Lockdown restrictions will be lifted in regional Victoria from tonight, following advice from the state’s chief health officer.
From 11:59pm (AEST) tonight, the five reasons to leave the home will be removed in regional Victoria, except for Greater Shepparton.
There will be no limit on the distance regional Victorians can travel from home – other than restrictions on entry to metropolitan Melbourne.
Travel to regional Victorian alpine resorts will be permitted, provided visitors (excluding children under 12 years of age) have had a negative COVID test within the previous 72 hours and can show evidence of a negative test as condition of entry into ski fields.
Workers at alpine resorts are highly recommended to take a COVID test prior to arrival.
Amusement parks with outdoor spaces can operate at 25 per cent capacity with a maximum or 300 per space, whichever is lesser).
Accommodation will be open to people who live in regional Victoria, with bookings permitted for single households, intimate partners or single bubbles.
Outdoor tours will be able to operate with a maximum of 20 people, while indoor tours will remain closed.
Meanwhile, stay-at-home orders for adults in NSW who have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will be lifted from the Monday after the state passes the 70 per cent double vaccination target, under its ‘roadmap to freedom’ released today.
Importantly, domestic travel, including trips to regional NSW, is among the freedoms that fully-vaxxed people in NSW will be able to enjoy once the target is reached.
Caravan parks and camping grounds will be able to open, carpooling will be permitted, and up to 500 people can attend ticketed and seated outdoor events.
Major recreation outdoor facilities including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can reopen with one person per four square metres, capped at 5,000 people.
Indoor entertainment and information facilities including cinemas, theatres, music halls, museums and galleries can reopen with one person per four square metres, or 75 per cent fixed seated capacity.
Hospitality venues can reopen subject to one person per four square metres inside and one person per two square metres outside, with standing while drinking permitted outside.
Parts of regional NSW currently deemed low risk and which have seen zero COVID cases for at least 14 days will emerge from lockdown at 12:01am Saturday 11 September, but will continue to operate under restrictions.
Featured image source: iStock/Joel Carillet
