Melbourne Restrictions Update: Australia's 2nd-Largest City Eases Covid-19 Lockdown

Описание: Australia's second-largest city of Melbourne on Sunday implemented an easing of lockdown restrictions as the pace of new coronavirus infections in the city slows, allowing most children to return to school from next month and sending more than 125,000 people back to work.

Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews announced in a press conference the end of a nightly curfew in Melbourne sooner than originally expected.

Melbourne and surrounding parts of rural Victoria state were placed under strict "Level 4" lockdowns on 2 August, shuttering schools and non-essential businesses, imposing a nighttime curfew and prohibiting public gatherings.

The restrictions were scheduled to be eased Sunday if the rolling 14-day average of new infections was between 30 and 50 cases.

"Our target for Sunday was to get to a rolling 14 day average of between 30 and 50 cases," said Andrews in Melbourne. "The fact that we are in fact at 22.1 cases over that 14 day period, as a rolling average, means that this strategy is working,"

That allowed Andrews to confirm the 9 p.m.- 5.a.m curfew will be lifted from 5 a.m. Monday local time, though residents still cannot travel more than 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from home.

Public gatherings of up to five people from a maximum of two households will be allowed.

"Whilst the curfew comes off, that is tonight is the last night, we have decided that a new fine, a penalty almost to A$5,000 (US $3,500), just less than A$5,000, will apply for any unlawful outdoor gatherings or indoor gatherings," said Andrews in Melbourne on Sunday.

A further easing could take place on Oct. 19 if the average falls below five new cases per day. Masks remain mandatory.

"We believe that we will be able to take, all things being equal, the next step, which is when all the restrictions leaving your home, when there's much more freedom of movement, we believe that we will be able to take that important step on the 19th of October," said Andrews.

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