The previous plan for opening would have restricted venues to 50 fully vaccinated people outside,so the new 20 people indoor limit is on top of that allowance.

General retail will be open for outdoor service only plus click and collect,while hairdressing will be open for up to five fully vaccinated people.

New rules for regional Victoria

Private gatherings will be also allowed for up to 10 people in regional Victoria. Public gatherings will be allowed for up to 20 people.

Outdoor venues will be allowed up to 100 fully vaccinated people and 20 unvaccinated people.

Indoor settings,such as restaurants,cafes,cinemas and gyms will be allowed up to 30 fully vaccinated people and 20 unvaccinated people.

In the regions,all school students will return to school on Friday.

Fast vaccination rate almost halves death projections:Burnet modelling

The Burnet Institute modelling suggests Victoria’s quickly climbing vaccination rate has almost halved the projected number of people expected to die from the virus before the end of the year.

The modelling now projects 1212 deaths between July and December – down from 2202 deaths projected on September 18.

A vaccine rate that is climbing much quicker than expected coupled with lower levels of hospitalisation now means the chances of overwhelming the hospital system have dropped from 63 per cent to 23 per cent.

Victoria’s cases are tracking above those projected by Burnet,and are predicted to peak at a substantially higher level in mid-December.

However,hospitalisation is tracking below what was predicted,despite higher case levels.

Burnet’s updated modelling predicts cases will now plateau around their current level,before climbing as restrictions are eased to a daily peak of close to 4000 new cases per day in mid-December.

Exposure site list expands

The Greek Orthodox Church of Thomastown in Melbourne’s north is among the latest additions to the COVID-19 exposure sites list.

The Transfiguration of Our Lord church had a case visit on October 10 from 8.30am to 1pm. Anyone who was at the church during that time needs to get a COVID-19 test and quarantine for 14 days.

The Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa in Hepburn Springs is also on the tier 1 list after a case attended the spa on October 10 between 1pm and 2.30pm.

Bendigo Wholefoods has also joined the list after a positive case attended the store on October 9 between 7am and 4.30pm.

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