Following a slight delay in hitting the 80 per cent single-dose vaccination target, Victoria is now on track to reach the milestone on Tuesday, Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed.

Residents can be looking forward to a promised slight easing of restrictions from 11.59pm on that day, including the extension of the 10-kilometre radius to 15kms in Melbourne.

For personal training, the two people limit allowed outdoors (excluding the trainer) increases to five vaccinated participants with a fully vaccinated trainer.

Furthermore, restrictions in playgrounds, where currently only one parent or guardian is allowed to attend with children under 12, are also set to be lifted from Wednesday, Mr Andrews said.

The state experienced a week of sharp rise in infections that plateaued on Saturday with a record-high tally of 847.

Sunday’s daily count dropped to 779 with two further deaths from the virus reported.

Speaking at the press conference, the Premier also gave a glimpse of the state’s upcoming vaccinated economy trials.

Here is what we know so far:

  • Up to 20 trial sites to be chosen across regional Victoria
  • Trials expected to start on 11 October
  • Venues nominated as trial sites will be operating a fortnight before the 70% double dose threshold is reached (expected for 26 October)
  • Establishing patrons’ vaccination status will be part of the trials, with plans to integrate the data in the Service Victoria app

Meanwhile, in New South Wales which recorded another 961 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases and a further nine deaths on Sunday, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said it is “safe” to make Christmas plans within the state.

Both the regions and Greater Sydney have been flagged as accessible destinations for NSW residents.

“Look at November as a month where you can start planning a trip that you may not have been able to have for a very long time,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“The government’s principle is that we move forward together as much as possible. So we want to see all of Greater Sydney open up at the same time. We want to see Greater Sydney and the regions be accessible at the same time. So we don’t want to single out any communities.”