VICTORIA’S fifth COVID-19 lockdown will come to an end at midnight, as the state enters what has been dubbed as ‘Lockdown Lite.’
As of 11:59pm, the five reasons to leave home and five kilometre travel limit will be scrapped, schools will return to face-to-face learning and hospitality, retailers and gyms will all re-open.
However, things will not immediately return to normal, as restaurants, bars, cafes and pubs will still be subjected to a density limit of one person per four square metres, as well as harsh patron caps.
Restrictions on private gatherings will remain, with no visitors allowed in the home for at least the next two weeks.
Masks will also remain mandatory in both indoor and outdoor settings, while public gatherings will be increased to 10.
Intrastate travel is able to resume, with the only restriction being the requirement of a negative COVID test result 72 hours before visiting an alpine resort.
Community sport is permitted to return at all levels for training and competition, with spectators unable to attend.
Offices will be able to re-open at a maximum of 25 per cent capacity or 10 people, whichever is greater, while hairdressers and beauticians have also been given the green light.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced this easing of restrictions to the media this morning.
“Essentially we come out of this lockdown, the five reasons to leave home are gone, the 5km travel limit is gone,” Mr Andrews said.
“To every Victorian who checked in with our QR system, who got tested and quarantined, and stayed home to slow the spread of this virus, thank you – it’s because of you we’ve able to get on top of this Delta outbreak and open up our state.”
Mr Andrews said Victorians should be proud that the state has negotiated another outbreak of the Delta variant.
“We are in no way triumphant, in no way boastful, we are grateful for the work every Victorian has done,” he said.
“We have seen off two delta outbreaks and every Victorian should be proud of that.”
These relaxed restrictions come after Victoria recorded another 10 cases today, all of which were linked to current outbreaks and in quarantine for the duration of their infectious period, bringing the total number of active cases to 198.
