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The Victorian government on Sunday released torrents of information about the state’s road map out of lockdown, but what does it mean to most Victorians?
October 26 and November 5 look set to become dates when some rules may fade into history, and vaccines, not lockdown, are counted on to protect people from coronavirus.
We’ve attempted to answer a few of the questions about the state’s road map that readers have asked us to look into.Credit:Darrian Traynor
Many questions remain about what vaccinated and unvaccinated Victorians will be allowed and not allowed to do in the coming months.
We’ve attempted to answer a few of the questions readers asked us to look into. This article will be updated as new information becomes available, so please check back for fresh updates.
When will indoor gyms reopen?
Physical recreation will resume indoors in metro Melbourne once 80 per cent double vaccination rates are reached (expected around October 26). This will be subject to a density limit of one person per four square metres, with an indoor cap of 150 people.
However, if you’re in regional Victoria, you can expect gyms to reopen with 10 people indoors once 80 per cent of the population has had at least once dose, which is expected on September 26.
Living in regional Victoria, are we able to meet our adult children in an outdoor space in Melbourne any time soon or do we have to wait until 80 per cent full vaccination?
Unfortunately, you may have to wait until around November 5, when the state is projected to hit that 80 per cent full vaccination mark. Once the state hits 70 per cent, those from Melbourne will be able to travel 25 kilometres from their homes.
For those will family members interstate, the Victorian government has flagged that fully vaccinated residents might be exempt from any domestic travel restrictions once that 80 per cent target is reached, in line with the national plan.
When can we try on clothes in real-life shops?
Retail will reopen for in-store service in Melbourne once 80 per cent of the eligible population is double-vaxxed. Each shop will have to follow density guidelines of one person per four square metres.
But for regional Victoria, retail will initially open once the state reaches its 80 per cent one vaccination dose target, subject to density requirements. Masks will remain mandatory at all times.
When can we travel to regional Victoria? I have a rural bush property that will need bushfire preparation.
The divide between regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne is expected to be lifted by about October 26.
However, the Department of Health is currently considering launching a similar permit scheme to last year, which allowed an exemption from travel limits for those needing to clear their properties ahead of bushfire season.
“More information regarding summer preparedness will be available in October,” it said on its website.
When can we travel internationally?
According to Australia’s national plan, once the country reaches its 80 per cent two-dose targets, all restrictions on outbound travel will be lifted for vaccinated Australia, while travel bubbles (like the currently on pause one with New Zealand) will potentially be extended to countries like Singapore.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he expected international travel would resume before the end of the year.
When will we be able to leave Victoria and be confident we can return when we want to?
Fully vaccinated residents should be exempt from all domestic restrictions once the 80 per cent two-dose vaccine target is reached, according to the national COVID plan.
Further to that, Mr Andrews said he was “going to do everything” he could to avoid lockdowns – and therefore avoid interrupting travel – once the state hits its full vaccination targets.
But Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce noted that “in the Doherty (Institute) plan, there is still the capacity … that there will be targeted initiatives for explicit areas, if and when required”.
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