Acting Premier James Merlino just announced the easing of restrictions in a press conference.
As of 11:59pm on Thursday night, Melbourne will emerge from lockdown after spending the last two weeks under strict stay-at-home restrictions. It comes after Victoria recorded one new locally-acquired case on Tuesday, detected from 28,485 test results. 19,533 vaccination doses were also administered on Tuesday.
What you need to know
- Melbourne’s lockdown will be eased as of 11:59pm on Thursday night
- The current 10km travel bubble will be extended to 25km, while masks will no longer be mandatory outdoors unless you can’t social distance. They will remain mandatory in any indoor spaces apart from the home
- Pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes will be able to reopen for dine-in service under new restrictions but information regarding live music venues is still vague.
Stay up to date with what’s happening in Melbourne here.
As part of the eased restrictions, there will be a 25km travel bubble in place, so unfortunately there will be no regional adventures for Melburnians come the long weekend. The only reasons to be able to venture beyond the bubble is for work, education, care and caregiving or to get vaccinated.
Businesses will be able to open offices if they wish to a capacity of 25 per cent or ten people, whichever is greater, while religious ceremonies and funerals will be capped at 50 people, with weddings at ten people.
Masks will still have to be worn in any indoor spaces apart from the home but won’t have to be worn outside unless you can’t social distance. Public gatherings will be increased to ten people, meaning Melburnians can catch up with their friends at a park or at the beach, but what’s the go with private gatherings and going to the pub?
Visitors to the home will not be permitted under the new restrictions but hospitality venues such as pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes will be able to reopen for dine-in service with a density limit of one person per four square metres. There is a patron cap of 100 people for the venue and 50 people inside.
As to live music venues, only venues that are able to have fixed seating in their bandroom will be able to host gigs. From those that can do that, they must operate up to 25 per cent of seated capacity, up to a maximum of 50 people per venue, while adhering to the one person per four square metre rule.
For more info on the easing of restrictions in Melbourne, head here.
