Melbourne Says “Bye‑Bye, Lockdown!”
On Sunday (Oct 17), the city that has spent the most time in lockdowns in the world is finally pulling the plug on stay‑at‑home rules. Melbourne’s 5 million‑strong population, which has already clocked six lockdowns totalling 262 days (almost nine months), will see a few restrictions lifted by Friday.
We Can Celebrate
Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews called the day “a great day” and said Victorians can feel proud of what they’ve done.
What’s Next?
- Hospitality venues and some businesses reopen, but their capacity will remain heavily restricted.
- More shops and services will open once 80 % of the eligible Victorian population is fully vaccinated – a target expected by Jan 5 at the newest.
Numbers that Matter
On Sunday Victoria logged 1,838 new coronavirus cases and seven deaths. The neighbouring state, New South Wales, ended a 100‑day lockdown last week, reporting 301 cases and ten deaths. It’s now at 80 % fully vaccinated.
Australia’s Game Plan
Australia moved from a “Covid‑zero” doctrine to co‑existing with the virus, thanks to wide vaccination roll‑outs. To cut lockdowns, they’re aiming for 80 % coverage. As of the weekend, about 68 % of eligible Australians were fully inoculated.
Travel Resumes
Travelers from New Zealand’s South Island will no longer need quarantine on Wednesday, and the government is negotiating with Singapore to reopen travel for the fully vaccinated.
Low Numbers Compared to Other Developed Nations
Despite a recent case spike, Australia still sits comfortably below many peers, with roughly 143,000 total cases and 1,530 deaths.
New Zealand Touch‑Points
New Zealand, also ramping up vaccinations, reported 51 new cases on Sunday (47 in the Auckland area, still under lockdown since mid‑August). The government led a mass vaccination drive that shot more than 2.5 % of the population on Saturday.
