Victoria records one new case of coronavirus

Victoria has recorded one new local case of coronavirus at the end of Melbourne‘s first weekend of freedom.

Another eight cases recorded on Monday were acquired overseas and are now in hotel quarantine.

The latest community case from Southbank is a primary close contact that has already been linked to the current outbreak that sparked the latest statewide lockdown.

The Melburnian had been self-isolating throughout their infectious period.

Almost 16,300 Victorians came forward for testing on Sunday while another 10,921 rolled up their sleeves for the coronavirus vaccine.

It comes after Melburnians enjoyed their first weekend of travel freedom following the easing of more restrictions.

Victoria recorded one new locally-acquired case after coronavirus restrictions were eased

Both the 25km radius rule and the ban on regional travel were scrapped on Friday. 

Melbourne residents can also host two adult visitors in their homes per day and gather outdoors in groups of 20.

Masks are no longer required outdoors either, and businesses such as gyms and indoor entertainment reopened. 

A negative test requirement for Melburnians heading to the snowfields is the only new condition on intrastate travel.

The dreary weather kept many Melburnians indoors on their first weekend of eased travel restrictions. 

There’s also speculation crowds may be able to return to AFL games in Melbourne as early as this Friday night.

‘We want to get crowds back in Melbourne as soon as possible,’ acting Premier James Merlino told reporters on Sunday.

‘But with all of our restrictions (and) all of our settings, that’s based on public health advice.

‘There’s ongoing engagement between public health and the AFL – and other elite sports – about what our settings will be for crowds.’

AFL crowds could returns to games in Melbourne this week. Pictured are Essendon fans cheering them team to victory against Hawthorn in Launceston, Tasmania on Sunday