Surging vaccination rates have prompted Daniel Andrews to fast-track freedoms for long-suffering Victorians holed-up in their sixth brutal Covid lockdown.
But the premier has come under fire from critics who claim the move would never have happened if it weren’t for his NSW counterpart Dominic Perrottet.
An opinion piece claimed the Victoria leader was ‘shamed’ into easing restrictions in the beleaguered state after locals saw jealous-inducing photos of Sydneysiders celebrating.
NSW reached 80 per cent vaccination coverage over the weekend and will further ease restrictions on Monday, just a week after ending lockdown.
Pictured: Sydneysiders celebrate at the iconic Opera Bar as NSW reached 80 per cent vaccination coverage over the weekend
Critics of Victorian Premier Dan Andrews (left) says he was ‘shamed’ in to reopening by NSW leader Dominic Perrottet (right)
Melbourne’s current 73 day lockdown was due to end on October 26 but will now end four days earlier for anyone who is double-dosed. Pictured: A woman is arrested as Police gather to stop anti-lockdown protesters in Melbourne on October 16
Melbourne’s 73 day lockdown was due to end on October 26 but will now end five days earlier for anyone who is vaccinated.
Mr Andrews also overhauled the rules for the first stage of reopening to have fewer restrictions, including removing a ban on home visits.
‘Does anyone seriously think Premier Andrews would have promised to end Melbourne’s lockdown from midnight next Thursday unless he’d been shamed into it by Perrottet?’ right-wing pundit Andrew Bolt wrote in the Herald Sun on Sunday.
‘Think: Andrews ordered Melbourne’s sixth lockdown last August when there were just eight new infections, but on Sunday ordered it to end when there were almost 2,000, with seven people dying.
‘But Andrews had to let go after Perrottet sped up Sydney’s opening, filling TV news bulletins with happy shots of Sydney residents partying, having haircuts and hugging friends, while new infections in NSW kept falling to just 301 on Sunday.’
Melburnians have spent an agonising 258 days in lockdown since the pandemic began in early 2020.
The city recently surpassed Argentinian capital Buenos Aires as the city spending the most days in lockdown in the world.
Fully vaccinated Melburnians will be able to able outdoors in groups up to 15 (pictured Victorians having a picnic in Princes Park)
But Melbourne will finally emerge from stay-home orders at 11.59pm on Thursday, the day Victoria is expected to reach the 70 per cent vaccination target.
The hated night curfew and 15km travel limit will be abolished, hospitality can reopen for dining at restricted capacity while the staggered return to the classroom begins this Friday.
Residents can have up to 10 visitors at their homes while outdoor gathering limits will increase from 10 to 15.
Visitors to homes don’t have to be fully vaccinated but it is highly recommended by the state government and health officials. The same rule applies for outdoor gatherings.
Hospitality venues can reopen for up to 20 fully vaccinated customers indoors and 50 outdoors.
Non-essential retail can reopen for outdoor service only along with click and collect, while hairdressing will be open for up to five fully vaccinated people.
Melburnians will finally be lifted from lockdown at 11.59pm Friday
Melburnians will be able to have up to five fully vaccinated visitors per day at their homes
Entertainment venues and amusement parks can reopen for 50 fully vaccinated people outdoors.
Travelling to regional areas remains off limits for Melburnians until the state reaches the 80 per cent double dose target.
Large-scale construction sites can also increase to 100 per cent capacity but only if all workers are fully vaccinated.
Religious gatherings, weddings and funerals will allow up to 50 fully vaccinated guests outdoors and 20 people indoors.
However, face masks are still required both indoors and outdoors.
Melbourne schools’ staggered reopening to students will begin this Friday
Freedoms at 70 per cent fully vaccinated targets include pubs, clubs and entertainment venues opening with density limits
The amendments to Victoria’s road map were announced a week after millions of fully vaccinated NSW residents enjoyed their taste of freedom in 106 days, where the 80 per cent double dose rate was hit on Saturday.
Premier Andrews made the call to ease restrictions based on the latest Burnet Institute modelling, which is predicting much lower hospitalisation and death figures than originally forecasted.
Bolt called the rationale a ‘garbage’ excuse insisting that Mr Andrews should have known the Burnet modelling he used to justify his lockdown was ‘junk’ and ‘alarmist’.
‘Andrews is still a control freak who’d never have relaxed his grip on the lives of Victorians, unless Perrottet had reminded them what a joy freedom is,’ Bolt concluded.
Cafes and restaurants in Melbourne (pictured) have four days to prepare before they welcome back fully vaccinated customers
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