In Pics | Melbourne celebrates its freedom day after world's longest lockdown

 | Updated: Oct 22, 2021, 06:04 PM IST

Melbourne residents flocked to the city's pubs, restaurants and hair salons in the early hours of Friday after the world's most locked-down city emerged from its latest spate of restrictions designed to combat the spread of COVID-19.

Australia's second-largest city has so far endured 262 days, or nearly nine months, of restrictions during six separate lockdowns since March 2020, representing the longest cumulative lockdown for any city in the world.
 

A long lockdown

Even with Delta outbreaks across Australia's southeast from late June, coronavirus numbers are still far lower than those of many comparable nations, with some 152,000 cases and 1,590 deaths.
The state of Victoria, of which Melbourne is the capital, reported 2,189 new local COVID-19 cases and 16 deaths on Friday, making it the centre of the Delta outbreak in Australia.
Daily cases in New South Wales, home to Sydney where the Delta variant was first detected in June, dropped slightly to 345. The state recorded a further five deaths. With a once-stuttering vaccine rollout gaining momentum, authorities no longer plan to rely on extended lockdowns to suppress the virus

(Photograph:Reuters)

Arduous period

It has been very tough period, especially for those in Melbourne running a business.

"We've been open for a year, and this is our fourth lockdown. It's been very difficult," said David Boyle, the head chef at the up-market Farmer’s Daughters restaurant in Melbourne.
 

(Photograph:AFP)

Melbourne celebrate freedom day

In Melbourne, people were seen cheering and clapping from their balconies, while cars honked horns continuously at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday when lockdown restrictions in place since early August ended
 

(Photograph:Reuters)

Get back to normal

Josh Mihan, owner of The Bearded Man barber shop in Melbourne, said he is nearly booked out for the next month and he is encouraging customers to make appointments for Christmas.

"We all love cutting hair and being on the floor is such a lovely feeling, being around people," he said.

"I have urged our customer base, make sure you have booked in your Christmas cut."
 

(Photograph:Reuters)
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Coffee at cafe after a long! long time

A renowned coffee culture is a hallmark of life in Melbourne, known as one of the world’s most livable cities. Melbourne is said to have more cafes per person than any other city on the planet. 
After a long time now people are being able to sit down at a cafe or go to dinner and catch up with friends, it just gives people a bit of more happiness.
 

(Photograph:Twitter)