Victoria's mandatory COVID-19 face mask rules have been further eased as the state lifts caps on social gatherings and investigates a quarantine breach which sent a plane-load of travellers into isolation.
Masks must still be carried at all times and worn on public transport, in ride-share vehicles, and at indoor shopping centres and crowded places, Premier Daniel Andrews said on Sunday.
But from midnight on Sunday, people should use their judgment as to when masks are needed in instances where adequate social distancing can't be achieved.
"Masks have been a great insurance policy and remain as such," Mr Andrews said.
From midnight on Sunday Melbourne households will be able to receive 30 visitors a day - up from 15 - from an unlimited number of other homes. Outdoor gatherings of up to 100 people will be permitted in public places.
Caps at weddings and funerals and religious events have been removed, with attendance instead subject to one person per two square metres.
Patron limits at pubs, cafes and restaurants will be scrapped, but venues must observe the one-person-per-two-square-metre rule. Customers will no longer have to be seated for service.
Sunday's announcements followed the quarantining of 176 passengers and crew from a flight into Melbourne.
A coronavirus risk emerged after German travellers flying from Tokyo failed to enter mandatory quarantine in Sydney and boarded Virgin flight VA838 which landed in Melbourne at 1.25pm on Saturday.
The pair - a 53-year-old woman and 15-year-old boy - has not shown symptoms and has since tested negative to COVID, Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley said.
"Until such time as these two international travellers return their next negative test, which we remain positive about, unfortunately the 176-plus people on that plane ... are required to self-isolate," Mr Foley said.
A handful of airport-based staff have also been told to self-isolate.
NSW Police on Sunday afternoon said the pair told police they were booked on a flight to Melbourne, and they were therefore deemed to be exempt from quarantining in Sydney.
"The NSW Police Force has since conducted a review into the circumstances of the incident and identified police had incorrectly allowed the two travellers to proceed to Melbourne," a spokesperson said in a statement.
"Police practices and systems at the airport have also been reviewed and strengthened as a result of this incident."
Victoria on Sunday reported a 37th day without a case of locally-transmitted coronavirus, but Mr Andrews served a stern warning.
"This thing is not done. It is not over, it can come back," he said.
"While today we can take some big steps, not to normal, but to a COVID-safe summer, we all need to remain vigilant and we all need to play our part.
"We know that without a vaccine, we will see cases. We will see outbreaks. But we are very confident we will be able to control those. That control is underpinned by everyone playing their part and it will be undermined if people do not."
The premier foreshadowed announcements soon about crowd numbers at the Boxing Day Test and Australian Open tennis.
"You can have a big crowd at a large venue, but how are they going to get there?" Mr Andrews said, noting that authorities are considering issues including public transport, crowd management and food vending.
Victoria's next easing of restrictions is due on January 11 when private-sector workplaces will be permitted to have 50 per cent capacity in Melbourne offices.
A quarter of the state's public sector workers will be allowed back in the office by January 11, increasing to half by February 8.
Victoria's revamped hotel quarantine program, using police and Defence Force personnel, will be put to the test from Monday as Melbourne reopens to international arrivals.
Five international flights from Colombo, Doha, Hong Kong and Singapore are scheduled to arrive at Melbourne Airport on Monday.
Daily arrivals will be initially capped at 160 people.
The state's previous hotel quarantine scheme caused a deadly second outbreak, which killed the majority of Australia's coronavirus fatalities and sparked widespread lockdown measures.
Australian Associated Press
