Coronavirus Victoria: What do the changes mean for Melburnians?
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After 12 weeks and one day of hard lockdown, Melbourne has finally been given a clear path to freedom.
Premier Daniel Andrews on Monday announced a major easing of restrictions, to begin at 11:59pm on Tuesday, after hundreds of negative test results were returned from the northern suburbs showing the state has control of the latest coronavirus outbreak.
Melburnians picnic at the Botanical Gardens on Saturday.Credit:Chris Hopkins
Among the biggest changes will be to retail and hospitality, with businesses allowed to reopen from 11:59pm on Tuesday.
Melburnians will also regain some of the social freedoms denied to us for months, including the ability to meet outside in greater numbers, and allow visitors to our homes.
Below you'll find a building list of what we know about each of the levels, when they will apply and what they mean.
Previous announcements have shown there is often room for clarification and exceptions, so please check back as this story will be updated to reflect new information.
- From 11:59pm on Tuesday, Melbourne moves from "stay at home" to "stay safe", meaning there will be no restrictions on people leaving their homes
- All retail will re-open
- The 25-kilometre rule will stay in place for now
- The "ring of steel" between metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria remains in place – for now
- From 11:59pm on Tuesday, cafes, pubs and restaurants can re-open with 50 people outdoors, and 20 people indoors
- Beauty services – where people can wear a mask – can reopen
- Libraries and community venues can reopen for outdoor events
- Outdoor gatherings will still have a cap of 10 people, although they can be from more than two households
- Weddings can have up to 10 people, while funerals can have up to 20 people
- From 11:59pm on November 8, Victoria will again "become one", Mr Andrews said, with the 25-kilometre rule removed and Victorians free to once more travel between metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria at will
More to come
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