Workers are expressing a growing desire to return to the office, research by Medibank reveals, but the Sydney outbreak and a mandate for masks in Melbourne offices is quashing the momentum for a return to CBDs, movement data compiled by Roy Morgan in collaboration with UberMedia shows.

People movement on the Friday heading into the Queen’s birthday long weekend in Melbourne’s CBD (the day after the lockdown lifted) was just 16 per cent of pre-pandemic highs, the data reveal, while Sydney was sitting at just under 30 per cent.