Victoria Covid update: restrictions to ease in most regional areas as state records 221 new cases

Premier Daniel Andrews says lockdowns will be targeted rather than statewide if new clusters emerge in the future

• Follow our Covid live blog for the latest updates
• Vic hotspots; Vic restrictions
• Vaccine rollout tracker; get our free news app; get our morning email briefing

Most of regional Victoria will be released from lockdown on Friday morning as the state shifts from chasing zero" to enforcing targeted lockdowns if clusters arise.

From 11.59pm Thursday, there will no longer be only five reasons to leave home in regional Victoria, with the exception of hard-hit greater Shepparton.