Most of regional Victoria will tentatively exit lockdown at midnight on Thursday.
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Premier Daniel Andrews announced on Wednesday that the current lockdown restrictions would be removed at 11.59pm on Thursday, giving regional Victorians greater freedoms.
There are no longer just five reasons to leave your home, with most regional Victorians free to travel around the country areas of the state.
Greater Shepparton will remain under the harsh lockdown conditions, with more than 100 active cases in that area.
Metropolitan Melbourne's lockdown continues indefinitely.
There were 221 cases confirmed in Victoria on Wednesday, including five in regional Victoria (Mildura, Latrobe Valley, Mitchell Shire, Bellarine Peninsula and Moorabool).
See where all the active cases in Victoria are here (the map is updated by the health department).
Visitors are still not allowed to homes.
Among the key changes to be implemented will be:
- the 'authorised worker' permit will be removed
- office workers can return up to 25 per cent capacity or 10 people, whichever is greater
- schools open only from prep to grade 2 and year 12s (or year 11s studying a year 12 subject)
- funerals permitted up to 20 people
- weddings permitted with 10 people
- restaurants and cafes open for seated service, with caps of 10 people indoors and 20 outdoors
- retail, hairdressing, entertainment venues and community facilities in line with density limits
- masks still required indoors and outdoors
- business must check IDs of all customers
- community sport training returns
Making the announcement, Mr Andrews said it was cautious reopening, one he hoped would last into the future.
He indicated he would localise any future lockdowns in the regions, as has happened with Shepparton currently.
"If there were an outbreak in another part of regional Victoria then we would look to try to target and localise our public health measures as much as we could," he said.
"That's why in order to keep a handle on what's going on in regional Victoria, people need to get tested as soon as they feel sick."
See the full list of rule changes and restrictions here.
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