Coronavirus restrictions will further ease for regional Victorians tomorrow night as they enter step three of the State Government’s recovery roadmap.
Premier Daniel Andrews this morning congratulated regional Victorians on their efforts to curb COVID-19, announcing a range of changes to restrictions from 11.59pm on Wednesday.
He said he was ‘delighted’ to be able to announce regional Victoria could take the third step in the ‘safe and steady roadmap to COVID-normal’.
“I am so, so pleased and proud of every single regional Victorian who has stayed the course, followed the rules and got tested,” he said.
Under step-three rules, there are no restrictions on reasons to leave home, or the distance people can travel within regional Victoria, provided they ‘stay safe’.
Public gatherings will increase to up to 10 people outdoors, up from five people in step two.
Visitors to the home will be allowed, with restrictions.
Step three allows for a ‘household bubble’, with one nominated household allowing up to five visitors from that household at a time.

Infants younger than 12 months are not included in the caps.
Childcare will be open for all and schools in regional Victoria will have a staged return to onsite learning.
Regional Victorians are still encouraged to work from home if they can.
Hospitality and retail changes are also coming. 
Mr Andrews reinforced a push for outdoor dining, although indoor dining will be allowed for up to 10 people in two spaces, if space allows, and two-hour time limits.
Social-distancing restrictions and density limits still apply. 
Mr Andrews said he understood people would have many questions and that the government would release further details on a raft of changes in the next 12 hours.
Victoria recorded 42 new COVID-19 cases yesterday and zero deaths.
There are 43 active cases in regional local government areas – zero in Ararat, Hindmarsh, Horsham, Northern Grampians, West Wimmera and Yarriambiack municipalities.
Department of Health and Human Resources data shows regional Victoria’s 14-day new case average is 3.6.
Regional Victoria can move to the third step, despite the second step only coming into effect on Monday, because the daily average case rate is less than five new cases over the previous 14 days.
Also, there have been no new cases with an unknown source in regional Victoria in the same period.
Under the roadmap to reopening, Victoria will move to the last step when there are no new cases in the state for 14 days.
Restrictions will not change before November 23, although Mr Andrews has flagged this date could be reviewed.
He said ‘common sense, data and actual experience’ were driving factors behind the decision.

• Police have fined a Chirnside Park woman after she was found in Horsham yesterday. She admited that she resided in Chirnside Park and could not provide a valid reason to be in the area and was issued with a fine.