By Jessica Micallef
The Macedon Ranges has entered the second step of Premier Daniel Andrews’ roadmap to a “covid normal”.
While restrictions have been extended until September 28 in Metropolitan Melbourne, lower virus cases numbers has allowed regional Victoria to enter the second step to reopening on Sunday night.
The 8pm-5am curfew is no longer in place and up to five people from a maximum of two households can meet outdoors.
Playgrounds and outdoor pools can reopen and outdoor religious gatherings of up to five people, can occur.
Face coverings are mandatory and residents are still encouraged to only leave home for four essential reasons, however the five kilometre distance rule is no longer in place across regional Victoria.
People living alone or single parents can nominate one person to form a social bubble, however the nominated individual must be from regional Victoria.
Restaurants and cafes will continue with takeaway and delivery services and retail shops, including hairdressers can re-open with density limits in place.
Weddings can be conducted with up to five people, including the couple, two witnesses and a celebrant, while funerals can have up to 10 people, not including the people required to conduct the service.
“I’m so proud of Victorians for the way we are all working together to beat this virus – it means we can take our first safe and steady steps towards a COVID normal,” Premier Daniel Andrews said on Sunday.
“What we’ve seen in regional Victoria should give hope to all Victorians. If we all play our part, we can drive numbers down and get through this together.”
As of Sunday, there was one active case of the virus in the Macedon Ranges and there have been 58 cases recorded in the municipality since the pandemic began.
In Hume, there were 75 active cases from a total of 1631 cases recorded.
In metropolitan Melbourne, the curfew has been extended to 9pm-5am and exercise or social gathering outside with one other person or members of your family is allowed for two hours.
