Victoria records eight new Covid cases after the state relaxed most of its lockdown restrictions overnight
- Victoria has recorded eight local cases of Covid-19 as lockdown ended overnight
- A raft of restrictions will remain in place for two weeks to stop further infections
- Household visits are still banned with masks must be worn indoors and outdoors
- Schools, hospitality venues and gyms to reopen with strict caps on customers
- Officials has indicated the restrictions will remain in place for next two weeks
Victoria has recorded eight new local cases of Covid-19 as the state relaxed most of its lockdown restrictions overnight.
All of the new locally acquired cases are linked to current outbreaks and all were in quarantine during their entire infectious period.
The new cases – recorded from 35,862 tests – comes as Victorians were released from their fifth lockdown at 11:59pm on Tuesday night.
The eight new local cases of Covid-19 – recorded from 35,862 tests – comes as Victorians were released from their fifth lockdown at 11:59pm on Tuesday night
A host of tough restrictions will remain in place to try and stop further Covid-19 infections, details of which were hashed out in a meeting late on Monday night
A host of tough restrictions will remain in place to try and stop further Covid-19 infections, details of which were hashed out in a meeting late on Monday night.
Officials have agreed to get rid of the 5km travel rule and reopen schools, shops, gyms, hospitality and retail outlets.
Pubs, restaurants and cafes will have to limit their customers to either 25 or 50 people indoors at any one time.
Public gatherings outdoors have been capped at 10 people, while visitors to home are not permitted under the current restrictions.
Masks are still required to be worn indoors and outdoors.
Schoolchildren are set to return to the classroom this week with excursions, planned camps and events also given the green light.
‘The restrictions are going to be onerous for the next few months,’ a source previously told the Herald Sun.
‘It’s going to not be worthwhile for a lot of restaurants to open if what is being talked about goes ahead,’ another source said.
‘Not great news for Melbourne.’
Victoria has also tightened its border with New South Wales overnight excluding Wagga Wagga, Hay, Lockhart and Murrumbidgee from the cross-border travel bubble for at least two weeks.
State Premier Daniel Andrews on Tuesday vowed the hard border with NSW would remain until Sydney’s outbreak was over, or the city was locked down to his satisfaction.
‘It’s through painful, tragic and bitter experience that we are able to advise others of what has actually worked,’ Mr Andrews said.
‘Victorians can speak with authority and tragedy and that’s why we’re making these respectful recommendations to others.
‘It worked here and there’s every chance it could work there. They’ve got a different view and that’s fine.
‘They’ll be locked out of our state for as long as they have that view or they get their cases down – whichever is sooner.’
The premier has previously warned tough measures are likely to remain in place until the state’s vaccination rate reaches 50 per cent.
‘On the data we have now, on the trend we have now, the strategy is working. We are well placed,’ he said.
‘But we won’t go from five reasons to leave the home from midnight on Tuesday to do whatever you want, wherever you want’.
However, a potential rise in cases still threatens Victorian’s new-found freedom, following the anti-lockdown march which occurred in Melbourne’s CBD on Saturday.
More than 1,000 people flooded the streets flouting stay-at-home orders to protest Covid restrictions, with many more taking to the streets in Covid-ravaged Sydney.
The demonstrators were seen abandoning face masks and disregarding social distancing, raising concerns the anti-lockdown rally could act as a super spreader for Covid-19.
More to come.