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Covid-19 Victoria: Dan Andrews pledges no more state or citywide lockdowns

Jack PaynterNCA NewsWire
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Camera IconNot Supplied Credit: News Corp Australia

Dan Andrews has ruled out future state or citywide lockdowns as Melbourne emerges from a gruelling 262 days stuck at home.

The Victorian Premier made the declaration that the state, and Melbourne, would not be plunged into lockdown again as he celebrated reaching the 70 per cent vaccination milestone.

Venues like pubs, restaurants and hairdressers reopened on Friday, while stay-at-home orders and the curfew were lifted as the state’s sixth lockdown was eased.

The move was made possible by more than 70 per cent of Victorians being fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

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Mr Andrews on Friday declared “we don’t need lockdowns anymore”.

COVID PRESSER
Camera IconVictorian Premier Dan Andrews says lockdowns are a thing of the past. NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie Credit: News Corp Australia

“Now we have the vaccine, and quite amazingly Victorians have gone and got the vaccine in record numbers, and really fast, we don’t need lockdowns anymore,” he said.

The Premier said the national reopening plan allowed for targeted lockdowns in particular communities with low vaccination rates, but he couldn’t see where that would be needed.

“I can’t see an example of that given how many people we’ve got vaccinated,” he said.

“We’re not having statewide lockdowns and we’re not having citywide lockdowns because people have gone and done what we asked them to do.

Melbourne Reopens
Camera IconAlicia Hinkley, Kate Fletcher and Ally Van Summeren enjoy breakfast in Albert Park after lockdown. NCA NewsWire / David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia

“And now we’re delivering what we said we do.

“We’ll go further at 80 per cent (fully vaccinated) and even further at 90 per cent, but I don’t think we’ll stop at 90 per cent, I think it’ll finish up above 90 per cent.”

Mr Andrews said he hoped to have as few rules as possible in the future.

“I hope to be as close to normal as we can possibly get, but there are going to be some things we still have to do like booster shots for instance,” he said.

More than 71 per cent of Victorians aged 16 and older are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

The state is expected to hit the 80 per cent mark before next weekend, which means more restrictions will be eased and retail businesses can reopen for in-store shopping.

jack.paynter@news.com.au

Originally published as Covid-19 Victoria: Dan Andrews pledges no more state or citywide lockdowns

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