AS VICTORIA nears its 80 per cent double vaccination rate the regional-metro border is just one of the coronavirus restrictions the state government will scrap by Friday night.
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Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed the reopening date on Sunday, saying it was thanks to Victorians doing a "mighty job" at getting vaccinated.
Under the changes, regional and metropolitan Melbourne's restrictions will unite from 6pm on Friday -- an announcement Bendigo's tourism and accommodation sectors have welcomed with open arms
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Bendigo Motels Association president Kristyn Slattery said the changes meant Victoria could "act as one again".
"It's great news for the state, loved ones whom haven't seen one another for some time, and our sector," she said.
This is the news we've been waiting for.
- Kristyn Slattery
"Opening up again for travel is the opportunity we need for our small businesses. We're open and ready to welcome Melburnians back to Bendigo."
There will be no travel limitations within Victoria, meaning people from metropolitan Melbourne can come to the regions and vice versa.
Melburnians made up about 80 per cent of visitors to the region's sites, according to Bendigo Heritage Attractions chief executive James Reade.
"It's great that we will be able to get back to some normality," he said. "We are expecting to be very busy over the next few months.
"We ask that people plan ahead, book online and be patient as we start to welcome people back."
Mandatory masks outdoors will also be scrapped on Friday.
They will remain compulsory indoors and it is highly recommended you continue to wear a mask outdoors when you cannot physically distance.
Most indoor settings - including restaurants, pubs, gyms, and hairdressers - will open with no caps, subject to a one person per four square metre rule limit, if all staff and patrons are fully vaccinated.
Most outdoor settings will remain at one person per two square metre rule (limit up to 500 people) where staff and patrons are fully vaccinated.
The same indoor and outdoor settings will also apply to weddings, funerals, and religious gatherings if all attendees are fully vaccinated.
There will be caps of 30 people for weddings, funerals, and religious gatherings if vaccination status is unknown.
For indoor seated entertainment venues including cinemas and theatres, there will be a rule of 75 percent capacity or one person per two square metres (up to 1000 people).
For non-seated indoor entertainment venues, there will be a one person per four square metre limit with no patron cap.
Outdoor seated and non-seated entertainment venues including stadiums, zoos and tourism attractions will be open with a one person per two square limit (up to 5000 people) where staff and patrons are fully vaccinated.
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Events like music festivals will be able to host up to 5000 attendees, subject to any restrictions related to the venue.
The Chief Health Officer may also grant an approval for larger crowds for significant events and venues under the Public Events Framework.
The next milestone in the roadmap will be when Victoria hits the 90 per cent double dose vaccination target for Victorians 12 years and over - predicted to be as early as November 24.
At that point, caps or density quotients will be removed for all settings.
Masks will also only be mandatory indoors in some high-risk settings such as hospitals, aged care, public transport, and justice and correctional facilities.
There will be no restrictions for indoor and outdoor events provided they follow COVID-safe rules including vaccination requirements.
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