Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has announced COVID-19 restrictions will ease in the beleaguered state.
Cafes and pubs are set to re-open with limits from midnight tomorrow night.
There will be 20 people permitted to be seated inside with a maximum of 10 people per space.
LIVE UPDATES: Melbourne restrictions to ease - follow all the latest here
Outside, 50 people will be allowed with one person per two square metres.
There will be no more restrictions on the need to leave home.
However, the 25km travel limit and the border between regional Victoria and Greater Melbourne will stay in place.
https://twitter.com/DanielAndrewsMP/status/1320585543223107584?ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwAll retail will be allowed to re-open, but will be required to remain COVID-safe, with beauty, personal and tattooing business employees required to wear a mask.
Employees are allowed to attend work now in a "dark opening" to prepare for a re-opening from midnight tomorrow.
Outdoor community sport for under-18s and outdoor non-contact sport for adults will recommence as well.
Other outdoor gatherings remain limited to 10, with infants under 12 months old not counted to the maximum. The two-household limit will also be revoked.
People of faith will also be able to gather again, albeit in small congregations.
Indoors, 10 people and a faith leader will be permitted, compared to 20 people and a faith leader outdoors.
Likewise, wedding limits will increase to 10 and funerals to 20.
Mr Andrews also signalled the next step out of lockdown, with the 25km travel limit and the border between Melbourne and regional Victoria to be lifted on November 8.
Residents have endured months of lockdown, with tensions erupting into a violent protest last Friday.
There had been repeated calls for Mr Andrews to re-open the state, with even Prime Minister Scott Morrison weighing in.
Mr Andrews said today he was proud of Victorians remaining "united" during a very tough period.
But he warned that people seeking to "find loopholes" and "bend the rules" could see the state plunge back into lockdown.
"Until a vaccine comes, there is no normal. There is only COVID normal," he said.
"So much has been given to build this precious thing and all of us need to make sure that we honour it and value it and protect it in all the choices that we make every single day.
"I could not be prouder than I am today to lead a state that has shown the courage, the compassion and the character to get this job done, but it is not yet absolutely finished."
However, as recently as yesterday, Mr Andrews had announced a delay on any easing of restrictions, citing a cluster which had spread across multiple households.
Today's announcement follows the state recording zero new COVID-19 cases for the first time in months.
Opening as of Tuesday, October 27 at 11.59pm
- All retail
- Restaurants, café, hotel and bars reopen
- Indoor max of 20 people seated, 10 people per space
- Outdoor 50 people, 1 person per 2 square metre
- Beauty, tattoos and personal services open - must wear a mask
- Outdoor Community sport for U18 returning
- Outdoor non-contact sport for adults returning
Travel changes, October 27 at 11.59pm
- Four reasons to leave home removed
- 25km limit remains
- Regional and metro border remains
At your home, October 27 at 11.59pm
- Outdoor gathering max of 10 people – infants under 12 months not included
- More than two households but can't exceed 10 people.
- Weddings 10 people
- Funerals 20 people
Religious gatherings, October 27 at 11.59pm
- Indoor 10 people + 1 faith leader
- Outdoor 20 people + 1 faith leader
More to come.
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