Lidia Kelly

MELBOURNE, (Reuters) – Melbourne has been under COVID-19 lockdowns for more than any other place in the world. Officials announced on Sunday that they would be lifting their stay-at home orders.

The Australian city of 5 Million people, which will see some curbs lifted Friday, will have had six lockdowns in total, which equates to nearly nine months.

Australian and other media say this is the longest in the world, exceeding a 234-day lockdown in Buenos Aires https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-03/melbourne-longest-lockdown/100510710.

Even though coronavirus cases continue rising in Victoria State, which includes Melbourne, it is estimated that the double-vaccination rate for this state will reach 70% by the end of this week.

Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews announced the lockdown, saying “Today’s a great day.” Victorians are proud to be here today.

Hospitality venues, as well as some businesses, will have a severely restricted capacity when they reopen. Once 80% of Victorians who are eligible have been vaccinated, there will be more easing. This includes the opening of some retailers. It is expected that this happens by November 5.

Victoria had 1,838 cases of coronavirus and seven deaths on Sunday. The neighbouring New South Wales reported 10 deaths and 301 cases last week after a 100 day lockdown. Eighty percent are fully vaccinated.

Australia once championed a COVID zero strategy to manage the pandemic. Now, Australia is embracing the disease through extensive vaccinations.

The new strategy https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australias-path-reopening-international-borders-2021-07-31 makes lockdowns highly unlikely once 80% of the population is fully vaccinated. Around 68% of all eligible Australians had been inoculated as of Saturday.

Officials from Australia’s Health Department stated that travel to New Zealand’s South Island will be allowed without quarantine, despite the fact there has been no outbreak. Singapore is currently in talks with the government about opening travel between both countries to fully-vaccinated people.

Although there has been an increase in coronavirus cases over the past months, Australia’s numbers of cases is still low when compared with many developed countries. There are just more than 143,000 confirmed cases and 1,530 deaths.

New Zealand is learning COVID-19 from its neighbours, reporting 51 new cases Sunday. The majority of the cases were in Auckland which was in lockdown since mid August.

On Saturday, New Zealand vaccinated https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/new-zealand-vaccinates-25-its-people-day-drive-live-with-covid-19-2021-10-16 more than 2.5% of its people as part of a government-led mass vaccination drive.