Coronavirus Victoria: Streak of zero cases ends
Victoria has recorded its first coronavirus cases in 72 hours after two consecutive days of zero new cases.
The Department of Health and Human Services announced two new cases on Wednesday.
There were also two deaths reported– the first in nine days. The deaths were not in the previous 24 hours however. The state’s death toll now sits at 819.
Melbourne’s 14-day rolling average has fallen slightly to 2.7 while there are now just three mystery cases in the city.
The corresponding figures for regional Victoria are zero.
The latest figures come as Melburnians woke to relative freedom on Wednesday as several stringent measures in the city’s lockdown came to an end.
Melbourne restaurants, cafes, pubs and retail stores could throw open their doors from 11.59pm on Tuesday, with some wasting no time getting back to business.
However the Victorian branch of the Australian Hotels Association fear up to 70 per cent of pubs won’t open on Wednesday due to the limits on patrons meaning operation will not be profitable.
On Tuesday, Premier Daniel Andrews outlined new rules for home visits which were curtailed throughout Victoria's devastating second wave, making it difficult for people to see family and friends.
Two adults from one household can now visit another home accompanied by any dependents. The visits are restricted to within the 25km travel limit and to one per day.
Home gathering restrictions will remain in place beyond November 8, when the travel limit and the "ring of steel" separating the city from regional Victoria is lifted.
Halloween trick-or-treating rules explained
Hours before Tuesday's rules rollback, the Victorian government also clarified advice on home businesses and workers, masks and Halloween.
Masks should be worn inside gyms for most activities apart from running on a treadmill, with the premier earlier saying they will remain mandatory outdoors across the state for the rest of the year and possibly into 2021.
Home businesses such as hairdressers will be able to reopen if they have a "discrete retail area", while cleaners and maintenance workers may attend homes provided they wear a mask.
Halloween trick-or-treating will be permitted in Melbourne and regional Victoria this Saturday as long as it's "contactless", with people unable to enter properties, including front yards, to doorknock.
with AAP
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