Australia’s Victoria state has eased Covid-19 restrictions after the country’s pandemic hotspot recorded 37 days without any new coronavirus infections, moving toward a “Covid-safe” holiday season.

From midnight today, up to 100 people will be able to attend public gatherings such as weddings, with density rules of one person per two square metres remaining in place, while 50 per cent of office workers will be able to return to workplaces by Jan 11, up from 25pc now, the state’s premier said.

“Today we can take some big steps, not to normal, but to a Covid-safe summer (but) we all need to remain vigilant and we all need to play our part,” Premier Daniel Andrews told a news conference.