Small outdoor gatherings will be re-introduced and travel radius doubled for Victorians from Friday as Dan Andrews eases restrictions despite 514 new cases of coronavirus.
Sources inside the government told The Age the premier will confirm a string of changes in his daily Covid press conference on Thursday.
These will include allowing small social gatherings outdoors, extending the travel radius from 5kilometres to 10 and reopening outdoor gyms and skate parks.
Victorians will also be able to exercise outside for three hours per day, an increase on the two hours currently permitted.
The measures were promised by Mr Andrews two weeks ago as a reward for the state reaching 70 per cent first-dose vaccination rates, but he has added the outdoor picnics as a bonus, following the lead of New South Wales.
Small outdoor gatherings will be re-introduced and travel radius doubled for Victorians from Friday as Dan Andrews eases restrictions despite 514 new cases of coronavirus
Sources inside the government told The Age the premier will confirm a string of changes in his daily Covid press conference on Thursday
Thursday is the first time the state had more than 500 new cases in a day since the height of its deadly second wave on August 4 last year.
The 366 mystery cases not linked to the rest of the outbreak are also the most this year, with chief health officer Brett Sutton warning the risk of 1,000 a day is 'very real'.
They were diagnosed from 61,961 tests and 41,758 vaccine doses were administered on Wednesday as Victoria approaches 70 per cent first dose coverage.
Despite the case surge, a range of harsh restrictions are set to be eased, allowing millions cooped up inside their homes more time outdoors.
Even if the changes are only small, as expected, it will be welcome relief to Melburnians who have spent two more days in lockdown than any other city in the world since the pandemic began.
Beleaguered Melburnians trapped in their sixth Covid lockdown will finally get some much-need relief, and even the hated curfew may be coming to an end (pictured, Melburnians walk the eerily empty city under lockdown)
Melbourne recorded 514 new cases of coronavirus on Thursday, the highest figure the state has seen since its 112-day lockdown last year
The Victorian premier is poised to give long-suffering residents more freedoms after 70 per cent of the state have received their first vaccine dose, which is expected to come on Thursday.
He is tipped to announce the 5km travel limit will be extended to 10km with the draconian essential exercise limit increased to three hours, up from two, but it's not clear when the changes will be implemented.
The city's despised nighttime curfew could also finally be abolished after the state cabinet met with health officials for late-night talks on Wednesday, with some advocating for the hated measure - which has no health benefit - to end.
The welcome freedoms come as the regional town of Ballarat wakes up to a seven-day snap lockdown of its own after four new Covid cases were discovered in the area.
Meanwhile Shepparton has come out of lockdown, with its restrictions mirroring the rest of the regions since midnight on Wednesday after a local outbreak was brought under control.
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said the Ballarat decision was made after Covid sewage surveillance indicated the virus may have been circulating within the community for up to a week.
Back in Melbourne, the Andrews government discussed calls from the Victorian opposition to bring in 'social bubbles' that would allow up to five people to gather for two hours for exercise and recreation such as picnics, as is the rule in the ACT.
At about the same time last year, in the wake of Victoria's disastrous second wave, restrictions were eased to allow 10 people from two households to meet-up outdoors.
With the AFL Grand Final just over a week away, some hope the sacred occasion may entice Premier Andrews to further ease the burden on cooped up Melburnians who've spent 229 days over the past 19 months living under stay-at-home orders.
The draconian limit on exercise is set to increase from two hours to three hours under plans set to be announced by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews (pictured, women exercise in Melbourne's lockdown)
Daniel Andrews is set to reward long-suffering Victorians with a few minor freedoms when 70 per cent of the state have received their first vaccine dose, which is expected to come on Thursday (pictured, Carlton in Melbourne during lockdown)
By Wednesday, 68.3 per cent of Victorians aged 16 and over had had one dose of a Covid vaccine, with 41.9 per cent being fully-vaccinated.
'We need to give people a break from relentless lockdowns,' Liberal opposition leader Matthew Guy told the Herald Sun.
'We need to find more ways to allow people to get exercise and limited social contact. With so many people doing it really tough, it's vital for their mental and physical health.'
Although Mr Andrews has acknowledged a slight easing of restrictions would be introduced when the 70 per cent single dose marker was reached,
