Regional lockdown will lift at midnight

REGIONAL Victoria will officially come out of lockdown tomorrow (Friday, June 3) in an easing of the COVID-19 restrictions that remain place across Melbourne.

As forecast by the Victorian Government yesterday (Wednesday, June 2), the lesser restrictions as of 11.59pm tonight (Thursday, June 3) include no limitations on travel, with the five reasons to leave home removed but new rules introduced on travelling to Melbourne.

Masks will still need to be worn inside, but are only required outside if social distancing of 1.5 meters isn’t possible.

At school, all year levels and all students will return to face-to-face schooling.

Outdoor public gatherings will be increase to 10 people and restaurants and cafés can reopen to a maximum of 50 customers.

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 and weddings at 10.

Children can return to community sport, but adults are limited to training only.

Meanwhile, office occupancy will be capped at 50 per cent.

This morning, Victoria recorded three new cases in the previous 24 hours. All three are primary contacts of confirmed cases.

At a press conference this afternoon, Acting Premier James Merlino said he wanted to thank Victorians for three things.

“First, going out and getting tested. It was a record date for tests yesterday. Over 57,000 people received a test – that is an incredible effort and I want to thank all Victorians.

“Second, for getting vaccinated. It was a record day for vaccinations with over 23,000 administered.

“Third, doing the right thing over the last seven days and for doing the right thing over the next seven days.

“We do not do this because we want to. We do not do this because it is a choice. We do this because we have to do it.”

He said he was “not too worried, to be honest” at the prospect of Melburnians flocking to regional areas to take advantage of the lesser restrictions.

“The settings that we have in place, whether it is the 10 kilometre limit that will apply for people living in Melbourne, the additional patrols that Victoria Police have, the requirement on regional businesses to ensure that people and patrons coming into their shops are living in regional Victoria or has a reason to be in regional Victoria… I think for all those reasons I am not expecting too much there.”

In response to a question about whether Melbourne’s lockdown could be lifted sooner than the next seven days, deputy chief health officer Professor Allen Cheng said this was being reviewed on a daily basis.

“Today is not that day, but we are keeping a close eye on things and it really depends on, particularly, the number of cases that you have community exposure and with the lockdown and contact tracing and so on, that number should decrease.”

For the latest details on Victoria’s coronavirus restrictions and a full list of the changes, head to the Department of Human Health and Services’ website.