Victoria ends lockdown five days early

VICTORIA will end its sixth long-running lockdown five days earlier than planned, as the state races to its seventy per cent fully vaccinated target.

Premier Daniel Andrews made the announcement on Sunday, saying now was the time for Victorians to celebrate.

“As of 11.59pm Thursday there will be no lockdown, no restrictions on leaving home and no curfew,” Mr Andrews said.

Victoria announced 1838 new local COVID-19 cases and seven deaths on Sunday.

Under the state’s roadmap, Melbourne’s current lockdown – which has run for 73 days – was due to end on October 26, the predicted date when 70 per cent of those aged over 16 are doubled-dosed.

However, Victoria is now forecast to reach that milestone as early as Thursday because of soaring second-dose rates.

Both Mr Andrews and Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton last week said they were open to taking the first step out of lockdown early, in line with reaching vaccination coverage goals.

Restrictions will ease further when 80 per cent of the eligible population has received both vaccine doses, originally projected for 5 November.

Latest data shows 88.05 per cent of Victoria’s over-16 population have had one vaccine dose and 65.02 per cent both.

It comes as a COVID-positive teenager with other health conditions became the youngest victim of the Victoria’s third wave.

Coronavirus commander Jeroen Weimar confirmed the 15-year-old girl had died while infected, as the state reported a further 1993 locally acquired cases on Saturday.

Meanwhile, police squashed another would-be anti-lockdown, anti-vaccine protest in Melbourne on Saturday.

Officers significantly outnumbered the wannabe demonstrators, several of whom were arrested as they attempted to gather at Princes Park in Carlton North.

Organisers flagged other meeting locations using an encrypted social media channel before calling it quits.

– BY AAP