Tara Murray
Many Hume and Whittlesea residents are breathing a sigh of relief with some COVID-19 restrictions lifted on Monday.
With daily case numbers dropping to single figures in the last week, Premier Daniel Andrews announced a range of changes to restrictions.
They include increasing the five-kilometre travel restriction to 25 kilometres, allowing up to 10 people from two households to meet outside, no limit on the time allowed outdoors and the reopening of hairdressers.
Outdoor sports settings, like tennis courts, golf courses and skateparks are allowed to open, while real estate auctions will resume with limited numbers.
Mr Andrews also announced changes to restrictions to occur from 11.59pm on November 1, which would see the metro region enter the third step towards COVID normal.
He said if numbers were good this week, the changes could be brought forward.
Under these changes, there will be no restrictions on the reasons to leave home, while all retail will open, along with other personal and beauty services, as long as a mask can be worn.
Restaurants, cafes and pubs will be allowed to open, but with limits on how many people can sit inside and outside.
Households will be allowed two people and their dependents visit their home once per day.
People living in metropolitan Melbourne are still unable to enter regional Victoria.
On Sunday, there were just two new cases across the state – both from Hume.
There was one new case in the 3064 postcode, which currently has nine active cases.
In the past two weeks, there have been seven new cases in that postcode.
The Caltex Kalkallo Service Centre South Bound on the Hume Freeway is listed as a high-risk location by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Anyone who was at the service station between 7pm and 9pm on September 30 is asked to get tested and stay at home while awaiting results.
The other new case was in the 3047 postcode of Broadmeadows, Dallas and Jacana.
There are currently four active cases in that area. Over the past two weeks, there have been five news cases in the postcode.
There is also one active case in the 3049 postcode.
In Whittlesea, there are just two active cases, with only one new case in the past two weeks.
Those active cases are in Epping and Lalor.
