$44m recovery package for Melbourne CBD after Victoria records 1173 new Covid cases

Diners in central Melbourne will be able to claim up to $150 off their restaurant bill under a $44m business recovery package announced on Sunday.

The Melbourne Money scheme is returning to the CBD, with the state government and City of Melbourne launching a $200m “revitalisation fund”.

From November 15, Melburnians dining in the CBD between Monday and Thursday can claim a 30 per cent discount - of up to $150 - off their restaurant bill.

They will be saving 10 per cent more than they would have under the last Melbourne Money scheme launched over winter, which had a cap of $100.

“(The Melbourne Money scheme) showed us that people came back (to the CBD) three times faster than previous bounce backs,” Lord Mayor Sally Capp said.

Diners who want to claim one of more than 200,000 rebates up for grabs need to take a photograph of their bill and upload it to the Melbourne Money website.

Ms Capp said midweek foot traffic in the CBD was still about half of what it was pre-pandemic and the biggest challenge would be to bring people back throughout the week.

“The next big threshold for us is when workers return to city workplaces,” she said.

“We understand that wearing masks at desks is a deterrent. That will come away once we hit the 90 per cent (vaccination target).”

The funding announced on Sunday includes $15.7m to boost Christmas events and pop-up attractions as the state heads into the festive season.

An expanded Christmas Festival will start on November 12 — two weeks earlier than usual — and includes a carnival at Birrarung Marr, floating art installations on the Yarra River and a night market at the Queen Victoria Market.

Victorian health officials reported 1,173 new cases of Covid-19 and nine more deaths on Sunday.

There are 568 people in hospital with the virus, 96 of whom are in intensive care, with 63 people being ventilated.

Health officials say that 83 per cent of Victorians aged over 12 have now had two doses of a coronavirus vaccine.

There are now 16,413 active infections in the state.