Travel limits to be extended, curfew and masks staying and a vaccine blitz for students: Everything you need to know about Victoria’s plan out of lockdown
Playgrounds will finally reopen for Victorians in lockdown but night curfews and wearing of masks are here to stay.
Premier Daniel Andrews unveiled several revised restrictions as the state recorded 120 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday.
More restrictions will be eased once 70 per cent of Victorians have had at least one vaccine dose.
That target is expected to be reached in the coming weeks as a vaccinated blitz for year 12 students ramps up.
Of the 120 new cases reported on Wednesday, 64 are linked to existing virus outbreaks, leaving 56 potential mystery cases. Only 20 were in isolation for their entire infectious period.
The last time Victoria’s case numbers exceeded 100 was on September 2 last year.
Two women, aged in their 40s and 60s, are also the state’s first COVID-19 victims this year, dying in their homes on Tuesday.
With the case numbers and proportion of people not in isolation while infectious still growing, most of the current restrictions will remain in place until about September 23, when the 70 per cent of the eligible population is expected to have received the first dose of vaccine.
However, playgrounds will reopen on Friday for children aged 12 and under with the supervision of just one parent or guardian who must wear a mask at all time.
In-home carers, such as babysitters, will be expanded to include school-aged children, but only if both parents are authorised workers.
But Victoria will have to reach 70 per cent first dose vaccinations in the eligible population before any further restriction easings.