Victoria’s roadmap out of lockdown revealed

Outdoor dining will return and travel limits will be extended under Victoria’s roadmap from lockdown — but there will be a long wait for real freedom.

Extended travel limits in Melbourne, outdoor dining, and face-to-face school classes are set to return next month, under the first stage of Premier Daniel Andrews’ roadmap out of lockdown.

The roadmap, which will begin once 70 per cent of Victorians over 16 are fully vaccinated, introduces “cautious” changes at first, amid ongoing fears hospitals may be overwhelmed by spiralling case numbers.

The controversial 9pm curfew will be dumped, while Melbourne travel limits would be expanded to up to 25km and some hospitality venues would reopen with tight caps or limits to outdoor service only.

But the most substantial changes to tough restrictions won’t be made until 80 per cent of people are double-vaccinated – likely to occur in mid-November.

There are “cautious” changes being introduced under Premier Daniel Andrews’ roadmap. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

Health officials and senior ministers met late into Saturday night and will continue discussions on Sunday morning to finalise the route out of lockdown, with changes to outdoor gathering limits and when vaccinated families can finally visit friends’ homes among issues considered.

Significant changes on statewide travel, community sport, and density limits for indoor pubs and restaurants may be linked to the 80 per cent jab rate.

As well as 70 and 80 per cent vaccine targets, Mr Andrews will today also outline a third stage once jab rates climb higher, which will affect how Christmas and the new year will look.

Industry figures said they feared this would lead to “90 being the new 80” regarding the percentage of people needed to be vaccinated to reopen properly.

Hospitality venues will have strict caps once they are allowed to reopen. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal that Year 12 students will return to school in the first week of October, ahead of VCE exams beginning later that month.

There will be a staggered return of other year levels, with Prep to Grade 2 students next in line, followed by all others towards the end of the month.

The slow release from lockdowns is likely to anger large parts of the community, who one minister said were wanting to see “light at the end of the tunnel” and reward for vaccinations.

It is understood rewards are likely for vaccinated people once restrictions ease, however, with some outdoor events set to be ticketed as vaccine-only.

Multiple sources also said the Boxing Day Test against England, which is currently hanging in the balance, would be a jab-only match.

Travel limits are set to be expanded to up to 25km across Melbourne. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

Any government-led event held on Crown land or at galleries and museums could be restricted to double-dosed Victorians.

One minister said there was still an enormous challenge to get vaccines to people from diverse backgrounds or who travel long distances for work, and that pop-up hubs would take jabs to those groups over the following months.

At current vaccination rates, to have 80 per cent of people over 16 years of age covered would be likely in mid-late November, but as revealed by the Saturday Herald Sun there is the potential to fast-track doses to reach the target by Melbourne Cup Day.

Another minister said case numbers were now so high that there was “no choice” but to ease out of lockdown.

“You have got to manage your numbers in hospital and ICU.”

Another said “you can’t look at vaccination numbers in isolation” because reopening from lockdown at 10 cases was very different to 1500 cases.

Victorian Chamber of Commerce chief executive Paul Guerra said the state’s road map must align with NSW at 70 per cent double vaccinated and “anything less will be a massive blow to businesses and workers who have held on long enough’’.

Restaurant and Catering Australia chief executive Wes Lambert said a slow reopening was expected but “we’re hopeful that some outdoor dining will come sooner”.

“Some operators are fearful that 90 (per cent double dosed) will be the new 80 and that the government won’t fulfil their promise of returning to normal at 80 per cent.’’

Victorian Tourism Industry Council chief executive Felicia Mariani said the key for industry was to be able to plan for promised changes.

“We know there will be density quotients and patron caps and that will be hard to manage.’’