Melbourne residents will see the city's Stage 4 lockdown extended by at least another two weeks under the government's roadmap to reopening the state.
However from next Sunday, when the lockdown was initially scheduled to end, the curfew will start an hour later from 9pm, limits on exercise will be doubled to two hours per day, people who live alone will be able to create a "social bubble" with another person, and public outdoor gatherings of two people or a household will be allowed for up to two hours.
Premier Daniel Andrews on Sunday apologised to Victorians for the "difficult" announcement but was adamant that he had no choice but to extend the harsh restrictions in metropolitan Melbourne.
"Pretending it's over because we want it to be, that is not something I will do," he said as he announced the government's five-step roadmap to 'COVID normal'.
"There is no choice for us, there is only one option."
Under the roadmap, , further restrictions will be lifted in Melbourne on 28 September if the average daily case rate there drops to between 30 and 50 cases over a 14-day period, Mr Andrews said.
For Melburnians, this includes public gatherings being increased to a maximum of five people from two households, a staggered return of some students to in-class learning, reopening of childcare, and a number of industries being able to return to work.
The city can move into the third step of the roadmap, which would see the curfew currently in place lifted, from 26 October - but only if the 14-day average daily case number is reduced to five, and fewer than five cases with an unknown source are recorded in the state over a fortnight.
In this stage, Melbourne residents will be allowed to leave their home for any reason and there will be no restrictions on distance. Gatherings of 10 people will be permitted outdoors, and up to five visitors at homes. Retail, hairdressing, and hospitality can also open.
The final stage, planned for introduction on 23 November if there are no new cases recorded in the state for 14 days, will see outdoor gatherings of 50 people and most restrictions dropped.
Mr Andrews announced the plan after a week of speculation, and as the state recorded .
Melbourne has been under harsh , with residents unable to leave the house between 8pm and 5am, only able to exercise for one hour a day, and barred from travelling more than five kilometres from their home. Regional Victoria is currently under Stage 3 restrictions.
The Premier revealed he has been unable to see his mother since December last year, but shared his hopes the roadmap would mean Victorians could have "something approaching a normal Christmas".
"What the data tells us, what the scientists tell us, and, frankly, it’s common sense, if we do this too fast, if we run to open up we won't be open for long," he said.
"If we open up too fast then we have a very high likelihood that we are not really opening up at all, we're just beginning a third wave."
Outside of metropolitan Melbourne, regional Victoria will move to the second step of the roadmap from 14 September and likely progress through the stages more quickly, Mr Andrews said.
From next Sunday, public outdoor gatherings of five people from two households will be allowed, single parents or people living alone will be able to nominate one designated at-home visitor, childcare can open, and students can return to in-class learning.
Modelling by the Universities of Melbourne and New England, commissioned by the Victorian government, found Melbourne would likely still have a 14-day average of around 60 COVID-19 cases per day by mid-September, which could result in a third wave if lockdowns were lifted too soon.
By comparison, during the peak of the virus in New South Wales, the state recorded a 14-day average of 13 locally-acquired cases. As of 4 September, Victoria had a fortnightly average of 115 new cases.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Health Minister Greg Hunt and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg described the announcement as "crushing" for Victorians in a joint statement on Sunday, warning that it would lead to further job losses and negatively impact many people's mental health.
"Of course the federal government would like to see restrictions in Victoria lifted as soon as it is safe to do so, but at the end of the day these are decisions solely for the Victorian government to determine," they said.
"We will continue to support Victorians and the businesses that employ them as they deal with the impacts of the state's second wave."
Victorian opposition leader Michael O'Brien also criticised the plan on Sunday, calling for greater certainty for business owners, school students, and regional Victoria.
"This is unnecessary, it shouldn't have come to this, because we shouldn't have had a second wave," he said.
"You've got dozens and dozens of [regional] areas that have had no coronavirus cases whatsoever, why are they still in Stage 3 lockdown? It makes no sense."
As of Sunday, there were 1,872 active coronavirus cases in Victoria.
Metropolitan Melbourne residents are subject to Stage 4 restrictions and must comply with a curfew between the hours of 8pm and 5am. During the curfew, people in Melbourne can only leave their house for work, and essential health, care or safety reasons.
Between 5am and 8pm, people in Melbourne can leave the home for exercise, to shop for necessary goods and services, for work, for health care, or to care for a sick or elderly relative. The full list of restrictions can be found here.
All Victorians must wear a face covering when they leave home, no matter where they live.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’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. News and information is available in 63 languages at .
