By Oliver Lees
Lockdown measures will be eased across regional Victoria before midnight tonight as no new coronavirus cases have been recorded outside of metropolitan Melbourne in the past few weeks.
The five essential reasons to leave home will be removed and there will be no limit on the distance regional Victorians can travel from home.
Private gatherings at home will not be permitted under the new restrictions, but people can gather outdoors in groups of up to 10 people.
Face masks will still be mandatory in indoor and outdoor settings.
Regional Victorians can only travel to Melbourne for permitted reasons and must follow Melbourne restrictions once there.
Food and hospitality will reopen with density requirements of one person per four square metres, as can retail outlets.
Training and competition for community sport can resume but spectators are still not permitted to attend sporting venues. The same density quota of one person per four square metres applies.
Entertainment venues, weddings and funerals and religious gatherings will also be allowed with the same density requirement.
For more detailed information on the updated restrictions, contact the coronavirus hotline: 1800 675 398.
Or visit: coronavirus.vic.gov.au
