Exactly What Will (and Won’t) Change When 70 Per Cent of Victorians Are Fully Vaccinated

This article was updated on October 17 to reflect the announcement of lockdown’s end date and additional freedoms.

Our sixth lockdown will finally end at midnight on Thursday October 21, when 70 per cent of Victorians over the age of 16 are fully vaccinated. It’s been a slog, but here are the freedoms to expect.

From 11.59pm on Thursday October 21:
• Lockdown will end in Melbourne. The six reasons to leave home will no longer apply; neither will the 9pm to 5am curfew.
• The 15-kilometre travel limit will be scrapped, though travel from metro Melbourne into regional Victoria still won’t be allowed.
• Home visits will be allowed for up to 10 people per day, including dependents. It’s “highly recommended” those people over the age of 12 are fully vaccinated.
• The outdoor-gathering limit will increase from five to 15 people, including dependents.
• Hospitality venues will be able to reopen to 20 fully vaccinated people indoors and 50 outdoors. Entertainment venues can also open to 50 fully vaccinated people outdoors.
• Weddings and funerals will be permitted for 50 fully vaccinated people outdoors and 20 fully vaccinated people indoors.
• Community-sport training will return for the minimum number of players required to train.
• All school students will go back to in-person learning, at least part-time.
• Hairdressing and personal-care services will open for up to five fully vaccinated people.

coronavirus.vic.gov.au