MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Melbourne, Australia’s second largest city, will relax its third lockdown on Wednesday and allow spectators to return to the Australian Open tennis tournament after a five-day absence. Rod Laver Arena will be allowed 7,477 spectators around 50% of its capacity for the final four days of the first Grand Slam event for 2021, tournament organizers said. Up to 30,000 tennis fans a day had been allowed into three zones.
Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews has announced his government's strict statewide five-day lockdown will be lifted from midnight but warned some restrictions would remain in place.
"From 11:59 PM tonight, the four reasons to leave your home falls away, the five-kilometre limit on travel falls away. masks, however, will be required indoors and outdoors where you cannot socially distance," he said.
"You can have five visitors to your home - not 15 - from tonight until Friday week because that is the 14-day incubation period."
Mr Andrews said it was appropriate to maintain a number of restrictions because "the issue was not over" and the virus was not gone.
Public and private sector workforces were also permitted to return up to 50 per cent capacity and up to 20 people may attend public gatherings.
"Visits to hospitals and care facilities will be limited to one person per day with special exemptions," the premier said.
"Schools will re
Australia s second-largest city comes out of 3rd lockdo accesswdun.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from accesswdun.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Major cities in Australia and New Zealand lifted stay-at-home orders for millions of residents after successfully using snap lockdowns to quash outbreaks of virulent strains of Covid-19.