Victoria and South Australia celebrate after lockdown ended at midnight

Victorians and South Australians have emerged from lockdown while Sydney faces a four-week extension.

Victorians and South Australians are officially free from lockdown.

Both states’ ended lockdown at midnight.

Victoria was in lockdown for 12 days while South Australia had only a week of staying at home.

The two neighbouring states had to enforce stay-at-home orders after two removalists from Sydney travelled there while infectious with the highly virulent Delta strain of the virus.

Victoria recorded 10 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday – who were all in isolation – while South Australia had a doughnut day.

The news is bittersweet as residents still have to abide by a number of restrictions.

Greater Sydney, which will be in lockdown for at least eight weeks until the end of August, serves as a reminder of the virtues of locking down hard and fast.

Residents leaving lockdown in the dust shared their exuberance online.

RELATED: Significant extension to NSW lockdown

Have l missed the PM congratulating Victoria and South Australia for running the NSW Delta virus into he ground?

— Daniel🐀LD#5🐀Delta#2🐀AZ#1 (@Danieldfc00) July 27, 2021

700 cases a day to zero.

Kappa, destroyed.

Delta, destroyed. TWICE.

In an unvaccinated populace, failed federal quarantine. Infectious strains.

Victoria and the Andrews Labor government would have to be the BEST pandemic managers in the world. #covid19vic

— Ash Leahy 👀 (@AshleyLeahy) July 27, 2021

RELATED: ‘Dangerous’: Waleed weighs in on Sydney lockdown

Victorian Premier Dan Andrews said his state was the only place to have defeated the Delta strain – twice.

Other Victorians shared his exuberance for coming out of lockdown.

Victorians are happy to exit their fifth lockdown.

Congratulations to everyone in Victoria for smashing this latest outbreak 🙌🙌🙌 #viclockdown

— Lily (@Lilylulu1111) July 27, 2021

🧡Genuinely so delighted for you Victoria. Your hard lockdown, your perseverance & now with number FIVE done, you will all be back on track.
I am particularly thrilled that theatres, cinemas, live music venues may open. Hope for us in NSW to look to… 🧡 https://t.co/orSCkKJxcC

— Julia Zemiro (@julia_zemiro) July 27, 2021

Hearing @GladysB tell us “we base all our decisions on the best health advice” sounds a little hollow on the day Victoria is exiting a 2 week lockdown because they went hard early.

— Jayne Azzopardi (@JayneAzzo) July 27, 2021

South Australians were similarly excited.

It’s great news today for South Australia - ZERO new COVID cases. #lockdown#covid19sa

— Mikey Nicholson (@Mikey_Nicholson) July 27, 2021

SOUTHIES:
Lockdown will end as planned at midnight. Mask rules with stay in place - that includes in high schools - for at least the next seven days.
There are currently 25 active cases in SA all of them in quarantine.

— Sharnelle Vella (@SharnelleVella) July 27, 2021

Restrictions in Victoria

These restrictions will come into place from 11.59pm AEST Tuesday night and will remain for at least two weeks.

• Five-kilometre restriction on movement scrapped
• Schools at all year levels will reopen.
• Home visits are still banned.
• Early learning centres, childcare centres and family daycare can remain open.
• People in higher education recommended to study from home.
  
• Masks are still required inside and outdoors.
• Offices will return to 25 per cent capacity.
• If you can work from home, you must work from home.
  
• Pubs, restaurants, cafes and bars can open but with strict density limits which is: a maximum of 100 customers, as long as there is one person per four square metres.
  
• No crowds at AFL games or other large events.
• Theatres can reopen with up to 100 spectators, with a density limit that only applies to non-seated areas
  

Victorian Premier Dan Andrews announced an end to lockdown on Tuesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

Restrictions in South Australia

These restrictions will come into place from 12.01am ACST (12.31am AEST) early Wednesday morning and will remain for at least seven days:

• The stay-at-home order is scrapped (including the 2.5km restriction on movement).
• Face masks still mandatory in high schools, but with a few exceptions.
• Masks are also be strongly recommended at indoor workplaces.
• Schools, universities and TAFEs can reopen.
• Weddings and funerals capped at 50 people.
• Working from home still recommended.
• Household gatherings capped at 10. People who live there count towards that number.
• No limit on travel within the state.
• Gyms can reopen with density limits.
• Sport training is back on — but competitions can’t be held for at least a week.