Melbourne punters have celebrated their first ‘Freedom Friday’ after the end of a a world record-breaking lockdown by taking to the city’s pubs for plenty of beverages, restaurants for celebratory dinners and beauty salons for well-needed treatments.
Victoria officially lifted its stay-at-home orders at 11.59pm on Thursday after 262 days in lockdown after the Covid-riddled state reached its 70 per cent vaccination target.
As the state enjoys its first day of freedom, the surge in vaccination rates could also mean an increase in the number of visitors allowed inside homes and the caps on indoor venues being made larger, decisions Daniel Andrews’ government will decide on Saturday.
Melbourne punters have celebrated their first ‘Freedom Friday’ after the end of a world record-breaking lockdown by taking to the city
Victoria officially lifted its stay-at-home orders at 11.59pm on Thursday after a record-breaking 262 days in lockdown after the Covid-riddled state reached its 70 per cent vaccination target (Pictured: Two women enjoying their first Freedom Day drinks in Collingwood)
State Ministers and health chiefs will meet on Saturday to review the state’s roadmap for when the 80 per cent vaccination target is reached.
They will look at possibly increasing the number of guests allowed at homes, which is currently at 10 people.
The limit of 150 people allowed indoors at restaurants, pubs and weddings once the state hits 80 per cent double dose rates could also be boosted.
The cabinet is expected to focus on rules around indoor events specifically during the meeting, the Herald Sun reports.
The surge in vaccination rates could also see more positive news such as the increase in the number of visitors allowed at homes and the caps on indoor venues (Pictured: Couple enjoying their first day of freedom)
State Ministers and health chiefs will meet on Saturday to review the state’s roadmap for when the 80 per cent vaccination target is reached (Pictured: Woman’s phone checked at a restaurant)
More than five thousands Melbourne punters will be able to watch trackside at Victoria’s Derby Day at Flemington Racecourse next weekend, which will help kick start the events industry once again.
The expected review of the roadmap comes as residents across the CBD flocked to pubs, cafes, restaurants and beauty salons.
With fully vaccinated residents finally free, Melburnians gathered across the city to enjoy their first taste of freedom since August.
Large queues of eager residents lined up to eat at their favourite restaurants, while those lucky to snag a table reservation enjoyed biting into their first meal at a restaurant in months.
Diners at restaurant Claypots Barbarossa were fortunate enough to be serenaded by a live band while they soaked in the Freedom Day atmosphere.
Outdoor diners filled restaurants in the CBD’s buzzing Hardware Lane as residents rejoiced at being able to leave their homes.
The expected review of the roadmap comes as residents across the CBD flock to pubs, cafes, restaurants and beauty salons (Pictured: People seen lining up outside a restaurant)
Large queues of eager residents lining up waiting to eat at their favourite restaurants were seen across Melbourne’s CBD
Those lucky to snag a table reservation enjoyed food and drinks on their first day of freedom
Diners at restaurant Claypots Barbarossa were fortunate enough to be serenaded by a live band while they soaked in the Freedom Day atmosphere
Outdoor diners filled restaurants in the CBD’s buzzing Hardware Lane as residents rejoiced at being able to leave their homes
Friends finally reunited at pubs for pints of beer and glasses of wine, with groups of rowdy revellers seen in St Kilda and Collingwood enjoying their freedom beverages.
While Melburnians flocked to bars and restaurants, others were keen to finally get their beauty treatments in order at local nail salons.
Premier Dan Andrews stepped out to enjoy Freedom Day celebrations with his wife after Melbourne endured the world’s longest lockdown – but his festivities didn’t include ‘getting on the beers’.
Mr Andrews opted for a more tame celebration on Friday morning with his family.
Instead of ‘getting on the beers’ – a phrase made famous by Mr Andrews during a press conference in March 2020 – he got on the white wines with his wife Catherine as they caught up with a mother’s group at Drinkwell in Melbourne’s lively suburb of Fitzroy.
‘Catching up with the mother’s group on Zoom just isn’t the same,’ Mr Andrews wrote on Twitter.
Friends finally reunited at pubs for pints of beer and glasses of wine, with groups of rowdy revellers seen in St Kilda and Collingwood enjoying their freedom beverages
Two women happily pose for a photo as they they celebrate Freedom Day with a glass of wine
While Melburnians flocked to bars and restaurants, others were keen to finally receive their beauty treatments at nail salons
Women were captured at nail salons as they looked to receive some glam treatment to prepare for future celebratory outings
Two women are pictured in the park enjoying a picnic with a bottle of wine
Instead of ‘getting on the beers’, Mr Andrews got on the white wines with his wife as they caught up with a mother’s group
The premier and his wife were seen laughing and enjoying the company of the mother’s group and their children as they sat at a table filled with food and drinks
‘Today Teddy, Naomi, Monty and their mums finally met up – in person. And we thought that called for a celebration.’
The premier and his wife were seen laughing and enjoying the company of the mother’s group and their children as they sat at a table filled with beverages.
Mr Andrews even held one of the children on his lap during the visit as everyone in attendance enjoyed their first outing.
Before his post-lockdown celebrations on Friday, Mr Andrews took to Twitter to post a series of gushing tweets to mark the easing of restrictions and revealed how ‘bloody proud’ he was of Victorians.
‘As my kids say – there’s a big vibe today,’ the premier wrote.
Mr Andrews even held one of the children named Monty on his lap at the table during the visit as everyone in attendance enjoyed their first outing
Before his post-lockdown celebrations on Friday, Mr Andrews took to Twitter to post a series of gushing tweets to mark the easing of restrictions
Premier Daniel Andrews described how he is ‘bloody proud’ of Victorians after reaching this significant day
‘You can feel the optimism. You can sense the pride in what’s been achieved.
‘And after everything it’s taken to get here, we absolutely deserve to feel that way,’ he added.
Mr Andrews said that the state went through a difficult time together, but the sacrifices have allowed them to open up again safely.
‘I’m trying not to sound like some kind of soppy Dad here, but I am proud, bloody proud of this state,’ he continued.
‘We’ve gone through such a hard time together, this pandemic has been exhausting in every sense of the word.
‘And the fact that we’re here today, and opening up, is only because of the sacrifices made by every one of us.’
But, the premier reminded his constituents that the pandemic isn’t over, and things won’t simply return to normal right away.
‘People won’t just spring back from this either, the pandemic isn’t over, and feeling a bit anxious about all this is normal,’ Mr Andrews wrote.
‘So if you’re heading out today – please just remember that this will take time, not everyone will be so ready to throw open their front door.’
But, the premier reminded people that the pandemic isn’t over, and things won’t simply return to normal in a short time (Pictured: Premier Andrews greets Bianca Shah in a Covid-safe way)
The Premier ended his comments by telling Victorians to enjoy the new freedoms and to be proud of what they’ve achieved (Pictured: Dan Andrews with his wife Catherine)
‘And the process of reopening won’t be without flaws either, we all know that. It will take a lot of patience and understanding,’ he added.
Mr Andrews urged residents planning to enjoy a night out at hospitality venues to be mindful of staff getting accustomed to the new rules in place.
‘So if you’ve got a booking, and something goes wrong, please – don’t take it out on the staff.’
‘It isn’t their job to update the apps, and the last thing they need is an argument about vaccines.’
‘These workers serving us deserve nothing less than absolute respect, thanks and understanding. They’re the best.’
Victoria will also scrap all quarantine requirements for international returning travellers from November 1.
Premier Daniel Andrews on Friday followed his NSW counterpart Dominic Perrottet’s lead by allowing fully vaccinated Australians to enter the state from overseas without spending 14 days in hotel or home quarantine.
Travellers will have to test negative to Covid-19 within 72 hours of their departure and get swabbed again within a day of arriving into Victoria.
Hotel quarantine has been in place for those arriving back into Australia since March 2020 – when international borders closed to all but citizens and permanent residents – with strict arrival caps leaving many stranded overseas.
‘This is a freedom of movement we’ve not been able to enjoy for a long time. And that’s all because Victorians have got vaccinated in record time and in record numbers,’ Mr Andrews said.
He said the state will be ‘as protected as we can be’ by the start of November as 80 to 90 per cent of the eligible adult population will have received both doses of a Covid-19 vaccine.
The announcement follows Victoria recording 16 Covid-related deaths overnight – the highest single-day toll in any state during Australia’s Delta outbreak – and 2,189 cases.
Victorian chief health officer Brett Sutton urged for caution as the state opens up to the rest of the world, warning the easing of restrictions would lead to an unprecedented increase in Covid transmission.
‘As we start to reopen, there will be more Covid in the community than at any other point in time,’ he said.
Friends happily reunite over drinks at Paradise Alley in Collingwood
A group of friends hold their cocktails up as they are happily snapped at a bar
A bartender serves two women glasses of beer at Molly Rose in Collingwood
‘Many of those people will have mild illness cause they’re fully vaccinated. Many of those settings will have fully vaccinated people.
‘Checking in, wearing a mask will be really important, and on days like today, opening every door and window in sight to let that fresh air through.’
While there’s a major sense of relief that the worst of the coronavirus crisis is now over, it’s still too early to ditch face masks, which are still mandatory indoors and outdoors unless eating or drinking.
A number of other hated restrictions will also still be in place along with strict capacity limits on venues and events for at least the next week.
Friends gather across venues in Melbourne as stay-at-home orders are lifted
A group of friends enjoy some beverages after work on ‘Freedom Friday’
A group of women are all smiles with drinks in hand at a bar in Melbourne
Women take to the streets all glammed up for their first night out after months of lockdown restrictions
Jubilant scenes as residents descend on bars to reunite with friends
Outdoor tables at a bar in Melbourne filled with Melbourne punters
A group of mates catch-up over a glass of beer at a bar on their first day out after lockdown restrictions were eased
The good news is that the city’s reviled and controversial 9pm curfew is now scrapped along with the 15km travel limit.
Residents can now freely move around the Metropolitan area – however regional travel is still off the cards.
Hospitality venues like pubs, clubs, cafes and restaurants are allowed to reopen for seated and outdoor service only, with a capacity limit of 20 vaccinated patrons indoors and 50 outdoors.
The vaccination rate will have to surpass 80 per cent before nightclubs, dancing in venues and stand-up drinking is allowed.
General retail will also have to wait until the next vaccination milestone, predicted to be achieved in early November, before trading can return to normal.
From midnight non-essential stores can only operate outdoors or with click and collect services.
Entertainment venues, including cinemas and physical recreation, can go ahead with a maximum of 20 people indoors and 50 outdoor.
Personal services like hairdressers and beauty salons can get back to work with a limit of five patrons after the fashion-conscious city went without a trim for 78-straight days.
But anyone entering any non-essential venue in the state must prove their vaccination status upon entry when they check in via QR code with the Service Victoria app.
Visitors can also show the green tick in their Medicare Express app. Those who can’t prove they’ve had the jab will be refused entry.
Friends walk down the CBD together as they are ready to enjoy their first night out
Residents line up at a local bar to celebrate Freedom Day
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 vaccinated but it is highly recommended by the state government and health officials. The same rule applies for outdoor gatherings.
Religious services, weddings and funerals will be able to take place with 50 fully-vaccinated guests outdoors and 20 indoors.
While school children from Year 3 to Year 11 will start returning to the classroom part-time.
Early childcare will also reopen for children of fully vaccinated parents.
The long-awaited reopening was originally supposed to take place on October 26, but was fast-tracked by Premier Andrews who praised Victorians on their ‘mighty’ effort rolling their sleeves.
Victoria’s path to freedom: All the changes for the fully-vaccinated from 11.59pm on October 21
‘Because of everything Victorians have done, tomorrow we can start getting back to the things we love. Thank you Victoria – I’m so proud,’ Daniel Andrews (pictured) tweeted on Thursday
Travel
- No restrictions on leaving home and 9pm-5am curfew scrapped with Melburnians allowed to travel freely within the metropolitan region
- Travel between regional Victoria and Melbourne is still off the cards – unless for a permitted reason
Gatherings in the home and public spaces
- Up to ten visitors (including dependents) will be allowed in a home per day
- Up to 15 people can gather outdoors
Venues including hospitality, retail stores and personal services
- Hospitality venues including pubs and clubs will reopen for seated and outdoor service only, with a capacity limit of 20 fully-vaccinated patrons indoors and 50 outdoors
- General retail will reopen for outdoor service only with click and collect services to remain available
- Entertainment venues, including cinemas and physical recreation, will be reopened for 20 fully-vaccinated people indoors and 50 outdoors
- Hairdressers and beauty salons can open with a limit of five patrons
Weddings, funerals, an places of worship
- Religious gatherings, weddings, and funerals will be allowed to take place with 50 fully-vaccinated people outdoors and 20 indoors
Schools and childcare
- Students in Year 3 to Year 11 will start the staggered return to school
- Early childcare will reopen for children of fully vaccinated parents
Masks
- Masks will remain mandatory both indoors and outdoors
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