REGIONAL Victoria is now open to metropolitan Melbourne with the “ring of steel” to be lifted from 11.59pm Sunday.
Victoria recorded its ninth consecutive day of zero new coronavirus cases or deaths on Sunday, prompting Premier Daniel Andrews to announce a raft of changes for Melburnians, including granting them access to country Victoria.
The Victorian state of distaster will not be renewed from Sunday.
The state now has just four confirmed active cases.
It brings Melbourne’s rolling 14-day average to 0.4 — but two mystery cases remain.
Victoria Tourism Industry Council CEO Felicia Mariani, welcomed plans to remove the ring of steel, allow staggered increases of patron numbers in hospitality, and change accommodation rules.
“After nine long months of heartache and struggle brought on by the nation’s harshest lockdown restrictions, Victoria’s tourism industry (Sunday) received the news that will allow them to start their pathway to recovery,” Ms Mariani said.
“(Sunday’s) confirmation that the ‘ring of steel’ will cease to exist from 11.59pm, bringing metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria back together as one is what the industry has been waiting for.
Regional Victoria needs people from Melbourne travelling across our state to fully kick-start any hope of recovery.”
From 11.59pm November 22 there will be further relaxations statewide, including:
– A household would be able to receive up 10 10 visitors at a time and up to 50 people can gather outdoors from any number of households.
– Indoor hospitality venues can take bookings for a group size of up to 20 people, subject to density quotients. Overall venue capacity will increase to 100 indoors and 200 outdoors.
– Up to 100 people can visit the gym subject to density quotients, with a group size of up to 20 people.
– Masks can be removed for facial waxing, facials, beard trimmings and piercings around the mouth, nose and cheeks.
