Victoria’s Acting Premier James Merlino has confirmed Melbourne will come out of its fourth lockdown at 11.59pm on Thursday 10 June, and also outlined the restrictions that will be in place.
Merlino said metropolitan Melbourne will move to almost the same settings currently in place across regional Victoria, and regional Victoria will move towards further easing.
The Acting Premier said: “From 11:59pm Thursday 10 June, the five reasons to leave home will no longer apply in metro Melbourne, and the existing 10-kilometre limit will be increased to 25 kilometres.
“But wherever possible, we’re asking people to stay local. That means the only reasons to go further than 25 km will be work, education, care and caregiving, and getting vaccinated. And travel into regional Victoria to visit family and friends or take a holiday still remains a no go – for now.
“We’re also still not in a position to be able to have visitors to our home, but outdoor gatherings will be increased to a maximum of ten people. And mask rules will be eased slightly – required inside, and outdoors when 1.5 metres isn’t possible.”
That means masks will still be required in venues, Merlino added: “Cafes, restaurants and pubs will open – with strict safety measures like density limits, seated service and QR codes in place. Remaining retail will also open.”
In regional Victoria, restrictions will also ease with increased capacity limits at pubs, restaurants and entertainment venues. Regional venues can now open indoor fixed seated entertainment to 50 per cent capacity, up to a maximum of 75 people. Group limits remain at 10 people and the density quotient of one person per four square metres in non-seated areas.
Outdoor seated areas are open to 50 per cent capacity up to a maximum of 150 people.
In metropolitan Melbourne indoor seating opens to 25 per cent capacity up to a maximum of 50 people, subject to one person per four square metres and maximum groups of 10. Indoor non-seated areas will remain closed. Outdoor seated areas will open to 50 per cent of capacity up to a maximum of 100 people per venue.
Electronic gaming areas in metropolitan Melbourne remain closed, while in regional Victoria they open to a maximum of 50 people per venue, within the overall hospitality cap and with the one per four square metre rule in place.
Merlino added: “Today is a good day, there’s no doubt about it. And we should absolutely be proud of what we’ve all achieved – but let me just say this: It isn’t over yet, and until we have widespread vaccination, this virus will still be with us.
“We all know how fragile this thing is. We’ve seen how easily it can take hold. And if we allow complacency to creep back even a little, we could lose everything we’ve worked so hard to protect.
“There’s still work to do, there’s still our state to keep safe, and we’ll need every Victorian to help do just that.”
