Victoria has recorded another day without a new coronavirus case or death, as masks are scrapped outdoors and the NSW border reopens to the state ending months of exile.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The clean slate means the state has extended its streak to 24 straight days without new infections.
There is just one active COVID-19 case in Victoria, and 7261 people were tested on Sunday.
The good news comes as sweeping changes come into effect from Monday, with Victorians no longer having to wear masks outdoors unless they are unable to safely physically distance.
They must still wear masks in indoor environments including workplaces, supermarkets and public transport, and carry them at all times.
Melburnians have been required to wear face masks outside since mid-July, and the rule was extended to regional Victoria in early August.
Other rule tweaks from Monday include 15 home visitors being allowed per day, up from two, while limits on outdoor public gatherings rise to 50 people.
For weddings and funerals, 150 people will be able to come together to celebrate or commiserate.
The same limit applies to cinemas, galleries and museums, and large-scale events can resume if granted a permit.
Large restaurants, cafes and pubs will be able to host up to 150 customers indoors, while smaller venues will be limited to 50 and must keep QR code records.
Premier Daniel Andrews has also outlined additional moves back to normality, including up to 30 home visitors per day from December 13 - just in time for Christmas - and 25 per cent of staff returning to workplaces from November 30.
Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra described the office, hospitality and event announcements as major wins.
Meanwhile, Victorians are celebrating after NSW re-opened its border to travellers from the state.
After more than three months of police and military guarding checkpoints into NSW, the border closure came to an end at midnight on Monday.
The ACT will also be accessible to Victorians, while Tasmania and South Australia have flagged potential reopenings to the state in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, Victoria's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton is among a litany of health department leaders set to appear on Monday as a parliamentary inquiry resumes into the state's contact tracing system, which struggled to cope during the state's devastating second wave of infections.
Australian Associated Press