Soaring vaccine rates pave the way new freedoms at 80pc target

More freedoms are likely to flow when Victoria hits its 80 per cent vaccine milestone next week. Here’s what’s set to change.

Home visitor numbers and indoor caps at venues could be increased under Victoria’s road map to reopening due to our soaring vaccination rates.

The Andrews Government’s Co-ordinating Ministers of Cabinet are set to meet on Saturday to revise restrictions the state will face once 80 per cent of people over the age of 16 are fully vaccinated.

Ministers and health chiefs will consider whether to boost the current cap of 10 people in the home, and whether caps on restaurants, pubs and weddings – currently set at 150 indoors once the 80 per cent target is met – should be increased.

Indoor events are expected to be the focus of the cabinet’s attention, with outdoor events already given favourable treatment including by allowing punters at Derby Day in a week’s time.

Big changes to indoor gatherings and venue caps are expected when Victoria hits its 80 per cent target. Picture: Jason Edwards

The first race of the Melbourne Cup Carnival will now be watched trackside by 5500 people, giving a much-needed shot in the arm to the events industry.

The refresh of rules came after Melbourne lifted the shutters and rushed out to pubs, cafes and hairdressers and started pumping money back into the economy.

Concerns remain about hospitalisation rates and case numbers – which hit 2189 on Friday – but Premier Daniel Andrews on Friday said the 70 per cent reopening milestone was just the beginning of the freedoms returned to citizens.

“We’re not having statewide lockdowns, we’re not having citywide lockdowns, because people have gone and done what we’ve asked them to do, and now we’re delivering what we said we’d do,” he said.

“We’ll get to 80 per cent plus sometime next week. That gives us options.

“Just as we did at 70 per cent plus, where we added some things in … We may have some other options.

“I don’t want to be giving people a sense that it’s no rules at all … But if we can go further we will.”

Mr Andrews on Friday revealed that the state would follow the lead of NSW and allow vaccinated travellers to return home without quarantine, paving the way for international travel.

Cheers to freedom. Picture: Jason Edwards

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said there was no need for future lockdowns as people were getting vaccinated. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images.

Qantas immediately announced it would open up routes between Melbourne and London and Melbourne and Singapore on November 6 — three weeks ahead of schedule.

The first three flights for each route will be Points Planes meaning frequent flyers get first access.

After Victorians endured a world record number of days in harsh lockdown under Mr Andrews, the premier said his advice was that October 30 was likely to be the date at which we reach the 80 per cent double vax hurdle.

“We’ll look to have as few rules as possible, to be as open as possible, and to be giving people everything that they’ve earned, which is freedom,” he said.

Mr Andrews also flagged that 90 per cent vaccination rates would be a threshold for his government to consider in the future.

He said booster shots and other requirements would not mean Victoria was totally back to normal at this point, but rules could be eased significantly.

Chief health officer Professor Brett Sutton thanked Victorians for their patience, saying thousands of lives had been saved by obeying restrictions until vaccination levels had risen. “We’ve done a fantastic job to get to this point in time. So please, let’s celebrate it,” he said.

“Don’t feel obliged to respond to every invitation to be out and about. Do what you feel

comfortable with.”

People enjoy a meal and drinks outside the Builders Arms Hotel in Fitzroy as Melbourne eases out of lockdown. Picture : NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

Prof Sutton said there would be more Covid in the community as we open up but many would be protected from serious illness by their vaccine.

He said masks, QR codes and even opening doors and windows to allow ventilation would help tackle further spread.

Victoria’s reopening comes as the state recorded 2189 new cases overseas and 16 deaths in the 24 hours to Friday.

Of the active cases, 784 are in hospital, with 145 of those in ICU and 94 on ventilators.

At least 71 per cent of Victorians have received both doses of their vaccine, while 90.5 per = cent have received one jab.