VICTORIA will take its next step to freedom on October 26, when the state is likely to hit 70 per cent fully vaccinated, Premier Daniel Andrews has announced.
The lockdown in Melbourne will lift at that point, and restrictions will ease statewide. When the state hits 80 per cent fully vaccinated, about November 5, there will be “more substantial” changes.
But some restrictions in regional Victoria will ease sooner, with senior students to return to classrooms, outdoor golf and tennis to return, and mask rules to be eased for beauty and hairdressers on or about September 26, when regional Victoria is expected to hit 80 per cent single-dosed.
Additionally, from tonight, NSW border bubble local government areas, except Albury, will be changed from extreme risk zones to red zones, meaning cross-border residents can cross for any reason provided they haven’t left the cross-border region or visited an extreme risk area.
More information, including a full table illustrating the roadmap, is available from premier.vic.gov.au
Outlining the plan, Mr Andrews said there “will be no turning back” once the reopening began.
“We have got to normalise this, we have got to pass through and beyond this pandemic,” he said.
Mr Andrews said Victorians could look forward to a more normal Christmas this year, with up to 30 guests allowed to a home if the 80 per cent vaccination target was met in time.
However, the Premier was clear the reopening would not mean smooth sailing, warning COVID-19 cases, hospital admissions and deaths were likely to continue to rise into the new year, according to Burnet Institute modelling.
“On or about the 15th of December, cases will peak at about four and a half thousand,” Mr Andrews said.
“Towards the end of December, admissions to hospital will peak at about 3,150, and in January, deaths due to COVID-19 in the Delta variant will peak at around 2,200. These are sobering numbers. The notion of opening this place up very quickly at 70% or 60% simply cannot be done.”
Victoria reported 507 new COVID-19 cases and one death today. There are 5262 active cases in the state.
Mr Andrews also announced Greater Geelong, the Surf Coast and Mitchell Shire will enter a seven-day lockdown from 11.59pm on Sunday, meaning the regions will be under the same restrictions as Melbourne and Ballarat.
More to come.
Key dates
The following are the indicative dates on which the Victorian Government expects Victoria to hit milestones and restrictions to ease.
- September 26: 80% of 16+ with a single dose
- October 5: Prep-Grade 2 and VCE, VCAL and final years IB students to return to school. Advice for other grades to be announced by September 30.
- October 26: 70% of 16+ fully vaccinated
- November 5: 80% of 16+ fully vaccinated
The plans are available here.
