Regional Victoria to open up, Premier announces
Regional Victoria will move to step three in easing coronavirus restrictions after no new cases were recorded overnight.
Premier Daniel Andrews said regional Victoria had done an amazing job in keeping the virus at bay.
"Regional Victoria will be opening up in just the next 24 hours or so," he said.
Mr Andrews confirmed there were no new infections in regional Victoria overnight bringing the 14 day average of new cases down to 3.6.
The four reasons for leaving home will no longer apply but regional Victorians will still have to wear masks.
Under the third step in regional Victoria, hospitality businesses will be allowed to serve patrons outside with density quotas. Outdoor real estate auctions will be allowed and private inspections by private appointment can go ahead.
Accommodation operators will be allowed to reopen under tight restrictions.
The third step will also allow residents to have visitors in their home with the establishment of "bubbles" in which one household can have up to five visitors at a time from another nominated household.
On Monday regional Victoria moved to step two, which allowed outdoor meetings of up to five people from two different households.
Victoria has recorded 42 new cases of coronavirus in the past day and no further deaths, for the first time in two months.
The 14-day average for Melbourne is now 52.9 and there are 4,282 'mystery' cases from an unknown source.
This is the first day since July 12 there have been no new coronavirus deaths in Victoria.
"Because you have to hit the target before you can make the decision, there won't be a lot of notice. That is preferable in making people wait for another week or so."
Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp is due to front the Hotel Quarantine Inquiry on Tuesday morning.
More to come