Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has offered his heartfelt thanks to residents across the state for their efforts in getting vaccinated, leading to the end of lockdown at 11.59pm yesterday after months under tough restrictions.
The state ticked over to 70 per cent double doses by midmorning yesterday, and has upped another per cent by the same time today.
"As my kids say - there's a big vibe today," Mr Andrews said on Twitter.
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"You can feel the optimism. You can sense the pride in what's been achieved. And after everything it's taken to get here, we absolutely deserve to feel that way.
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"I'm trying not to sound like some kind of soppy dad here, but I am proud, bloody proud of this state.
"We've gone through such a hard time together, this pandemic has been exhausting in every sense of the word."
Cheers, claps and partying was heard across Melbourne's CBD last night as excited residents celebrated their new freedoms and lockdown lifting.
https://twitter.com/DanielAndrewsMP/status/1451326508786544649People were heard screaming, blasting music, tooting car horns, clapping and jumping for joy as a city who spent more days under lockdown than any other in the world was finally set free.
Celebrations are expected to continue into today and across the weekend, as bars, pubs, cafes, retailers and hotels are finally allowed to open back up again in a COVID-safe way.
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"And the fact that we're here today, and opening up, is only because of the sacrifices made by every one of us," Mr Andrews went on.
"But people won't just spring back from this either, the pandemic isn't over, and feeling a bit anxious about all this is normal.
"So if you're heading out today - please just remember that this will take time, not everyone will be so ready to throw open their front door. And the process of reopening won't be without flaws either, we all know that. It will take a lot of patience and understanding."
More than 90 per cent of eligible residents have now also received their first jab.
