567 new local cases in Victoria, one death; Sydney’s hotspots are awakening to new freedoms; Victoria’s roadmap to get out of lockdown; Queensland gears up for milestone in vaccination

More than a million people in Sydney’s coronavirus hotspots wake up on the first morning under the same rules as the rest of the city.

Strict restrictions have been applied to 12 local government areas in western and southwestern Sydney for months due to the high number of COVID-19 infections.

But as of this morning, the areas are now subject to the same rules as Greater Sydney due to rising vaccination rates in the suburbs that had been dubbed “hot spots”.

Vaccination rates across NSW have now reached 81% of single doses. About 52 percent received both doses.

The number of cases in the state is also down slightly, with 1,083 new infections recorded yesterday, but 13 people lost their lives.

New freedoms for residents of former areas of concern include the ability to meet outdoors with up to five people, not including children 12 and under, in an LGA or three miles from home. .

Previously, only fully immunized household members could congregate outdoors, or up to two fully immunized people from different households.

Meanwhile, there were large crowds in eastern Sydney over the weekend as residents flocked to the beach.