By Oliver Lees
Lockdown restrictions will be lifted in all regional areas in Victoria except Shepparton from midnight Thursday, as 221 cases were recorded in the past 24 hours.
The five reasons to leave the home will be scrapped for residents of the Macedon Ranges and there will be no limits on the distance regional Victorians can travel from home to other regional areas.
Regional schools will reopen for in-person classes for prep to grade two.
The authorised worker list will no longer apply to regional Vicrorians, meaning most businesses can reopen. A cap of 25 per cent or up to 10 people will apply for office workers.
Hospitality can reopen and allow patrons to sit and dine, along with the reopening of retail, hairdressing, entertainment venues and community facilities. Density limits and patron caps will still apply.
Funerals with 20 people in attendance and weddings with 10 total participants can resume.
Premier Daniel Andrews said it was important the community remained mindful of limiting the spread of the virus.
“While this is fantastic news for most of regional Victoria, we’re encouraging everyone in these areas to keep up all the COVIDSafe practices and most importantly, keep coming forward to get vaccinated,” Mr Andrews said.
There are currently no exposure sites listed in Sunbury or the Macedon Ranges.
For more information on exposure sites: www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/exposure-sites
To find out where to get tested: www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/where-get-tested-covid-19
