There will be no further restrictions lifted in regional Victoria for the moment despite zero active cases, Victoria's premier has confirmed.
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When asked at the daily press conference if the zero active cases meant further freedom coming soon, Premier Daniel Andrews said it would not be ruled out but unlikely due to "significant" restrictions just being eased.
"That will be based on health advice," Mr Andrews said.
"We don't want to have a situation where Melbourne and regional Victoria are so far apart that we can't open the border because if you have more favourable settings in the regions of course people will travel to get that.
"The best thing to do is we just see out the next couple of weeks, everyone plays their part, we keep the numbers low despite the fact we're open.
"We then bring down the 25km (restriction in Melbourne) and the metro-regional border on the 8th (of November) and then if there is another step - like a 3B - we can all take that step at the same time."
Regional Victoria's last two active patients - both in Greater Shepparton - have recovered in the past 24 hours after a worrying outbreak earlier this month was caused by a Melbourne truckie.
Three new cases were confirmed in Greater Shepparton on October 14 which had health authorities scrambling, however only one more case was detected - on October 20 - despite thousands of quick tests.
Ballarat has been COVID-free since September 9 when our last active patient recovered.
It is the first time there hasn't been a case in the regions since since May 7.
The news comes as further restrictions were eased across Ballarat and regional Victoria on Wednesday morning, which involved the re-opening of gyms, churches and food courts.
See the full list of eased restrictions here.
Victoria recorded two new COVID-19 cases and sadly two further deaths in the past 24 hours, although the deaths weren't recent.
The new deaths - two male aged care residents in their 70s and 80s - are the first since October 19 when one person lost their life to the deadly virus. It brings the state toll to 819 and the national figure to 917.
The two new cases announced on Wednesday broke the state's two-day run of no deaths or fresh infections.
