Victoria has had its second-straight day of no coronavirus deaths and no new cases.
The last virus death was on October 19 and the state toll remains at 817, with the national figure on 905.
The clean sheet comes the day after Premier Daniel Andrews announced a widespread easing of Melbourne’s restrictions, effective at midnight, marking the end of its lockdown.
Melbourne’s 14-day case average is down to 2.8 and there were six mystery cases from October 11-24.
The corresponding figures for regional Victoria are 0.2 and none.
Mr Andrews will reveal the final piece of his latest reopening puzzle on Tuesday.
There was a notable absence from Melbourne’s long list of easing lockdown rules on Monday, with authorities still pondering home visits for family and friends.
Mr Andrews assured Melburnians they would be able to visit homes with more freedom in line with other rule changes from 11.59pm on Tuesday, but wanted to mull over the final decision overnight.
“We do not want to do a bubble because we think that can be a particularly confusing set of arrangements for families, but we have not quite settled on it,” he told reporters on Monday.
Monday’s long-awaited announcement was prompted by Victoria’s first clean slate of cases and deaths since June 9 and the results of a testing blitz on an outbreak in the city’s north.
The “proud” premier’s voice croaked with emotion as he announced the dramatic lockdown changes, headlined by the reopening of Melbourne retail and hospitality venues.
More changes are slated from midnight on November 8, including the end of the so-called “ring of steel” separating the capital from regional Victoria, as well as the 25km travel limit.
Mr Andrews has been under intense pressure to ease restrictions while also awaiting the final report from an inquiry into the botched hotel quarantine program, widely believed to have sparked Victoria’s devastating second wave.
But Monday marked a significant shift in Victoria’s coronavirus campaign.
Melbourne retail and hospitality businesses can begin trading again from midnight on Tuesday, with a “dark” reopening effective immediately so staff can prepare.
There will be a maximum of 20 people seated indoors for hospitality venues – 10 per space – and 50 outdoors.
Beauty, personal services and tattoo parlours will also reopen, and there are widespread changes from outdoor fitness to religious gatherings.
Mr Andrews said these “big steps” belonged to every Victorian who had followed the rules, but warned the virus would remain in people’s lives until a vaccine is found.
Australian Associated Press