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Hospitality workers in Melbourne are scrambling to get vaccinated against Covid-19 ahead of lockdown lifting.
Melburnians will emerge from its sixth lockdown at 11.59pm on Thursday, five days earlier than planned, as the state is expected to reach its 70 per cent fully-vaccinated target.
Federal government figures show 89.2 per cent of Victorians aged over 16 have received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 69.3 per cent are fully vaccinated.
Under the new rules, people will be able to leave their homes for any reason and travel anywhere within metropolitan Melbourne.
Melburnians are hours away from being freed from their sixth lockdown in 18 months. Pictured is an airport reunion after flights between Sydney and Melbourne resumed on Wednesday
The curfew will be scrapped, home gatherings of up to 10 will be allowed, and hairdressers and hospitality businesses will reopen for the fully vaccinated.
However, in a last-minute change to reopening plans, all hospitality staff must be fully vaccinated to work.
This is despite online health directions stating authorised workers, including those in hospitality, must have had one vaccine dose by October 22 and a second by November 26.
Australian Hotels Association Victoria chief executive Paddy O'Sullivan said the government had 'moved the goalposts' on the sector and has asked for a grace period to allow staff time to get vaccinated.
All hospitality staff in Victoria must be fully vaccinated before they can return to work from Friday. Pictured are outdoor dining patrons in Melbourne
But Victoria's COVID-19 Commander Jeroen Weimar said 'there is no wriggle room' on the mandate.
With some pubs in the city to reopen at midnight, staff at hospitality venues will be allowed to go into work after the curfew kicks in at 9pm to get their venues ready, but patrons will need to wait until 11:59pm to leave home.
According to a survey conducted by NAB, a top priority for about 48 per cent of Victorians once
