Update; 12.45pm: Over a quarter of the Loddon Mallee has received their first dose of coronavirus vaccine with more than 100,000 vaccines administered by public health services and general practices.
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Of the estimated 342,000 population in the Loddon Mallee, approximately 86,000 people have received a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, with about 14,000 fully vaccinated.
Loddon Mallee Public Health Unit director Casey Nottage said the milestone showed the regions willingness to roll up their sleeves.
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"We know a good portion of the population, in particular under 16s, are not yet eligible for the vaccine, so to have good overall numbers for first doses is fantastic," Dr Nottage said.
"Herd immunity is the ultimate goal of the vaccination program so we encourage everyone in the region to get vaccinated when they are eligible."
Murray Primary Health Network chief executive Matt Jones said GPs across Loddon Mallee were supporting their communities with vaccination options closer to home.
"For many people in regional areas, their regular GP is a trusted source of health information," he said.
"The average age of people being vaccinated by GPs is just over 70 years, while the oldest person to receive a vaccination by a GP was 107."
Bendigo Health, Castlemaine Health, Echuca Regional Health, Sunraysia Community Health Services, Swan Hill District Hospital and are the public health services rolling out the COVID-19 vaccine in the region.
Earlier; 10:30am: Victoria is set to take "cautious steps" out of COVID-19 restrictions from Thursday after the state recorded a week of zero local coronavirus cases.
Health Minister Martin Foley said masks will continue to be required in indoor, public-facing settings however they will no longer be required at schools for students and staff, or at workplaces if you don't interact with the public.
"For example, in offices, factory settings and in other arrangements where the huge uptake in QR code systems that so many Victorians have picked up give us a substantial alternative," Mr Foley said.
"I am sure that we will see more people as a result come back to our offices, which will in turn assist your retail, our hospitality and our business districts to continue their recovery.
"Masks will still be required if your role sees you interacting with the general public, for example, if you serve customers in a retail setting."
Mr Foley said as part of the changes, a range of venues right across Melbourne will now be able to apply the same density limits that apply in regional Victoria.
"This further opens workplaces, including entertainment, retail, hospitality, gyms, physical recreation, community facilities, creative spaces, galleries, places of worship and more," he said.
The limit will be one person per two square metres, provided that in some cases COVID check-in marshals are onsite just to make sure that people check-in every time, everywhere.
Dance floors will also be allowed with a COVID check-in marshal but no more than 50 people on the dance floor at any one time.
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Limits on private gatherings will not change and there will be up to 15 people able to attend a home per day.
"I think Victorians need look no further than the outbreaks across our borders to know and appreciate the risks that continue to attend coronavirus spreading through indoor domestic settings," Mr Foley said.
Crowd numbers will also be able to increase at public events.
Outdoor stadiums can increase up to 75 per cent of their capacity, up to 40,000 people as a cap.
Indoor stadiums can open to 75 per cent of their capacity, up to a 7500 person cap. Theatres will also be able to open to 75 per cent of their capacity, up to a cap of 2,000 people.
Mr Foley said all of these settings will apply for 14 days but of course they are always subject to the changing epidemiological risk as advised by our public health team.
More to come.
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