From 11.59pm Melbourne moves from Stage Four to the First Step of the roadmap for reopening, with modest changes including more social interaction and more time outside.

Social bubbles begin, allowing those living alone or single parents to have one other person in their home. Exercise is extended to two hours split over a maximum of two sessions, and you will be able to use that time outside for social interaction with one other person or the members of your household.

Playgrounds and outdoor fitness equipment reopen, libraries will be able to open for contactless click and collect and the curfew will begin at 9pm as Melbourne moves into warmer months.

Tonight, 11.59pm Sunday 13th September, regional Victoria moves from Stage Three restrictions to the Second Step of the roadmap.

Up to five people able to gather together in outdoor public places from a maximum of two households.
Outdoor pools and playgrounds in regional Victoria will also open.
Religious services can be conducted outside with a maximum of five people, plus a faith leader.

Given the incredible effort of regional Victorians, the Government will continue to closely monitor the 14-day rolling average, which currently sits at 4.1 for regional communities. If this effort continues, regional Victorians could move to the Third Step in a matter of days.  

Also from today, Victoria’s State of Emergency and State of Disaster declarations have been renewed for another four weeks, ending at 11.59pm on 11 October 2020.

While the vast majority of Victorians are doing the right thing and following the directions, these measures give the Chief Health Officer and Victoria Police the powers they need to continue to respond rapidly to the pandemic – in line with the latest data and public health advice.

This includes ensuring Victoria Police has the ability to enforce the directions that are keeping us safe and slowing the spread of the virus. Without these efforts, we risk losing all of Victorians’ hard-won gains.