Coronavirus: Melbourne prepares to exit world’s longest lockdown; India hits 1 billion vaccine doses
- Officials had promised to lift the 262-day lockdown once double vaccination for people aged above 16 exceeded 70 per cent in Victoria
- The South Asian nation, which has so far reported 34.1 million Covid-19 cases, celebrated the milestone with musical programmes
Millions in Melbourne are readying to come out of the world’s longest Covid-19 lockdown on Thursday night after Victoria state hit a key vaccination target, with pubs, restaurants and cafes racing to reopen their doors to fully vaccinated customers.
Melbourne’s residents have been enduring their sixth pandemic lockdown since early August to quell an outbreak fuelled by the Delta strain. Authorities ramped up the state’s immunisation drive before easing curbs, even as daily cases continue to hover near record levels.
By Friday, the city of five million would have spent a cumulative 262 days, or nearly nine months, under stay-home orders since March 2020 – the world’s longest, exceeding a 234-day lockdown in Buenos Aires, according to Australian media.
Officials had promised to lift lockdowns once double-dose vaccinations for people aged above 16 exceeded 70 per cent in Victoria. Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday confirmed reaching that target, and more restrictions will ease as inoculations hit 80 per cent and 90 per cent.
“The longest road has been journeyed in Victoria and that long road really starts to open up tonight,” Morrison told Seven News on Thursday.
From 11.59pm (local time) Thursday, pubs and cafes can have 20 fully vaccinated patrons indoors and 50 outdoors, while hairdressers can allow entry for five customers.
