Victorians will be able to have five family and friends in their home from 11.59pm on Tuesday but Premier Daniel Andrews has warned it's far from party time.
The state government announced on Monday a fifth reason to leave home, with the easing back of some COVID-19 restrictions in place until May 31.
"They should be family and friends, after all, that are the people that mean the most to us and that's where it's hurt; people not being able to connect with the people that are most important to them," Mr Andrews announced on Monday.
But it's not an open invitation to host dinner parties every night, he warned.
"This is far from over. This is an opportunity for a first step that is safe, cautious and appropropriate," Mr Andrews said.
Gatherings of 10 people outdoors will also be allowed as long as social distancing is observed.
The premier's beloved game of golf, walking groups, fishing and hiking are among the outdoor activities back on the list of allowed activities.
Professional sport teams including AFL and rugby league will be able to get back to training from just before midnight on Tuesday.
"Training resuming paves the way for footy to be back," he said.
Students back by end of term 2
Students are expected to be able to get back in the classroom by the end of term two, Mr Andrews said.
"We now believe a gradual staged return to face-to-face learning is safe, cautious and appropriate given the testing we have done and the circumstances we face," he said.
Further details on schools will be released later.
Victorians should continue to work from home where possible.
Up to 10 guests can attend a wedding along with the bride and groom, and celebrant, while indoor funerals can host up to 20 people plus those needed to run the service.
The change in restrictions will remain in place until 11.59pm on May 31, with the renewed state of emergency.
The state recorded another seven coronavirus cases on Monday, bringing Victoria's total to 1494.
One of the latest cases is related to an outbreak at Cedar Meats in Melbourne's west, taking the total number of abattoir-linked cases to 77.
Four of the latest cases were returned travellers and two cases are under investigations.
Surveillance boost
Rapid response squads will be established to tackle any new Victorian outbreaks of coronavirus as part of a $20 million package.
The new teams will prevent, respond to and limit outbreaks as part of a major surveillance boost announced on Monday.
Health Minister Jenny Mikakos says the funding will support a range of measures that will continue beyond the recent testing blitz, in which 161,000 Victorians have been tested over the past two weeks.
150,000 tests
Testing will continue for Victorians with even the mildest of symptoms over the next month, with a target of a further 50,000 tests to be conducted over the next week, and 150,000 tests by the end of May.
"As we ease restrictions, there will be further positive coronavirus cases, and possible outbreaks," Ms Mikakos said in a statement.
"To limit these cases and keep Victorians safe, the government has outlined its plan for a new 'outbreak unit' within the Department of Health and Human Services' public health team."
The new rapid response unit will include squads staffed by public health specialists and clinicians to ensure appropriate testing, contact tracing and deep cleaning is carried out as soon as a cluster is identified.
They will make proactive visits to high-risk facilities, businesses and industries, and work with local services on infection control and prevention.
In addition, mobile testing units will continue to operate and will be deployed to communities that show a spike in cases.
The funding will also include $8 million for research institutes, while testing at sewage plants to track the virus in the community and provide early signposts of localised outbreaks.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits. Testing for coronavirus is now widely available across Australia.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. The federal government's coronavirus tracing app COVIDSafe is available for download from your phone's app store.
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