Premier unveils Victoria’s road map out of lockdown

Victoria has recorded 507 new local COVID-19 cases and another death in as Premier Daniel Andrews unveils Victoria’s road map out of lockdown. According to the road map restrictions will be eased in stages with plans to allow more freedoms at 70, 80 and 90 per cent vaccination rates.

The announcement brings Victoria in line with NSW as the second Australian state to plan a significant relaxation of restrictions based on vaccination rates even as Covid continues to spread in the community.

The first major changes for metropolitan Melbourne will start  when 70 per cent of Victorians aged over 16 are fully vaccinated, a milestone expected around October 26.

According to the plan , when 70 per cent of the full vaccination target is reached, hospitality will reopen for outdoor service, hairdressing can happen for fully vaccinated people, the travel limit will become 25kms and weddings can take place with up to 50 people.

After 80 per cent is reached, intrastate travel will be allowed, all school year levels can return, hospitality can open for seated service indoors and home gatherings will return.

Premiere  also said the aim is have this year Christmas as close to normal as possible and up to 30 visitors will be allowed to the home provided that 80 per cent full vaccination target is met.

Folowing is the Victoria’s detail Roadmap out of lockdown:

70 per cent of Victorians aged over 16 are fully vaccinated

• Lockdown ends in Melbourne
• Reasons to leave home/curfew scrapped
• 10km travel limit increases to 25km
• Ten fully vaccinated people can gather outdoors, community sport training returns for minimum number required for training
• Pubs/clubs/entertainment venues can open to 50 fully-vaccinated people outside
• Weddings/funerals for 50 fully-vaccinated people outdoors
• Hairdressers/personal care for up to five fully-vaccinated people
• In regional Victoria: Community sport can return indoors for minimum number required, pubs/clubs/entertainment venues can open indoors to 30 fully-vaccinated people; schools students return onsite at least part-time; funerals/weddings for 30 fully-vaccinated people inside and 100 outside

80 per cent of Victorians aged over 16 have one vaccine dose

• Recreational sport including basketball, golf, tennis, cricket for up to five people, access must be contactless
• Personal training outside for up to five fully-vaccinated people
• In regional Victoria masks can be removed at hairdressers/beauty services, final year VCAL students return to onsite learning

• School return planned for October 5:
• Students can return to sit the GAT if required
• From October 6 on-site learning resumes for VCE Units 3/4 and final year VCAL and IB students
• From October 18 prep students can return (three days a week), years one and two (two days)
• From October 26, or 70 per cent full vaccination, school students return to onsite learning at least part-time

80 per cent of Victorians over 16 are fully vaccinated

• Up to 10 people, including dependents, can visit people's homes
• Up to 150 fully-vaccinated people can dine indoors and up to 30 can gather outside in public
• Indoor community sport reopens for minimum number of people required
• Masks no longer be required outside
• Pubs/restaurants/cafes reopen for seated service, 150 fully-vaccinated people allowed inside and 500 out
• Hairdressers/beauty salon/other personal care reopens for fully-vaccinated people
• All retail can reopen
• Fully-vaccinated Victorians can return to workplaces but still asked to WFH if possible
• Early childhood education reopens
• All students return to school with additional safety measures
• Adult education returns to onsite learning
• Weddings/funerals/religious services return for 150 fully-vaccinated adults indoors and 500 out