.
It is “highly recommended” that Victorians only permit people aged 12 years and over who are fully vaccinated to visit them at home.
People in metropolitan Melbourne must continue to work from home if they can and anyone on the authorized workers list is required to have had at least one dose of the vaccine in order to work on site.
Childcare will be open to children who are already attending, as well as children whose parents or guardians are fully vaccinated.
Return to school plan will be brought forward, with the start of the staggered return of Grade 3 to Year 11 in metro Melbourne commencing on Friday, October 22.
Outdoor settings such as cafes and pools will open with up to 50 people per venue, but are subject to density limits and only for those fully vaccinated.
Indoor settings like restaurants and cafes will be able to reopen with up to 20 people indoors with density limits, and only if all attendees – including workers – are fully vaccinated.
Large scale construction sites will increase to 100 percent capacity, but only if all workers are fully vaccinated.
Masks will still be required both indoors and outdoors for all Victorians.
For more info on the Roadmap or to book a vaccination visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-covidsafe-settings
