Melbourne Covid restrictions set for major relaxing

Melbourne is set to ditch another set of Covid restrictions this week, with mask and gathering rules likely to be relaxed over coming days.

A major relaxing of Melbourne restrictions is hoped to be announced within 24 hours – including lifting travel bans from Friday.

Plans to ditch the outdoor mask directive, bans on home gatherings and the 25km travel limit were being discussed by senior ministers and health officials on Tuesday night.

Proposed changes were expected to be put to a cabinet meeting on Wednesday morning, with an announcement possibly coming hours later if new coronavirus cases numbers were low.

It comes after Victoria recorded three new cases in the community on Wednesday.

A senior government source said an announcement on any changes to restrictions may be made on Wednesday, or could be put off until Thursday morning.

Plans to ditch the outdoor mask directive were being discussed.

But it was understood the changes would come into effect from 11.59pm on Thursday.

Gyms are hoped to be given the green light to reopen, with restrictions on community sports including junior and suburban footy also being discussed.

Melburnians could be allowed to open up their homes to at least a couple of adult visitors, plus dependants, once again. And the cap on public gatherings could be increased from 10 to 20.

While people are likely to still be encouraged to work from home, the cap on offices could be increased from 25 per cent to 50 per cent.

And discussions were under way about lifting the limit on numbers in bars and restaurants from 100 to 150, with the total allowed indoors rising from 50 to 75.

Weddings could have the 10 guests maximum increased to 20.

Masks are still likely to be mandatory indoors.

The 25km travel limit will be lifted for Melburnians

The lifting of the 25km travel limit, designed to stop Melburnians escaping to regional Victoria for the Queen’s Birthday long weekend, would be a major boost for destinations across the state ahead of the school holidays, which begin a week from Friday.

Restrictions would also likely be further relaxed in regional Victoria, opening the way for fans to potentially attend Geelong’s Friday night match against the Bulldogs.
Health Minister Martin Foley would not be drawn on Tuesday about whether the Southbank cluster would affect any easing of restrictions, saying it would be considered on a “day by day” basis.

But a government source said on Tuesday night it was hoped there would be a “significant” easing announced on Wednesday or Thursday, pending any shock spikes in infections.

Health officials swarmed on Kings Park apartments in Southbank to test all residents on Tuesday, with the building locked down after the latest two new infections were detected.

There are now six positive cases linked to the cluster, including an infant.