By Jessica Micallef
Sunbury residents have entered the second step of Premier Daniel Andrews’ roadmap to a “Covid normal”.
Lower virus case numbers allowed metropolitan Melbourne to enter the second step to reopening on Sunday night.
The 9pm-5am curfew is no longer in place and groups of up to five people from across a maximum of two households can meet outdoors.
The five-kilometre radius rule still applies for the four essential reasons to leave home and face masks are mandatory.
Face masks must cover the nose and mouth and face shields, scarfs and bandanas will no longer be allowed.
Outdoor pools can reopen, and outdoor personal training can resume with a maximum of two people and their trainer for a maximum of two hours.
All primary school students, VCE, VCAL and specialists school students will return to on-site learning from October 12.
Years 7 to 10 students will continue remote learning.
In-home childminding is allowed for all children and childcare and early education sites can reopen to all families.
Restaurants and cafes will continue with takeaway and delivery services and only essential retail businesses will be open, while others are restricted to click and collect services. More than one person from a household can go shopping.
Outdoor religious gatherings can resume with up to five people, plus one faith leader, and five people, including the couple and two witnesses, can attend an outdoor wedding. Funerals are capped to 10 people.
Further restrictions are expected to be eased on October 19 – a week earlier than originally scheduled –if metropolitan Melbourne reaches an average daily case rate of less than five cases over the previous 14 days.
Mr Andrews said the state was “well on track” to achieving a “Covid normal” Christmas.
“We are at least a week ahead of schedule,” he said.
“That is a credit to every single Victorian who is staying the course working hard and making sacrifices.
“We have to get this done. There is no easy way to defeat this wicked virus.”
As of Sunday night, there were 29 active cases of the virus in Hume.
In the Macedon Ranges, there were two active cases.
