Coronavirus Australia: Victoria to end lockdown but keep in tough Covid rules

Victorians are likely to suffer many more weeks of gruelling coronavirus restrictions which threaten to decimate hospitality and small businesses.  

The Victorian government is set to make a decision on whether to extend the state's fifth gruelling Covid lockdown tonight, with policymakers and health officials waiting until the last minute to make the call.

But sources say that many restaurants will see no point opening under the new rules being discussed, including a possible return to a maximum of 50 customers inside. 

Stay-at-home orders, brought in on July 16, are on track to end at 11.59pm on Tuesday as scheduled, but Premier Daniel Andrews has warned that a range of restrictions will need to remain in place.

Cabinet is still considering extending the lockdown for an extra three days but at this stage it appears the government will opt for what's being called 'lockdown lite'.

'The restrictions are going to be onerous for the next few months,' a source told the Herald Sun.

'It's going to not be worthwhile for a lot of restaurants to open if what is being talked about goes ahead,' another source said. 

'Not great news for Melbourne.'

While Victoria had 11 further infections on Monday, bringing the total active number of cases in the state to 190, all of the new transmissions were isolating and had not been in the community.

All 11 were also linked to known cases.

These vital statistics have put the Garden State firmly on track to get out of lockdown on Wednesday as scheduled.

But the Premier has previously warned tough measures are likely to remain in place until the state's vaccination rate reaches 50 per cent.

'On the data we have now, on the trend we

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