There is a lot to unpack in Victoria’s roadmap out of the COVID pandemic. The biggest takeaway: it’s going to be a slow burn.
On Sunday the State Government released its plan to see us return to a sense of normality and it will take hitting key vaccination numbers for the state to reach that point of freedom.
Sunday’s announcement did next to nothing to immediately support hospitality businesses –along with the arts sector being the hardest hit during the pandemic - stuck with numerical limitations on patrons. Density quotas will be introduced after we meet certain vaccination marks.
School students – aside from prep to grade two and VCE students completing units three and four, face similar waits to return to class.
As the economy slowly reopens, businesses will also have to adjust to a new world of checking patrons’ vaccination status, with many rules regarding events and gatherings relying on people having had the double dose.

IMAGE: School kids are thrilled to be enjoying some time at home (minus remote learning) including Melody Mull who was out having a bite to eat at the Orbost Bakery along with her mum, Jet and friend Dulce Perlado and baby Luccy Oakley. The bakery is one of a few hospitality businesses in town that can operate under the 10 patron inside and 20 outside COVID restrictions as pubs and clubs remain shut for the time being.