Beauty services could reopen next week as regional Victoria on track to reach target for restriction easing
The reopening of beauty services has been brought forward as major changes to COVID-19 restrictions in Geelong looks likely next week.
Geelong
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REGIONAL Victoria is on track to have all restrictions on leaving home eased by the “middle of next week”, premier Daniel Andrews says.
No new COVID-19 cases were recorded in regional Victoria on Saturday but 58 cases remain active across regional Victoria, Mr Andrews said.
“Regional Victoria is so close. Just a few days and they will potentially be able to take not just one but two of those steps and be essentially open.”
“By the middle of next week regional Victoria would have such low case numbers that they’d be able to take not one stage but in fact two.
“That looks to be (as of) today exactly where regional Victoria will be in the middle of next week.”
Meanwhile active cases in the Colac Otway Shire have dropped to five to 28, and by three to seven overall in Greater Geelong.
The Surf Coast Shire, Golden Plains Shire and the Borough of Queenscliffe remain free of active cases.
The premier says regional Victoria is “on track” to meet the target for significant easing of restrictions in days.
The easing, subject to a case target being met, will include “no restrictions on reasons to leave home”; public gatherings of up to 10 people outdoors; five visitors to homes from one household, hospitality reopening to outside eating, all sport starting for under 18s and only outdoor non-contact sport for adults.
That step will also allow “beauty and personal services” to reopen where masks are able to be worn for the entirety of the service.
Mr Andrews said facials, face tattoos and face piercings would not be allowed to occur under the potential easing of restrictions next week.
The reduction will be triggered by the 14-day COVID-19 regional case average remaining below 5 for two weeks, and no new mystery cases – those with no known source of transmission – for 14 days.
The average number of cases diagnosed in the last 14 days for regional Victoria is 4.3
In the past 14 days in regional Victoria there have been 7 mystery COVID-19 cases.
From Monday public gatherings of up to five people from two households will be allowed and singles living alone will be able to nominate one other person to visit their home.
Also from Monday outdoor playgrounds and public pools will reopen, and outdoor religious gatherings of up to five people and a faith leader will be allowed.
Across Victoria 37 new cases of coronavirus have been recorded since Friday, and six people died.
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Originally published as Beauty services could reopen next week as regional Victoria on track to reach target for restriction easing