[ti:Melbourne Ends 111-days of Virus Restrictions] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:01.44]Small business owner Darren Silverman [00:05.48]pulled his car off the road. [00:11.80]Then he cried. The radio had just announced [00:14.68]that Melbourne's COVID-19 lockdown [00:18.56]would be largely lifted after 111 days. [00:25.16]"The difficulty...when you've put 30 years of your life [00:29.40]into something that's suddenly taken away [00:33.44]with the prospect of not returning through no fault of your own [00:38.76]— I felt like...having a bit of a sob to myself," he said. [00:44.84]The Victoria state government announced the lockdown changes [00:49.88]that will permit 6,200 stores, 5,800 restaurants, 800 bars [00:59.44]and a few other businesses to reopen. [01:03.08]The move affects 180,000 jobs. [01:09.04]Mask wearing is required in Melbourne [01:12.44]and there are few people on the street. [01:15.76]Citizens of the city are still required [01:18.88]to stay within 25 kilometers of their homes. [01:24.40]Offices are closed as work-from-home orders continue. [01:30.76]At the Bourke Street shopping area near the center of the city, [01:35.52]there are many empty stores. [01:38.40]Reports suggest that many stores and eateries [01:42.76]did not survive the lockdown. [01:46.20]It was the city's second lockdown since the pandemic began. [01:53.40]Now, people are ready to celebrate. [01:56.64]Restaurants are reporting they are already full for the next month. [02:02.88]"People are anxious to get out, [02:05.64]to be able to sit outside at a table [02:08.72]and have a cup of a coffee or something to eat," [02:12.00]café owner Maria Iatrou said. [02:16.76]It has been difficult for people living in Melbourne, [02:20.72]the largest city in Victoria state. [02:24.52]The rest of Australia was able to contain, [02:28.68]what some call, the second wave of infections [02:33.16]without a return to restrictions. [02:36.88]Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews [02:40.84]faced great pressure from businesses and the federal government [02:45.64]to reopen to help the economy. [02:49.92]Andrews refused until this week, [02:53.36]when he announced the lifting of restrictions [02:57.04]after the state recorded no new infections for 24 hours. [03:03.84]It was the first time Melbourne [03:06.36]had gone a day without a new infection since June 9. [03:12.20]Andrews thanked stores, [03:14.52]eateries and hotels for working with his government. [03:19.40]"They know and understand deep down [03:23.04]that we've all got to be COVID-safe... [03:26.32]to protect this fragile thing that we've built," Andrews said, [03:32.12]meaning the containment of the virus. [03:36.56]Iatrou said the lockdown was difficult [03:39.92]both professionally and personally. [03:43.48]Her café struggled, but survived selling takeout and delivery. [03:49.72]She lost two relatives to COVID-19 [03:53.52]and could not attend their funerals because of the restrictions. [03:59.36]They were in care homes for older people, [04:02.68]where most of Victoria's 819 coronavirus deaths have been recorded. [04:10.52]Only 88 people have died of COVID-19 in other places in Australia. [04:18.80]Mary Poulakis said she is happy to have reopened [04:23.24]the small clothing store she's owned for 35 years in nearby Coburg. [04:30.12]She also said she would not obey a third lockdown. [04:35.44]"I'm staying open. I cannot close my doors again," she said. [04:42.28]I'm Susan Shand. 更多听力请访问51VOA.COM