Australia's Victoria state to ease some COVID-19 restrictions

Residents of Australia's Victoria state will be allowed to travel within 25 kilometers, instead of 5 km, starting from 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, as the state starts to ease some COVID-19 restrictions, Premier of Victoria Dan Andrews said on Sunday.

The two-hour restriction for exercise and socializing will also be lifted, Andrews said in a statement.

Outdoor sports settings including tennis courts, golf courses and skateparks will be able to reopen, while all allied health professionals can resume face-to-face care.

Groups of 10 people from two households will be allowed to gather in outdoor public places, and regional libraries and toy libraries can open to a maximum of 20 people indoors, Andrews said.

Regional hospitality businesses in the area are also allowed to host up to 40 customers indoors and up to 70 outdoors from 11:59 p.m. on Sunday.

Two new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Victoria overnight, Andrews said, which brings the rolling 14-day average in metropolitan Melbourne to 7.5 and in regional Victoria to 0.5.