Australia’s second-largest city Melbourne will exit a COVID-19 hard lockdown as planned on Thursday night, Victoria state authorities stated, although some restrictions on travel and gatherings would likely remain for another week.
After two weeks in a strict lockdown that forced individuals to remain home except for essential business, Melbourne’s 5 million residents will get more freedom to step outside from 11:59 p.m. local time (1359 GMT) on Thursday.
However, individuals must stay within 25 km (15 miles) of their homes, officials stated, in an effort to stop transmission during an upcoming long weekend. There will also be a complete ban on house gatherings and masks will be mandatory indoors.
“This is a good day,” Victoria state Acting Premier James Merlino informed reporters in Melbourne on Wednesday.
“However we know this isn’t over yet and till we have widespread vaccination throughout Victoria and the nation, the virus will still be with us.”
Merlino stated further easing of restrictions for Melbourne could occur within a week barring any spike in cases.
Authorities stated there was no immediate evidence of community transmission and no new restrictions on residents have been issued.
Queensland’s state capital of Brisbane last went into a snap lockdown in late March to include an outbreak that was quickly suppressed.
Victoria has endured 4 lockdowns since the pandemic began, the longest more than 100 days late in the last yr, and the state has seen more than 800 deaths, 90% of the national toll.
On Wednesday, Victoria reported just one new locally acquired COVID-19 case, the lowest rise in more than two weeks, versus two a day earlier.
