Victoria and South Australia will lift their lockdowns from midnight tonight, with restaurants, bars, pubs and cafes able to open their doors once again.
Tight restrictions, including limited density quotients, will remain.
“Essentially we come out of lockdown; the five reasons to leave home are gone, the 5km radius is gone,” said Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.
In Victoria, venues will have to adhere to a one person per 4sqm rule.
Masks will remain mandatory inside and outside.
Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp has requested additional assistance for businesses; specifically the introduction of a program comparable to JobKeeper.
“It will be a long time before [businesses] return to normal revenues and that’s why we need more support like JobKeeper that connects workers to the business owners, provides fundamental comfort and support…” the Lord Mayor said on Today.
In South Australia, cafes and restaurants will follow the 1 person per 4 square metre rule and operate at 25 per cent capacity.
Diners must remain seated at all times indoors and outdoors. Restrictions are slated to be in place for one week and adjusted according to COVID-19 case numbers.
Image credit: Time Out