Coronavirus Australia live: COVID-19 restrictions eased in Victoria

Victorian Liberal leader Michael O'Brien has criticised the "long, harsh lockdown" in Victoria as new rules are set to come into force overnight.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has eased a raft of COVID-19 restrictions today. 

From midnight Sunday, rules around mask wearing will be loosened and private gatherings will be increased from two visitors per household to 15 while up to 50 people will be allowed to gather outside.

Victorian residents will be allowed to ditch their mask when they venture outside so long as social distancing is possible, but they will still be required to wear them indoors and in crowded settings including on public transport.

Other changes include increasing patronage at indoor gyms from 20 to 150 and weddings and funerals will soon be allowed to have 150 attendees – depending on the venue size.

Victorian Liberal leader Michael O'Brien has criticised the "long, harsh lockdown" in Victoria as new rules are set to come into force overnight.

"It’s great that Victoria is starting to come back after such a long, harsh lockdown," he said in a social media post.

"But does Crown Casino deserve greater easing of restrictions than a church, temple, synagogue or mosque? Daniel Andrews says yes. I say no. Let me know what you think."

Outdoor sport has been given the green light with up to 500 people – in groups of 50 – allowed to take part in sporting events. But only 150 can take part if it’s indoors.

The same goes for restaurants, cafes, bars with up to 150 allowed indoors, with a total capacity of 300 including outdoors. However, only 50 people will be allowed inside smaller venues.

The limits at community centres, galleries, cinemas, libraries and places of worship will increase to groups of no more than 20 people, with the total number of patrons capped at 150.

“Religious ceremonies can take place indoors with 150 people and outdoors with 300 people,” Mr Andrews said.

Earlier, Dan Andrews encouraged Victorians to carry a mask for occasions when "you can't distance". 

The Premier also announced the number of visitors allowed in a home will rise from two people to 15 visitors each day. This will increase to 30 per day from 11.59pm on December 13. 

Sunday marked the 23rd consecutive day of no new cases in Victoria and the 15th day of no locally acquired cases in New South Wales. 

Meanwhile, South Australia's lockdown lifted at midnight. There were no new cases announced on Sunday linked to Adelaide's Parafield cluster, and one new case in a medi-hotel acquired overseas. 

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