Victoria’s Premier Daniel Andrews announced on Sunday that the Roadmap to Deliver the National Plan will see lockdown come to an end once the state’s population is 70 percent fully vaccinated.

This target is expected to be reached around 26 October, which will see amusement parks, and hospitality and entertainment venues open to 50 fully vaccinated people outdoors in metropolitan Melbourne. In regional Victoria, these venues will be permitted to host up to 30 fully vaccinated patrons indoors. Movement will still be restricted, with the travel bubble expanding to a 25-kilometre radius.

Further freedoms will come into place when 80 percent are fully vaccinated, which is expected in the first week of November. These include allowing up to 150 fully vaccinated people to dine indoors at one person per four square metres, and up to 30 to gather in public outdoors. Pubs, restaurants and cafes can open for seated service only, hosting up to 150 fully vaccinated people inside and 500 outdoors at one person per two square metres.

Also at the 80 percent mark, travel within Victoria will be permitted while the plan for interstate travel continues to be worked through at a national level.

A press release announcing the Roadmap, which is modelled on the Burnet Institute, mentioned that the industry still faces uncertainty around how it will transition to a ‘vaccinated economy.’

“There is very little precedence in Australia for fully vaccinated events, which is why the Government will conduct trials to support businesses as much as possible and ensure we have the right systems in place,” the press release stated.

It stated that both one-off events and specific venues are being considered, allowing those with fully vaccinated staff and patrons to operate with higher patron caps. Areas in regional Victoria with highest vaccination rates and no COVID-19 cases will be the first to be considered for these trials.

“Proof of vaccination options will also be part of the trials. The Service Victoria app will be integrated with a Medicare Certificate that shows proof of vaccination and other proof of vaccination options may also trialled to determine what works best for both businesses and patrons,” it said.

Currently in Victoria, five people are allowed at an event venue – including a business or conference venue or facility – or a virtual event studio to broadcast an event.