Victoria's coronavirus restrictions will start to be eased on Tuesday night.
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From 11.59pm on Tuesday, people will be allowed to have five guests, friends or family, at their home at any one time.
The new restrictions will be in place until the end of May.
Premier Daniel Andrews addressed the media on Monday morning, where he made the highly-anticipated announcement of the first step put of lockdown.
As part of the new rules, he announced a fifth reason as to why it will be acceptable to leave home - to visit family.
There were previously only four reasons to leave home:
- shopping for what you need - food and essential supplies
- medical, care or compassionate needs
- exercise in compliance with the public gathering requirements
- work and study - if you can't work or learn remotely
"This is not over, I wish it were, but it's not over," he said.
"It's not an invitation to be having a dinner party at every house, every night.
"It's the first opportunity for a first step that is safe, cautious and appropriate."
Cafes and restaurants are not yet allowed to offer table-service in Victoria, with Mr Andrews saying that allowing only 10 patrons would not be a viable business model.
Those rules will be in place for at least three weeks.
"I think take away will be a feature for a long time," the premier said.
A plan for schools has not yet been announced, meaning home learning will continue indefinitely.
"We have been doing a power of work and we're close to finalising a plan to see face-to-face learning return before the end of term 2," Mr Andrews said.
"We had for the purposes of certainty said to parents across the state that they should plan and assume that learning from home would continue for the entirety of term 2.
"We now believe that a gradual, staged return to face-to-face learning is safe, cautious and appropriate, given the testing we've done and the circumstances we face. Today's not the day to announce the details."
AFL training will also begin on Wednesday, while community sporting teams can train in groups of 10.
Groups of 10 will be allowed to go outside to engage in activities such as hiking, jogging and kicking the footy.
Golf will also return, however there will be a number of changes in place in relation to rakes in bunkers or pins on greens.
Socialising around the clubhouse will not be allowed.
Overnight camping is still prohibited, as are Airbnb and hotels.
However, you are free to travel for day-trip activities such as hiking, fishing or to the beach.
Up to 10 guests can attend a wedding along with the bride and groom, and celebrant, while indoor funerals can host up to 20 people plus those needed to run the service.
Real estate auctions will also be able to resume.
However, crowds will still be limited to groups of no more than 10 people, not including the agency staff and the sellers of the house.
Displays of affection are not banned, but they are very much recommended against, said Chief Health Officer Dr Brett Sutton.
"It is up to the individual," Dr Sutton said.
"I wouldn't be doing it. It's clearly a very close contact. My recommendation to everyone would be not to do it.
"There must be circumstances, though, where it's really important for an individual.
"I won't step into their private life but I would say from a public health perspective, no handshakes, no hugs and kisses is the safest thing to do and does make a difference and has made a difference to this point in time."
Andrews had identified May 11 as the date in which he would re-assess the state's policies a month ago.
He had resisted calls to make an earlier announcement regarding COVID-19 restrictions last week.
Victoria has been widely considered the most conservative state when it comes to implementing COVID-19 restrictions.
Testing will continue for Victorians with even the mildest of symptoms over the next month, with a target of a further 50,000 tests to be conducted over the next week, and 150,000 tests by the end of May.
"As we ease restrictions, there will be further positive coronavirus cases, and possible outbreaks," Ms Mikakos said in a statement.
"To limit these cases and keep Victorians safe, the government has outlined its plan for a new 'outbreak unit' within the Department of Health and Human Services' public health team."
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