Restrictions on regional Victoria will ease from Thursday night, while Melbourne faces another week of lockdown.
In a statement released today, Acting Premier James Merlino said: "With no community transmission in regional Victoria this week, regional restrictions are proposed to begin easing from 11:59pm tomorrow night. We'll use the next 24 hours to continue tracing and testing and confirm that this change can go ahead."
However he stressed that no one from Melbourne would be allowed to visit the regions over the upcoming long weekend.
"We’ve seen examples of people who left Melbourne, broke the rules and took the virus with them. We do not want that to happen again.
"To that end, most businesses that are open in regional Victoria but closed in Melbourne – restaurants or beauty for example – must check the IDs of everyone they serve. We know it’s an extra ask on staff and customers – but ultimately, it’s about keeping your community safe.
"We’ll also expand our QR requirements to make it mandatory in retail settings like supermarkets and shops. The 15-minute threshold will also be removed so anyone entering a shop or a cafe will need to check-in."
Good news for regions
The easing restrictions for regional areas include the end of travel restrictions and the five reasons for leaving home.
Schools will return to face to face learning, and public gatherings in outdoor areas (like parks) are limited to 10 people.
Hospitality, retail and beauty services can reopen as well.
"Restaurants and cafés can reopen to a maximum of 50," Mr Merlino said.
"Retail, beauty and personal care, entertainment venues and community facilities will also open in line with density limits."
Religious ceremonies and funerals will be capped at 50, weddings at ten. People are still be asked to work or study from home if they can, and offices will be capped at 50 per cent of staff working on site.
Two things won't change.
There are still no visitors to your home and masks must be worn inside.
And while Melburnians will not be able to travel, regional Victorians can travel to other regional areas.
The state-wide designated Covid unit will be patrolling in regional areas and people who have left Metropolitan Melbourne during the lockdown risk being fined.
The full list of current restrictions are available on www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/victorias-restriction-levels-covid-19.
The government has released the following list of the updated restrictions for regional Victoria. These are due to come into force at 11.59pm on Thursday, subject to health advice.
