Coronavirus rules will be further wound back in Victoria, despite three more cases confirmed on Wednesday.
The state government has unveiled more freedoms for Victorians, which will apply from midnight Thursday.
The rule requiring Melburnians to stay within 25 kilometres of home will go, as will mandatory masks outside, but masks will still be required indoors.
Melbourne residents will be allowed to visit regional Victoria from the end of the week, while limitations on gatherings will also ease.
However, there will remain a difference in the rules for country Victoria and those in the city.
“We want to keep regional Victoria free of this virus, which is why the public team have recommended stronger settings for metropolitan Melbourne as extra protection as we run down these remaining cases,” Acting Premier James Merlino said.
Five new cases of coronavirus were reported by Victorian authorities on Wednesday, but two of those had previously been reported on Tuesday.
Of the three new infections, one is a vaccinated nurse.
The two other cases, which were announced on Tuesday, are residents of the Kings Park Apartment Complex at Southbank.
The complex has been locked down for 14 days after eight residents, including an infant, have become infected with COVID-19.
More than 30 new exposure sites in Port Melbourne, Richmond, Southbank, South Melbourne and the CBD were listed overnight.
Under rules to apply from Friday morning, Melburnians will again be allowed visitors to their home – two people a day. The limit does not include dependents.
Public gatherings will be allowed for up to 12 people and there is some good news for businesses including gyms, indoor entertainment venues and electronic gaming which will all be allowed to reopen.
All venues will be able to increase patron caps, including restaurants, cafe, religious settings and entertainment venues.
All Victorians will still be asked to work from home, if possible. But capacity caps for office workers will rise to 50 per cent or up to 20 people, whichever is greater, in Melbourne. In regional areas, up to 75 per cent of people can return.
Competition and community support is also back. There is no limit on travel for sport in Victoria.
However, Melburnians who want to head to the snow this winter will need a negative COVID test within 72 hours of heading out to Victoria’s alpine resorts.
There will be no avoiding this, as proof will be requested upon arrival.
In regional Victoria, public gatherings will be increased to a maximum of 50 people.
Restaurants and cafes will be able to open to a maximum of 300 patrons per venue for seated service.
Religious ceremonies will be capped at 300 for the venue, while 100 people will be able to attend a funeral. Weddings will be limited to 50 people and office caps can increase to 75 per cent or 30 people.
Visitors to the home will be limited to five adults a day, plus dependants.
Tweet from @JamesMerlinoMP
-with AAP
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