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Melbourne set to learn lockdown fate as cases continue to surge

Victoria has recorded 1,838 new local cases of Covid-19 on Sunday ahead of an expected announcement on when millions can leave behind the harshest lockdown restrictions.

The state also recorded another seven deaths linked to the deadly disease, the health department reported this morning.

There are currently 23,376 active known cases in the state but restrictions are set to ease as the 70 per cent vaccination target appears just days away.

The latest numbers come after a Covid-positive 15-year-old with other health conditions became the youngest victim of Victoria's third coronavirus wave.

Coronavirus commander Jeroen Weimar on Saturday confirmed the girl had died while infected.

Yesterday's caseload of 1,993 was down from the peak of 2,297 locally acquired Covid cases in the state on Thursday and a further 2,179 cases on Friday.

Melbourne set to learn lockdown end date

Melburnians are set to learn when their long-running sixth lockdown will lift, with Victoria on track to reach its 70 per cent Covid-19 vaccination target this week.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is expected to confirm later today the exact date Melbourne will exit its sixth lockdown.

Melbourne is set to leave the harshest lockdown measures behind later this week. Source: Getty
Melbourne is set to leave the harshest lockdown measures behind later this week. Source: Getty

Under the state's roadmap, the city's lockdown - which has run for 73 days - was due to end on October 26, the predicted date when 70 per cent of those aged over 16 are doubled-dosed.

However, the state is now forecast to reach that milestone as early as Thursday because of soaring second-dose rates.

Both Mr Andrews and Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton last week said they were open to taking the first step out of lockdown early, in line with reaching vaccination coverage goals.

Restrictions will ease further when 80 per cent of the eligible population has received both vaccine doses, originally projected for November 5.

Latest data shows 88.05 per cent of Victoria's over-16 population have had one vaccine dose and 65.02 per cent have now had both.

with AAP

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