Melbourne, Australia, has announced plans to lift stay-at-home orders this week as the state’s vaccination rate is set to reach 70 percent this week. The scaled-back restrictions come as the city has become known as the home of the world’s longest COVID-19 restrictions, totaling 262 days over the course of six separate lockdowns since March 2020. “Today is a great day,” Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said during the Sunday announcement to end the lockdown this week. “Today is a day when Victorians can be proud of what they have achieved.” Though the stay-at-home order will soon be lifted, many other restrictions will remain in effect. Some retailers will not be allowed to reopen until the state reaches an 80 percent vaccination rate, which is expected by early November. In July, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison shared a four-stage plan (pdf) to phase out coronavirus restrictions nationwide. Phase B, the second …