Emerging from the world’s longest lockdown, Melbourne recorded 2,186 new COVID-19 cases and 16 deaths overnight.
Despite the rising case numbers, the vaccination rate have justified the city fully opening up with more than 71 per cent of Victorians now double vaccinated and numbers set to rise as 30 new walk-in clinics are added to the fold. It is expected that the 80 per cent milestone could be hit as early as next Friday or Saturday, ahead of the 5 November prediction.
The sixth lockdown was lifted at 11.59pm on Thursday and was met with cheers in downtown Melbourne.
The current rules still have restrictions in place as restaurants can only open with 20 people indoors and 50 outside, with hairdressers and beauty salons reopening with up to five people.
The 9pm curfew has been lifted as well as the city travel limit.
People can now welcome 10 visitors into their home and public gatherings of 15 people are allowed outdoors.
All students have returned to school part-time.
Once Melbourne hits the double dose target the capacity of hospitality will increase to 150 indoors and cinemas will reopen. Masks, which are still required outdoors, will be lifted at this time and indoor pools and gyms will also reopen while community sports will also resume.
It is expected that Victoria will scrap quarantine requirements for fully-vaccinated Australians to come in line with NSW.
This morning the state woke to its first day of freedom. Cafes opened up to diners for the first time in nearly three months and there was a buzz on the city streets.
In the latest lockdown, the sixth for the state, restrictions had been imposed for 77 days. All up, Melbourne has endured 263 days under stay-at-home orders since March 2020.