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Home visits the biggest threat to Victoria's new normalBy 9News Staff4:40pm Oct 26, 2020 X Facebook Mail Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has warned Victorians against home visits even as

the state prepares for the end of its four month-long lockdown."The most dangerous environment for the spread of this virus is in your home," he said.Mr Andrews today announced COVID-19

restrictions will ease in the beleaguered state.But he warned that home visits would still need to be treated with caution and care, as he claimed many of Victoria's recent coronavirus

breakouts had come from peoples' homes."People let their guard down. People are really happy to see each other. It is not formal, it is not like going to a cafe or going to a restaurant

where someone is serving you, where you are sitting a certain distance away," he said."There are only so many tables in the restaurant. The place is all cleaned to industrial standards."We

will have rules tomorrow that will allow people to reconnect with those that they have missed the most. But if you want to go beyond those rules you want to go beyond those rules you will

need to do it outside, and we don't think that is an unreasonable thing because outside is 20 times safer than inside."What's going to openNonetheless, big changes are set to take place in

Victoria.Cafes and pubs are set to re-open with limits from midnight tomorrow night.There will be 20 people permitted to be seated inside with a maximum of 10 people per space.LIVE UPDATES:

Melbourne restrictions to ease - follow all the latest hereOutside, 50 people will be allowed with one person per two square metres.End to Melbourne lockdown - how the Third Step will roll

out in VictoriaView GalleryThere will be no more restrictions on the need to leave home.However, the 25km travel limit and the border between regional Victoria and Greater Melbourne will

stay in place.DOWNLOAD HERE: Extensive summary of the Third Step and further easing of restrictions in MelbourneAll retail will be allowed to re-open, but will be required to remain

COVID-safe, with beauty, personal and tattooing business employees required to wear a mask.Employees are allowed to attend work now in a "dark opening" to prepare for a re-opening from

midnight tomorrow.Outdoor community sport for under-18s and outdoor non-contact sport for adults will recommence as well.Other outdoor gatherings remain limited to 10, with infants under 12

months old not counted to the maximum. The two-household limit will also be revoked.People of faith will also be able to gather again, albeit in small congregations.READ MORE: Premier Dan

Andrews' full statementIndoors, 10 people and a faith leader will be permitted, compared to 20 people and a faith leader outdoors.Likewise, wedding limits will increase to 10 and funerals to

20.More students have returned to in-person learning in Victoria today. (Getty)Mr Andrews also signalled the next step out of lockdown, with the 25km travel limit and the border between

Melbourne and regional Victoria to be lifted on November 8.Other number limits on gatherings, pub limits, weddings and funerals will also be increased in line with regional Victoria.Mr

Andrews admitted that this date could change, if large numbers of new COVID-19 cases were seen between now and then."It doesn't have to be zero (cases) between now and November 8," he

said."That is not the strategy we are after."How restrictions are set to ease in Victoria. (9News)And he said that people who could still work from home, needed to still work from home -

offering no firm projection for a return to office work.Masks are also to stay a feature of outdoor life in the state."Masks are incredibly important," Mr Andrews said."Difficult, you know,

not particularly pleasant, but for a very low cost we get potentially a very low cost we get potentially a very high benefit and that's why we will persist with those for a while. We are not

sure how long."Tensions boiling in VictoriaResidents have endured months of lockdown, with tensions erupting into a violent protest last Friday.There had been repeated calls for Mr Andrews

to re-open the state, with even Prime Minister Scott Morrison weighing in.Protesters and members of Victoria Police clashed in Melbourne last Friday. (Getty)Mr Andrews said today he was

proud of Victorians remaining "united" during a very tough period.But he warned that people seeking to "find loopholes" and "bend the rules" could see the state plunge back into

lockdown.READ MORE: The new retail rules for Melbourne"Until a vaccine comes, there is no normal. There is only COVID normal," he said."So much has been given to build this precious thing

and all of us need to make sure that we honour it and value it and protect it in all the choices that we make every single day."I could not be prouder than I am today to lead a state that

has shown the courage, the compassion and the character to get this job done, but it is not yet absolutely finished."However, as recently as yesterday, Mr Andrews had announced a delay on

any easing of restrictions, citing a cluster which had spread across multiple households.Today's announcement follows the state recording zero new COVID-19 cases for the first time in

months.Is a third lockdown possible?Mr Andrews did not say what circumstances might trigger a much-feared third lockdown for Victoria.He said the state's "targeted approach" would hopefully

eliminate the need for broad lockdowns, and that today was a day to be proud of."It's always going to be fragile until a vaccine comes," he said.He urged Victorians to be "vigilant and

smart".Opening as of Tuesday, October 27 at 11.59pmAll retailRestaurants, café, hotel and bars reopenIndoor max of 20 people seated, 10 people per spaceOutdoor 50 people, 1 person per 2

square metreBeauty, tattoos and personal services open - must wear a maskOutdoor Community sport for U18 returningOutdoor non-contact sport for adults returningTravel changes, October 27 at

11.59pmFou

r reasons to leave home removed25km limit remainsRegional and metro border remainsReligious gatherings, October 27 at 11.59pmIndoor 10 people + 1 faith leaderOutdoor 20 people + 1 faith

leaderFrom 11.59pm, Sunday November 8Removed25 km travel limitMetropolitan Melbourne/Regional borderAnd then align with settings that will be in place in regional Victoria:OpenGyms and

fitness studiosMaximum of 20 peopleMaximum of 10 people per spaceDensity of one person per 8 sqmMajor changesRestaurants, hotels, cafes, bars, clubsIndoor: maximum of 40 people with 10

people per spaceOutdoor: maximum of 70 people with one person per 2 sqmReligious gatheringsOutdoors: maximum of 50 people plus one faith leaderIndoors: maximum of 20 people, plus one faith

leaderFuneralsIndoors: maximum of 20 mournersOutdoors: maximum of 50 mournersIndoor community sportNon-contact sport for aged 18 years and underSports capable of 1.5 metre distancingIndoor

poolsMaximum of 20 people, open for all agesContinue readingCoronavirusCOVID 19Border RestrictionsCoronavirus VIC updatesDaniel AndrewsVictoriahealthAustraliaMelbourneCONTACT USSend your

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