Victoria’s numbers dropped beneath 1,000 on Wednesday for the first time since late September as there were 941 new local COVID-19 cases confirmed over the last 24 hours. Victoria’s Department of Health also confirmed another eight deaths, bringing the state’s total in the latest outbreak to 318.
Vaccination rates have been increasing with 92 per cent of eligible Victorians over 16 having received the jab, and 82 per cent currently fully vaccinated against the virus. The state is on track to achieving a 90 per cent double-dose vaccination rate around 24 November, beyond which Premier Daniel Andrews had said there would be “no caps anywhere”.
“There will be no density limits anywhere,” he said.
“Masks will only be required in high risk indoor settings, such as public transport, prisons, hospitals, aged care, to give you some examples.
”I want to see 80,000 plus people at the Boxing (Day) Test on day one.
“It won’t be easy, but we are very confident, very, very confident that we will be able to deliver that.”
On Friday, restrictions were eased across Victoria as the state reached its 80 per cent double-dose target. The figure has seen the reopening of shops, gyms and other retail businesses and masks have been scrapped outdoors and in many indoor settings, such as restaurants pubs and gyms.
Hairdressers have opened with no density caps provided staff and patrons were fully vaccinated.
In NSW, there were 173 COVID-19 cases recorded and four deaths as figures continue to decline.
