Australia's Melbourne celebrates end of lockdown as bars, restaurants reopen - Global Times

The Australian city of Melbourne saw restaurants, bars and retail businesses allowed to open for the first time in almost four months on Wednesday, as COVID-19 lockdown restrictions were lifted.

The city recorded no new infections or deaths on both Monday and Tuesday, paving the way for authorities to declare the second wave of infections, which peaked at over 700 daily cases in early August, effectively suppressed.

Many Aussies flocked to their favourite bars and retail outlets overnight to celebrate the midnight lifting of restrictions, with long-suffering business owners breathing a sigh of relief.