Victoria has recorded another 10 cases of Covid-19, just hours before millions of people are expected to exit lockdown.
The new cases were reported by state health authorities on Tuesday morning, but all were in isolation throughout their infectious period.
The stay-at-home orders are due to end from 11.59pm tonight, but tough restrictions will remain as Melbourne continues to get about 10 cases a day.
The details were hashed out in a meeting late on Monday night, with officials agreeing to get rid of the 5km travel rule and reopen schools, shops, and gyms.
Premier Daniel Andrews is expected to make a formal announcement at midday today.
Pictured: A woman in Melbourne. Victorians are set to emerge from lockdown at 11.59 on Tuesday night
Stay-at-home orders, brought in on July 16, are on track to end at 11.59pm on Tuesday as scheduled but Premier Daniel Andrews (pictured) has warned that a range of restrictions will need to remain in place
Pubs, restaurants, and cafes can also reopen, but will have to limit customers to either 25 or 50 people indoors at any one time.
Sources say Victorians will once again be allowed to gather in groups of 10.
‘The restrictions are going to be onerous for the next few months,’ a source 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.’
About 15,600 Victorians were vaccinated on Monday and 24,340 Covid tests were received.
It was also revealed on Tuesday morning that police will not take any action against Sydney removalists who spread the Delta strain to several people in Melbourne.
Police said detectives have concluded their investigation into whether public health orders were breached.
The workers were found to have not broken any rules, except for one man who could be fined for not wearing a mask.
They all had the appropriate permits to enter the state despite the Harbour City’s spiralling number of Covid cases which has now surpassed 1,500 cases.
As a result, numerous residents were infected with the virus at Ariele Apartments in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, sending the entire building and its 200 residents into quarantine for 14 days.
‘Victoria Police has undertaken an assessment of the material provided and determined there is no evidence of other offending,’ police said.
‘As such, Victoria Police will not be taking any action and this matter is closed from a police perspective.’
Victoria recorded 10 new cases of Covid-19 on Tuesday. All cases were in isolation. Melbourne pictured
Victoria had 11 more infections on Monday, bringing the total active number of cases in the state to 190, but all of the new transmissions were isolating and had not been in the community.
All 11 were also linked to known cases.
These vital statistics have put Victoria firmly on track to get out of lockdown on Tuesday night as scheduled.
But the Premier 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,’ the Premier 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,’ he said.
The ongoing restrictions being discussed would see schoolchildren return to the classroom this week with excursions, planned camps and events also set to be given the green light.
High level talks are already underway to open the doors of Victoria’s beloved hospitality venues with cafes, restaurants and bars looking likely to trade this week under the four people per sqm rule with a cap of 50 patrons indoors.
Pictured: People getting tested at a drive through Covid testing site in Albert Park in Melbourne
Retail stores are also set to have the same restrictions, while outdoor community sports events will be capped at 100 people.
Under the new proposal face masks are expected to remain mandatory both indoors and outdoors as the highly contagious Indian Delta variant continues to wreak havoc north of the border.
‘Over the past week, we’ve seen the day of our highest-ever testing numbers in Victoria and yesterday, we saw 25,000 plus tests returned,’ the state’s Covid commander Martin Foley said.
‘That together gives us some further comfort that we know what is out there but we can only be sure if Victorians continue to come forward in such strong numbers.’
However, he urged residents with symptoms to continue to come forward for testing, particularly those from Melbourne’s northern and western suburbs where Covid fragments were detected in sewage between July 20 and 23.
The alert applies to the suburbs of Tarneit, Trinder nine, Glenroy Hadfield, Oak Park, Pascoe Vale, and Truganina.