After another big week of vaccinations, Victoria is set to hit its first vaccination target on the Roadmap to Deliver the National Plan and a modest easing of restrictions will be able to occur this week.

Victoria’s Roadmap sets out a hopeful path to opening while also preserving our health system and ensuring Victorians can still get the healthcare they need when they need it most.

The Roadmap was developed based on expert modelling from the Burnet Institute and is set against COVID-19 thresholds including hospitalisation rates, and the vaccination targets already set out in the National Plan to transition Australia’s National COVID-19 Response.

On Tuesday, Victoria will pass its first threshold on the Roadmap with 80 per cent of Victorians having received their first vaccine dose. Victoria’s Chief Health Officer has declared that at 11.59pm on Tuesday 28 September there will be a modest easing to restrictions in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, in line with the Roadmap.

In regional Victoria, outdoor settings for restaurants and cafes will have their outdoor venue cap increase from 20 to 30 people. Masks may be removed if the service requires it in hair and beauty salons, so facials and beard trimmings can recommence.

Residents of metropolitan Melbourne and regional areas in lockdown will be able to undertake ‘contactless’ recreation at outdoor facilities, such as boating, tennis or golf.

The gathering size outdoors can increase to up to five adults, from two households, if all adults are fully vaccinated. The 10km radius will also expand to 15km – so exercise and shopping can take place up to 15km from your home.

Personal training will be able to take place with five fully vaccinated people outside plus a fully vaccinated trainer. The additional restrictions on playgrounds will be lifted – normal public gathering limits apply, and masks can be removed to eat and drink at the playground.

Separately, the Chief Health Officer has advised that the City of Greater Geelong and Surf Coast Shire can exit lockdown at 11:59pm tonight, 26 September – with public health teams confident that caseloads, which are largely contained to existing contacts, can be well managed by the local public health unit.

Mitchell Shire – with more than twice the number of active cases as Greater Geelong – will remain in lockdown due to its close proximity to areas of highest concern in metropolitan Melbourne.

The next milestones in the Roadmap will be when school begins to return to onsite learning on 5 October and when Victoria hits that 70 per cent double dose vaccination target – in late October. It’s important to remember the more Victorians who get vaccinated, the sooner we will hit these targets, and the sooner we can all get back to the things we love.

If you haven’t booked your appointment or are waiting for a particular vaccine – do not wait. The best vaccine is the vaccine you can get today. Over the next week there are 3,495 Pfizer appointments available and 6,984 Astra Zeneca appointments available at state hubs.

Victorians can also book a vaccine appointment through their trusted GP or community pharmacist by visiting www.health.gov.au – and it’s important to remember Victorian pharmacists are now also offering the Moderna vaccine, which is a safe and effective option for any Victorian under the age of 60.

For more info on the Roadmap, or to book a vaccination, visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au.

Quote attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews

“We’re about to hit our first stop on the Roadmap, which is a fantastic achievement – but we need to keep the momentum going. Today is the day to book that vaccine appointment.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Health Martin Foley

“If you’ve been putting it off or waiting to get vaccinated, don’t wait any longer. The best vaccine is the vaccine you can get today and we need to get as many Victorians vaccinated as possible to get back to the things we love.”