Melbourne's COVID Lockdown Extended

The next phase in Victoria’s roadmap to reopening was outlined on Sunday 6 September and revealed that Melbourne COVID lockdown will be extended. The Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews released that metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria will each have separate roadmaps that have “trigger points” for entering a new phase.  These will mostly be based around total active cases in the community. 

The four phases include:

• Step One – September 14 (officially 11.59 pm September 13)
• Step Two – September 28
• Step Three – October 26 and Step Four (Last Step) – November 23 and finally a COVID Normal

The steps have case-number markers to be met, in addition to the date.

The announcement means that hospitality businesses in Melbourne will be restricted to takeaway and delivery operations until at least 26 October. 

“There’s no point having those venues open if we can’t allow customers to move around freely,” said Mr Andrews, addressing the continued restrictions for hospitality businesses. “We can’t do that. Each of these steps is less than we would like to do. We can’t run out of lockdown. We must take steady and safe steps to find a COVID normal and make sure that in opening up we can stay open.”

Metropolitan Melbourne

The announcement made, will see Stage 4 Lockdown restrictions remain in place in metropolitan Melbourne until at least 28 September. 

There will be a number of minor changes that will be introduced to the zone from 11:59 pm on September 13 including changes to curfew conditions. These changes will mean the general public can travel beyond a 5km radius from their homes and can remain out until 9pm, including to pick up a takeaway. The curfew will then remain in place until October 26, providing virus case number markers are met (less than five new cases state-wide average over 14 days and less than five cases with an unknown source).

Depending on case numbers and other underlying trigger points, hospitality venues in metropolitan Melbourne will be able to undergo a staged reopening from 26 October. This will include venues being allowed to reopen for dine-in guests under strict density requirements with a group limit of 10 and seated service will predominantly be outdoors.  

This date is also the current proposed reopening date for the non-essential retail businesses, and shopping limits will cease. 

Regional Victoria 

Regional Victoria, which is currently in Stage 3 restrictions, will move towards the second step of reopening from 13 September, but hospitality venues will still be restricted to takeaway and delivery only. 

The transition to the third phase (currently set for October 26) will allow hospitality and retail reopening to occur. The marker for this phase needs to see less than five new cases on average over a 14 day period and zero cases that have an unknown source. 

Under this phase, hospitality would be able to reopen with group limits of 10, mostly outdoor dining and subject to strict density restrictions.  

Metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria 

Under the last step, flagged to occur from 23 November, venues across the state will be able to seat up to 50 patrons indoors, with outdoor dining to be subject to a density requirement. There will be a group limit of 20 people.

The move to this last step will only occur if there are no new cases for 14 days state-wide. 

Both regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne will then move from the last step to a “COVID Normal” once there are no new cases statewide for 28 days, no active cases state-wide and no concerning outbreaks in other states and territories. 

The COVID Normal will see restrictions on hospitality businesses removed entirely, but with continued record-keeping for contact tracing. 

“Importantly, we want the whole of the state to be at COVID Normal by the end of the year — making sure family barbeques, summer holidays and a trip to the beach can all still happen,” said Premier Andrews. 

Read more on the State’s roadmap to reopening here. 

In Brief 

Metropolitan Melbourne

• First step: Hospitality: Heavily restricted. Take away only. Retail: Essential stores only - Shopping limits of one person per household
• Second step: Hospitality: Heavily restricted. Take away only. Retail: Essential Stores only - Shopping limits of one person per household
• Third step: Hospitality: Restricted. Predominantly outdoor dining with a patron cap. Density quotient applies. Flagged from 26 October. Retail: Reopening of all retail businesses, Hairdressers reopen with safety measures. 
• Last step: Hospitality: Restricted. Patron cap per space indoors. Density quotient applies outdoors, no patron cap. Flagged from 23 November. Retail: Beauty Salons can reopen and gyms
• COVID Normal: Open with a COVIDSafe Plan. No density quotient.

Regional Victoria

• First step: Does not apply in regional Victoria
• Second step: Hospitality: Heavily restricted. Take away only. Retail: Essential Stores only - Shopping limits of one person per household
• Third step: Hospitality: Restricted. Predominantly outdoor dining with a patron cap. Density quotient applies. Flagged from 26 October. Retail: Reopening of all retail businesses, Hairdressers reopen with safety measures. 
• Last step: Hospitality: Restricted. Patron cap per space indoors. Density quotient applies outdoors, no patron cap. Flagged from 23 November. Retail: Beauty Salons can reopen and gyms
• COVID Normal: Open with a COVIDSafe Plan. Record-keeping requirements. No density quotient.