Covid Restrictions to Reduce as Melbourne Reaches 80% Vaccination Rate

Melbourne, the most populated city in the state of Victoria, Australia, is set to reduce covid restrictions as it comes closer to achieving an 80% vaccination rate. The city has undergone approximately 262 days in lockdown with strict stay-at-home orders in the past year.

From Friday onwards, once achieving its target of 80% vaccination, the city will open up for travel and covid restrictions including masks will no longer be required outdoors. Daniel Andrews said, “There’s a fundamental agreement that we have reached with the Victorian community, we asked you to get vaccinated, you have done that in record time and record numbers.”

The vaccine roll out which was pushed throughout the state to suppress the Covid virus is nearing its completion. The nation is moving past lockdowns and has said the country will no longer implement tough lockdowns. Once all the population is fully vaccinated, people will be allowed to move freely throughout the state. According to officials, a 90% vaccination rate is expected by the en d of November this year. Daniel Andrews further said, “It’s our approach to try to achieve life as close to normal as possible.”

Unlike many other nations, the population of Australia has shown tremendous support the vaccine rollout in past months, with only a minute 6.9% skeptical of the vaccine. Neighboring country New Zealand is also shifting its strategy from lockdowns to fully-vaccinated.

©Photo: Luis Ascui/AAP