LOCKED down since June, Melbourne reunites with regional Victoria from 6pm tonight as part of further eased COVID–19 restrictions as the state hits its vaccination target of 80 per cent full vaccination rate of people 16 and over.
The double dose vaccination rate has been forecast to reach its milestone almost a week ahead of schedule.
Premier Daniel Andrews made the announcement on Sunday with the latest round of roadmap rules that will take effect from 6pm tonight.
Statewide travel resumes under the changes, reconnecting Melbourne and regional areas for the first time since the city's 77–day lockdown lifted.
"That means it is a proper Melbourne Cup long weekend, informally, for people to travel, to book holidays and do all sorts of things," Mr Andrews told reporters.
Mr Andrews said at a press conference on Sunday with further ease of restrictions, masks no longer needed to be worn outdoors while indoor entertainment venues, gyms and retail can reopen for fully vaccinated patrons while capacity limits increase for restaurants, pubs and cafes.
Students from every year level across the state return to full–time, face–to–face learning on Monday.
The premier acknowledged school settings would remain "a little bit different" to normal, given those under 12 cannot be vaccinated against COVID–19.
In the longer term, Mr Andrews laid out what the state would look like once 90 per cent of people aged 12 years old and over are full vaccinated with the forecast on or around November 24.
All venue caps will be scrapped at that point, along with density quotients.
"Masks will only be required in high–risk indoor settings, such as public transport, prisons, hospitals, aged care, to give you some examples," Mr Andrews said.
Limits on home and outdoor gatherings will also be shelved, paving the way for Christmas to return to normal.
But Mr Andrews warned Victoria's "vaccinated economy" would remain into 2022, with those who refuse to get the jab excluded from workplaces, venues and major events.
"If you've made the choice, I'll respectfully say the wrong choice to not get vaccinated then you're at much greater risk of putting really significant pressure on our nurses, on our doctors, on our ambos – their job gets harder because you refuse to do yours," he said.
An 80,000–plus crowd for day one of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG is on the agenda, Mr Andrews said, but every fan must be double–dose vaccinated.
Non–essential retail patrons and staff will also be required to be fully vaccinated when the state reaches the 90 per cent milestone.
As of Wednesday this week 91.9 per cent of Victorians aged 16 and over have had one dose of a COVID–19 vaccine with 76.5 per cent have received two doses.
Indigo Shire has reached greater than 95 per cent of its residents aged 15 years and older receiving their first dose and 84.4 per cent jabbed with their second dose which shows the shire has already exceeds the state target.
