Victoria to hit 70 per cent first dose milestone but no indication of new freedoms for Melbourne

As the Premier remains tight-lipped on what freedoms are coming, health experts have thrown their support behind outdoor grand final day meet-ups.

Grand final day picnics should be given the green light, the curfew lifted and unlimited exercise allowed when the state hits a vaccination target at the end of the week, health experts say.

Victoria is on track to have 70 per cent of people aged over 15 single-dose vaccinated by Friday, a milestone Premier Daniel Andrews previously flagged would result in the travel limit being extended, skate parks reopening and the resumption of outdoor personal training.

But health experts have told the Herald Sun more freedoms would be safe, including small outdoor gatherings for grand final day.

It comes as the Premier on Tuesday confirmed he would release a “roadmap” out of the country’s strictest lockdown on Sunday.

“It will give people a clear sense of what we’re working towards,” he said, flagging that some restrictions were likely to continue for months.

“You don’t get to Christmas lunch and flick and switch and it’s all over. There’s going to be consequences of this for some time.

Virus experts have thrown their support behind picnics (such as this one in 2020) when the state hits its 70 per cent vaccination target. Picture: NCA NewsWire

“This is not going to end quickly but we’ve got to open up … There’s going to be structure, there’s going to be rules for quite some time … They’ll be the lightest touch possible, and will be based on medical advice.”

More than two in three Victorians have already had their first dose, while 41.4 per cent are fully vaccinated. Seventy per cent are projected to have had a jab by Friday, paving the way for the first easing of Melbourne’s sixth lockdown.

While it is expected that outdoor skate parks and gym equipment will reopen and the travel limit will be extended, Melbourne University public health expert Nathan Grills and Deakin University chair of epidemiology Catherine Bennett both backed moves to allow more outdoor activities.

“In ED, where I work, I see a disproportionate number of teenagers who are doing it really tough,” Associate Professor Grills said.

“They need a healthy outdoor outlet and sport is one of those areas.”

Some Melbourne skate parks have been taped off, while concrete barriers were controversially installed on top of the Glen Iris BMX park.

Families have called for a reprieve for kids, including Austin, 7, Tyler, 5, and Neave, 4, who are desperate to hit St Kilda skate park again.

Large concrete bollards prevent skate parks from being used. Picture: Rob Leeson

Prof Bennett said fully vaccinated people from two households should be permitted to have small grand final day gatherings, while Prof Grills said allowing five people, plus children aged under two, to gather outside was “low risk”. “One of the reasons why Covid and the flu are seasonal is that people are outside more and most transmission happens in closed spaces. So why keep people confined to closed spaces in spring?”

Double-vaxxed Sydneysiders have been allowed to have picnics of up to five people since Monday after the state sailed past the 70 per cent first-dose vaccination target.

Melburnians have endured the toughest lockdown in the country – and one of the world’s longest – labouring under rules not imposed across the border.

The closure of Melbourne’s playgrounds and skate parks was never replicated in Sydney – nor the new rule that only one parent may accompany a child to a playground, and they must not eat or drink while there. The curfew and 5km travel limits have only applied to councils of concern, as opposed to the entirety of Melbourne.

Other rules unique to Melbourne are a ban on drinking alcohol outdoors and the closure of golf courses.

The state opposition earlier this week called for social bubbles allowing families from several households to gather for grand final day.

“That would be a good way of giving something back to Victorians,” Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said.