Regional Victoria's rolling 14-day average of COVID-19 cases is getting close to zero, but the wait to hit the next step on the easing of restrictions where more people can go to a pub, cafe or restaurant is still months away.
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But to move to the last step there needs to be no new cases across the entire state for 14 days.
The Andrews government targets are a hammer blow for Victorian border region businesses with NSW expected to ease the state's restrictions even further after the school holidays.
"Victoria's strategy is working, but the cost is way too high when there are alternatives that are just as effective without the huge hit to the economy and people's mental health," Australian Industry Group regional manager Tim Farrah said.
"The NSW model has been shown to be just as effective, if not moreso, in managing the spread of COVID without inflicting the economic pain we're seeing in Victoria.
"There has to be a better way."
Victoria's chief health officer Brett Sutton on Wednesday reaffirmed the state's determination to see regional and metropolitan areas going to the last step together.
"The criticality of protecting regional Victoria is very high," Mr Sutton said.
"We have to move together, but we are going to be separating those risks as much as possible until metro Melbourne is at a point where there isn't that seeding into regional Victoria."
The regional Victorian 14-day rolling average is just 0.3 after sitting at 0.6 in recent days.
There are also just three active cases outside Melbourne and only four new cases in the last 14 days.
Mr Andrews said there would be still limitations on travel between Melbourne and regional areas when they move to the last step.
"The time will come when that border between Melbourne and regional Victoria ends, but it can't come off until it is safe," he said.
