As Victoria's daily COVID-19 case numbers drop to single digits, Premier Daniel Andrews has announced a .
The first step of lifting restrictions will come into force from midnight on Sunday, with further changes expected to be introduced from 2 November if case numbers remain steady.
Here's what has changed under the new stages.
Metropolitan Melbourne
From 11.59 pm on 18 October
- Travel bubble expanded from five kilometres to 25 kilometres from home
- No time limit on exercising or socialising outdoors
- Up to 10 people from two households allowed to gather outdoors
- Four reasons to leave home remain in place: obtaining essential goods and services, care or health reasons, work or education, and exercise and social interaction
- Face masks still mandatory when in public
- "Ring of steel" separating Melbourne and regional Victoria to remain in place
Recreation
- Indoor sport not allowed
- Up to 10 people from a maximum of two households able to participate in non-contact sport
- Tennis courts, skate parks, and golf clubs to reopen
- Outdoor swimming pools can open for exercise with a maximum of 30 people at any one time
- Indoor pools can open only for one-on-one hydrotherapy sessions with a health professional
- Outdoor public playgrounds are open
Businesses
- Hospitality open for takeaway and delivery only
- Hairdressers can open, but beauty and person care services to remain closed
- Real estate auctions permitted outdoors with a limit of 10 people plus facilitators
- Other retail, other than permitted businesses, to remain closed
Other
- Outdoor religious ceremonies allowed with up to five people plus faith leader
- Weddings permitted outdoors with five attendees, including couple but excluding celebrant
- Up to 10 people allowed at a funeral, excluding facilitators and infants under 12 months
From 11.59 pm on 1 November
- No restrictions on reasons for leaving the house
- Can travel any distance, except for travelling through a restricted area
- Up to two people, plus dependents who cannot be left alone, able to visit a household once a day
- Groups of up to 10 people from any number of households, or more than 10 from the same household, can gather outdoors
- Face masks still mandatory when in public
Recreation
- Indoor sports not allowed
- A household or up to 10 people can participate in outdoor sport
- Outdoor community sport allowed for people under 18 years old, spectators only permitted to supervise children
- Outdoor non-contact sport allowed for adults, participants must remain 1.5 metres apart
- Personal training allowed outdoors allowed with up to 10 people plus trainer
- Public, outdoor gym equipment and playgrounds open
- Fitness or dance classes, including those facilitated by gyms, allowed outdoors with up to 10 people plus trainer
- Gyms to remain closed
- Outdoor swimming pools open and limited to 50 people or density requirement of the facility
- Trampolining centres that are outdoors open, while indoor centres remain closed
Businesses
- Pubs, cafes and restaurants to reopen for dine-in service, with a cap of 10 patrons indoors and another 50 outdoors subject to social distancing requirements
- All other retail, including markets, can reopen
- Beauty and personal care services resume where customers can wear a face mask, such as tattoo parlours or body waxing
- Auction houses open
- Theatres, cinemas, galleries, museums, amusement parks, arcades, brothels and zoos to remain closed
Other
- Up to 20 people plus one faith leader permitted at outdoor religious ceremonies
- Weddings increased to 10 people plus celebrant
- Funerals expanded to 20 people guests
Regional Victoria
From 11.59 pm on 18 October
- Two people plus dependents who cannot be left alone able to visit a home at one time
- Hospitality businesses can host up to 40 patrons indoors and up to 70 outdoors, subject to social distancing requirements
- Libraries can open to a maximum of 20 people indoors
- Outdoor religious gatherings increased to 20 people
- Indoor pools can open for a maximum of 20 people under 18 years old
- Face masks remain mandatory
From 11.59 pm on 1 November
- Outdoor religious gatherings increased to 50 people
- Non-contact indoor sport, such as dance classes, allowed for people under 18 with a maximum of 20 people
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your jurisdiction's restrictions on gathering limits. If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
Please check the relevant guidelines for your state or territory: , , , , , , .
