Australia to ease restrictions in Victoria after no new COVID-19 cases

Australia's state of Victoria has announced measures to lift its lockdown in Melbourne after it reported no new COVID-19 cases overnight on Monday.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said Melbourne will move from "stay home" to "stay safe," with no more restrictions on the reasons to leave home.

Most restrictions would be eased in two phases from Tuesday, Andrews said, which should give Australia's ailing economy a boost.

Restaurants, hotels, cafes and bars can reopen from 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, with capacity capped at 20 indoors and 50 outdoors.

The 25-kilometer limit however, will remain in place until November 8, Andrews said. The capacity in restaurants and pubs will also be increased to 40 inside and 70 outside from that date.

Melbourne – home to 5 million people – has been under lockdown since early July after a spike in COVID-19 infections that began in hotels where people were in quarantine after arriving from abroad.

(With input from Reuters)