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Long COVID-19 Lockdown Ends In Australia's Second Most Populous City

Phil Mercer

   SYDNEY - One of the world's longest COVID-19 lockdowns is coming to an
   end in the Australian city of Melbourne. Beginning Tuesday, all shops,
   cafes and restaurants can re-open, and strict-stay-at home orders will
   be lifted. The lockdown was imposed in early July in response to a
   deadly second wave of infections.

   Victoria, Australia's second most populous state, has for a second
   consecutive day recorded no new coronavirus infections or fatalities.A
   sustained fall in daily cases has allowed the authorities to end one of
   the world's longest COVID-19 lockdowns in the city of Melbourne.

   Starting on Tuesday, the retail and hospitality industries can reopen,
   although conditions still apply.Face coverings remain mandatory, and
   cafes and restaurants canservea maximum of 20 people inside and 50
   peopleoutdoors.

   Weddings can now proceed with up to 10 guests and funerals with 20
   mourners. Strict stay-at-home orders imposed on Melbourne's five
   million residents will end.

   Victoria premier Daniel Andrews says now is the time to bring the
   lockdown to an end.

   "We are able to say that now is the time to open up. This belongs to
   every single Victorian, every single Victorian who has followed the
   rules, stayed the course, worked with me and my team to bring this
   second wave to an end. But it is not over. This virus is not going
   away. It is going to continue to be a feature of our lives every day
   until a vaccine turns up. These are big steps," Andrews said.

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