Victoria has recorded 507 new Covid-19 cases and one death on Sunday as Premier Dan Andrews is set to unveil his roadmap out of lockdown.
The state administered 43,441 vaccine doses in the 24 hours to midnight on Saturday with 43.5 per cent of eligible Victorians now fully-vaccinated.
The new cases bring the total number of active infections in Victoria to 5262, as the state’s Delta outbreak continues to spiral out of control.
However in welcome news for locked-down Victorians Dan Andrews will finally reveal what life will look like for the rest of the year, with some restrictions to ease.
Despite case numbers climbing, up to 1,000 protesters took to the streets of Melbourne on Saturday demanding an end to lockdown
The travel limit for Melbourne residents is expected to be extended to 25km, and the 9pm curfew scrapped once the state is 70 per cent fully vaccinated.
The highly-anticipated plan will allow outdoor dining and face-to-face learning from as early as October.
While some hospitality venues may finally be able to reopen, they will have strict density limits and could only be permitted to seat customers outdoors.
Health officials spent Saturday night with senior ministers finalising the roadmap, the Sunday Herald Sun reported.
The changes will be officially announced by the Mr Andrews at midday on Sunday and the roadmap will also detail a second stage with changes to travel, sport and new rules for pubs and restaurants once Victoria hits 80 per cent fully jabbed.
But the premier is also poised to outline a new third stage of opening up, meaning many restrictions will stay in place until Christmas or New Year when 90 per cent have had both shots.
Victorians can expect to dine outdoors at pubs and restaurants next month while students can return to school as Premier Daniel Andrews unveils his road map out of lockdown (pictured in Melbourne)
The changes will be officially announced by the Victorian premier on Sunday with more restrictions to be lifted once 80 per cent of the population have been vaccinated
The roadmap will allow Year 12 students to return to school during the first week in October in preparation for their final exams.
Kindergarten to Year 2 students will then follow with all remaining year groups to return after that.
Once the 80 per cent target is reached, the state will open up even more, with community sport, indoor dining and regional travel all on the cards.
But the delayed easing of many restrictions until a third stage could result in some major summer events only being open to the double jabbed.
The Boxing Day Test against England, if allowed to go ahead, will almost certainly be restricted to full vaccinated spectators.
Art galleries, museums and government events would also require attendees to be fully innoculated.
One minister told the Sunday Herald Sun the government had ‘no choice’ but to take a cautious approach since case numbers were so high.
‘You have got to manage your numbers in hospital and ICU,’ the minister said.
Students are also expected to return to the classroom next month (stock image)
Indoor dining may still be a thing of the future even once 70 per cent of the population is double jabbed
Mr Andrews said on Friday Victoria’s roadmap would outline how life will look for Victorians for the rest of the year.
‘It won’t answer every question and it won’t necessarily provide every single rule change for months and months and months,’ he said.
‘It’ll be a meaningful document and it’ll give people a really clear sense of what we’re working towards.’
Paul Guerra, Victorian Chamber of Commerce chief executive, said a roadmap that did not grant the same freedoms at 70 per cent as NSW would be a ‘massive blow’ to workers and businesses.
He also expressed concern that the Andrews government would resist opening up even at 80 per cent, and renege on its commitments to open up.
‘Some operators are fearful that 90 will be the new 80 and that the government won’t fulfil their promise of returning to normal at 80 per cent,’ Mr Guerra said.
Melbourne has been battling its Delta outbreak since July after residents were thrown back into lockdown on July 15.
Restrictions began to ease on July 27 but another lockdown was announced on August 5 as Covid cases began to climb.
Since then cases have continued to jump with the state recording another 535 new Covid-19 infections on Saturday – the highest number in the latest outbreak.
One person also died from the virus, authorities revealed.
Melbourne has spent 228 days in lockdown since since march 2020, and is set to notch up a grim world record for the most days spent under stay-at-home laws when it passes Buenos Aires on September 23.
Despite case numbers climbing, up to 1,000 protesters took to the streets of Melbourne demanding an end to lockdown.
The protests turned ugly with six police officers ending up in hospital and 235 people were arrested.
Melbourne has spent 228 days in lockdown since since march 2020, and is set to notch up a grim world record for the most days spent under stay-at-home laws when it passes Buenos Aires on September 23