10 Victorian postcodes slapped with strict stay-at-home orders in fight against second wave
Melbourne’s coronavirus hotspots will be under strict stay-at-home orders from Wednesday night in a desperate bid to bring the COVID-19 second wave under control. It comes as Queensland tightens restrictions against Victorians, joining NSW and SA in cutting off the state.
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More than 310,000 people living in 10 postcodes across Melbourne’s north and west have been forced into lock down as the city’s coronavirus crisis worsens.
Stage three restrictions will be reintroduced in Victoria’s hotspot suburbs as of 11.59pm on Wednesday night.
People living in the following postcodes can only leave their homes to go to work, for study, for food or supplies, or for exercise:
3012, Brooklyn, Kingsville, Maidstone, Tottenham, West Footscray
3021, Albanvale, Kealba, Kings Park, St Albans
3032, Ascot Vale, Highpoint city, Maribyrnong, Travancore
3038, Keilor Downs, Keilor Lodge, Taylors Lakes, Watergardens
3 042, Airport West, Keilor Park, Niddrie
3046, Glenroy, Hadfield, Oak Park
3047, Broadmeadows, Dallas, Jacana
3055, Brunswick South, Brunswick West, Moonee Vale, Moreland West
3060, Fawkner
3064, Craigieburn, Donnybrook, Mickleham, Roxburgh Park and Kalkallo
The post codes are home to more than 310,000 people, the largest (3064) has more than 75,000. Melbourne’s population is 5 million.
Victoria Police will be actively enforcing the suburban lockdowns over the next four weeks, with on-the-spot fines issued to anyone caught out of their house unnecessarily.
Premier Daniel Andrews said many of the main transport corridors in and out of the relevant suburbs would be the subject of booze bus-type checks.
“So not necessarily every vehicle, but vehicles will be stopped randomly ... in an organised and coordinated way and people moving in and out of the suburb will be asked to identify themselves,” he said.
All cafes, restaurants and hotels in the hotspot suburbs will go back to stage 3 restrictions and gyms will be closed.
An urgent $5000 grant will be made available to businesses in the 10 postcodes hit by further restrictions.
The suburbs with highest number of new virus cases are Broadmeadows, Fawkner and Albanvale.
Mr Andrews said a three-step process was used to determine which suburbs should be locked down.
“The first step is to identify priority local government areas with more than twice the state case rate,” he said.
“Secondly, to review all the postcodes within that local government area and thirdly, to identify priority suburbs with more than five cases and a rate greater than 20 per 100,000.”
Another 64 cases of coronavirus were detected across the state overnight, with none identified as returned travellers in hotel quarantine.
The state has recorded 2159 cases in total.
Since last Thursday, there have been more than 93,000 tests and 37,000 doors have been knocked on in hotspot suburbs.
There have been 233 new cases of coronavirus diagnosed since the testing blitz began last Thursday.
Mr Andrews said that was an unacceptably high number and it posed a real threat to the state, not just those in the hotspot suburbs.
In Broadmeadows and Keilor Downs there were 928 people who refused to be tested during the blitz.
“If someone offers you a test on your doorstep, please say yes,” Mr Andrews said.
Schools in hotspot areas will return to face-to-face learning once the holidays are over, Mr Andrews said.
The Prime Minister has been asked to divert all international flights away from Melbourne for the next two weeks as the state battles a spike in community transmissions.
“If we do not do this now then I won’t be locking down 10 postcodes, I will be locking down all postcodes,” Mr Andrews said.
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said the situation could be turned around.
“We can stabilise numbers over the next few days and we can absolutely drive numbers down,” he said.
But Prof Sutton said there was no plan B and people needed to do the right thing to change the transmission rate in the state.
“I’m somewhat reassured by the stabilisation of today’s numbers against yesterday’s; I think the fact that we have done a blitz has genuinely identified almost all cases that are out there,” he said.
The Public Health and Wellbeing Act allows for someone who poses an unreasonable risk to public health to be detained, but Mr Andrews said he didn’t believe the power had been used during the pandemic.
The provisions were not drafted in relation to coronavirus.
Of the state’s new cases on Monday, 13 are linked to known outbreaks.
Twenty new cases have been identified through routine testing and another 31 remain under investigation.
Nine people remain in hospital, with one person in intensive care.
Of the new cases linked to outbreaks:
• Six are linked to the Stamford Plaza outbreak, taking that cluster to 29;
• Two new cases linked to Albanvale Primary School, taking that cluster to seven;
• Another case has been linked to the outbreak at the Coles distribution centre in Laverton;
• Two staff who had attended work at the StarTrack facility in Tullamarine have tested positive; and
• Two cases are linked to the Hugo Boss store on Collins St.
Positive cases have also been identified at five childcare centres: Guardian Childcare and Education, Pascoe Vale; The Grove Children’s Centre, Coburg; Little Steps Family Day Care, Sunshine; Clare Court Children’s Service, Yarraville; and Kids on Queens Parade, Fitzroy North.
Victoria has now recorded 14 days of double-digit case growth.
Tuesday’s daily tally is lower than authorities had been expecting, but sources say there are concerns about the significant level of community transmission.
Despite the slight drop in cases on Tuesday, health authorities are bracing for an increase in the coming days as the results of a testing blitz filter through, prompting the need to isolate outbreaks.
FORMER JUDGE TO REVIEW HOTEL QUARANTINE PROTOCOLS
A former judge will conduct an inquiry into the infection-control protocols breached in Victoria’s hotel quarantine facilities.
Mr Andrews on Tuesday said a significant number of the outbreaks in the state’s north were attricted to staff members at the quarantine hotels who breached well-known and well understood infection control protocols.
“This is deeply frustrating. This is unacceptable and we will have that judicial inquiry to get to the bottom of exactly what has occurred,” he said.
“Now, when we have spikes in cases, when we have an outbreak, when we have community transmission, we literally leave no stone unturned to try and answer the riddle, to try to answer the questions that this virus throws up to us each and every day.”
Opposition health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier said the inquiry was long overdue.
“From day one of the mandatory hotel quarantine program, Victorians have heard horror stories of lack of medical support, refusal by the government of specialised mental health services and exemptions, poor hotel conditions with bug infestations and allegations of inappropriate contact between security and quarantined guests,” she said.
“These problems combined with 30 per cent of quarantined persons refusing a test and Daniel Andrews rejecting support from the Australian Defence Force for the management of the program shows how shambolic Victoria’s program under Andrews has been.
“Only now, as the situation has hit a crisis point, has the Andrews Labor Government finally admitted a failure of its own quarantine program has led to Victoria’s coronavirus spike.”
Ms Crozier said the inquiry should work alongside the Victorian Parliament’s Public Accounts and Estimates Committee (PAEC) hearings into the government’s response to COVID.
FEDERAL SUPPORT PROVIDED TO FIGHT SPIKE
The Commonwealth government will send 100 team leaders to help with the massive coordination effort of the suburban testing blitz.
There will also be 200 clinical staff provided to help free up the state’s clinical staff, so people can be freed up to be deployed to different testing sites or doorknocking.
Victoria will also utilise 500 Commonwealth public servants, principally those based in Melbourne, to help with the community engagement strategy.
In relation to ADF personnel patrolling the streets, Mr Andrews said Victoria Police was confident it had the powers to do what was needed.
“The ADF would not have those powers for instance, they are not members of the Victorian law enforcement,” he said.
Communities can expect to see police randomly asking people why they are out and where they live.
AFL GOES BACK TO DRAWING BOARD OVER FIXTURE
The AFL is overhauling its fixture for Rounds 6 and 7.
And its tentative plans for Round 8 are being revisited as states clamp down on Victorians entering.
Both South Australia and Queensland have today significantly strengthened their restrictions on Victorians — and even returning residents — entering their states, meaning plans have been thrown out the window to be reworked in coming days.
The league is hopeful of announcing a fixture for Round 6 by the end of the week, and is continuing to work closely with state health authorities.
OTHER STATES CUT VICTORIA OFF
It comes as the rest of Australia cut Victoria off as the state’s coronavirus crisis continues to worsen.
The Deputy Prime Minister has also urged Melburnians in hotspots to stay home as Mr Andrews’ approval rating plummeted amid the fresh spike in cases.
Queensland has strengthened restrictions, with anyone who has travelled from Victoria — including Queenslanders — to undergo a two-week hotel quarantine at their own expense.
The measures will apply from midday Friday.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the move on Tuesday afternoon.
“We just can’t risk removing border restrictions for people coming from areas of Victoria right now. And I hope Queenslanders understand why I am saying that. I’m not alone in saying that,” she said.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles urged Victorians to stay away from the state.
“These new, stricter rules will ensure that we contain the virus in Victoria. Our message to Queenslanders is: please do not go there,” he said.
“Our message to Victorians is: please do not come here until these outbreaks are under control. We do not want to bring those cases here.”
And NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian moved to say that Victorians from coronavirus hot spots are not welcome, telling residents not to let Melburnians into their homes.
“I’ve not given any different advice to what the Victorian health officials are telling their people. Anyone in hotspots or in greater Melbourne should not be travelling, let alone interstate,” the Premier said.
“You are the boss of who comes into your home. Do not allow anyone from a hot spot in Melbourne or from greater Melbourne to come into your home. You have the right to say no.”
Ms Berejiklian urged family and friends from Victoria not to visit their “loved ones” in NSW until it got its community transmission under control.
She has also asked businesses in NSW to have COVID-safe plans in place to refuse service to anyone from a Victorian hotspot.
And South Australia this morning abandoned plans to reopen the Victorian border on July 20, after recent spikes in cases.
The state said welcoming Victorians would be too big a threat to local health.
South Australian Premier Steven Marshall today said the Transition Committee decided in a morning meeting to drop the July 20 Victorian border plan.
“It has now been decided to completely revise the date,” he said. “The Transition Committee’s advice is that we should scrap that date.
“We are increasingly concerned about the outbreaks which are occurring. We are not in a position to remove our border on July 20.”
It comes as the first flight between Australia and New Zealand was delayed after Victoria’s spike in community-transmitted coronavirus cases.
Canberra Airport managing director Stephen Byron hoped to have a charter flight from Canberra to Wellington take off today, but ongoing government discussions and the situation south of the border had put a pin in it.
“The nature of the return of the virus into Melbourne, together with continuing discussions with governments in Australia and New Zealand has meant we’ve pushed back flights,” he said.
“We’re targeting the last 10 days of July, but it’s really dependent on the health situation and decisions of the government.”
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack this morning urged Melburnians in coronavirus hotspots to stay at home as the city’s outbreak continues to grow.
He cautioned against using the outbreak to fuel interstate rivalries with debate on travel and border restrictions ramping up.
“We are going to be there for Victoria,” Mr McCormack told ABC radio on Tuesday.
“It’s not just state versus state, it’s not Melbourne versus Sydney or anyone else.”
He said people in hotspot suburbs needed to follow health advice in order to curb the spread of the disease.
“If they need to stay at home, well jolly well stay at home. It’s not difficult,” the Nationals leader said.
“Think of others, do the right thing and we’ll get through this.”
Meanwhile, Western Australia has deployed one of its most experienced public health physicians, Professor Tarun Weeramanthri, to assist Victoria during the second wave.
STUDENTS, SCHOOL WORKERS TEST POSITIVE
Schools and a childcare centre in Melbourne’s suburbs have been closed after children and workers tested positive overnight.
A primary student from Parkwood Green Primary School in Hillside tested positive to COVID-19, just days after school holidays began.
Principal David Allibon said the school’s grounds would be closed for three days.
“This closure will allow time for the school and DHHS to undertake a full risk assessment,” he said in a letter to parents on Monday night.
“Close contacts of the student will be notified by DHHS and supported to ensure they understand what actions to take.
“We wish the student a speedy recovery and look forward to welcoming them back to school next term once they have recovered.”
In Melbourne’s inner west, Gowrie Clare Court childcare and kindergarten shut its doors on Monday night after a child tested positive for COVID-19.
The popular centre in Yarraville will be closed until at least Wednesday to undergo the standard cleaning procedures.
The child was last at the kindergarten on Friday, and anyone who may have come into contact with them will be notified.
Executive manager Glyn Williams told the Herald Sun: “Things are changing all the time so we don’t have a set date to return, but once the enviro clean is done we will have a better understanding of where things are at.”
In Melbourne’s east, two staff members at private school Camberwell Grammar tested positive to COVID-19 following voluntary on-campus testing of 130 workers on Thursday.
Neither staff member who tested positive is seriously ill and both were asymptomatic at the time of testing.
In a letter sent to parents on Monday by the deputy head of senior school Rob French, he said neither staff member was linked to a student who tested positive last week.
Any student or staff member who has spent more than 15 minutes face-to-face with either staff member will be required to quarantine for 14 days.
The school has cancelled all non-essential activities on-site for the holiday period.
A deep cleaning of the school will take place today, but there will be no impact on the commencement of term three, July 14.
“Again, I am sorry to have to bring you this news; however, as the headmaster said last week, this virus respects no boundaries,” Mr French said.
“Victoria has seen a concerning growth in confirmed cases in recent days and unfortunately our community has not been spared.
“The school has clear protocols in place to minimise the spread of the virus, and in fact the Department has praised us for the measures that we have taken thus far.”
And at Deakin University, a construction worker at the Burwood campus has tested positive.
He was working at the Elgar Rd precinct (building LC) and was last at work on Thursday when he developed symptoms.
“He didn’t go to work on Friday and tested positive over the weekend,” Deakin’s chief operating officer Kean Selway told the Herald Sun.
“Building LC, which is in the final stages of construction and not accessible to students and staff, is closed for deep cleaning.”
It comes amid fears of a possible return to remote learning after six schools were on Monday close for deep cleaning.
Footscray High, Al-Taqwa College in Truganina, Maribyrnong College, Queen of Peace Parish Primary School in Altona Meadows, Aitken Hill Primary in Craigieburn and Port Phillip Specialist School in Port Melbourne were all closed.
The government today opened a new testing site at MSAC and moved its Chadstone centre to Golfers Drive.
Regional testing sites have also been opened in Winchelsea, on the Surf Coast; Nathalia, northern Victoria; and Mildura.
Meanwhile, aged care provider Estia Health has closed its 19 Melbourne facilities to visitors for two weeks due to pandemic concerns.
Exceptions may be made on compassionate grounds.
A statement by the company said the decision was made after carefully monitoring the increase in new COVID-19 infections in the Melbourne region “as a proactive and preventive measure”.
“We have apologised to our residents and their families for this short-term inconvenience however the safety, health and wellbeing of the vulnerable residents in our care is always our priority,” the statement said.
“We are continuing to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely and will look to re-open our Melbourne homes to visitors as soon as it is safe to do so. This temporary closure to visitors does not impact our homes in Victoria outside of Melbourne.”
PANDEMIC FAR FROM OVER: WHO
Six months on from the start of the novel coronavirus outbreak, the World Health Organisation has warned the pandemic was far from over.
And it feared the worst was yet to come, amid an atmosphere of global division and politicisation of the COVID-19 crisis.
The UN health agency lamented the “very tragic” milestones of 500,000 deaths and 10 million confirmed infections, just as it today marked six months since it was first informed of the outbreak in Wuhan.
WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the spread of the virus was accelerating globally.
“Six months ago, none of us could have imagined how our world – and our lives – would be thrown into turmoil by this new virus,” Mr Tedros said.
“We all want this to be over. We all want to get on with our lives. But the hard reality is this is not even close to being over.
“Globally, the pandemic is actually speeding up.”
The WHO is sending a team to China next week in connection with the search for the origin of the virus that sparked the global pandemic.
WHY MONDAY’S NUMBERS WERE VICTORIA’S WORST YET
RISING TENSION OVER LABOR’S REACTION TO VIRUS
TRACING TEAM PUSHED TO BREAKING POINT
Prime Minister Scott Morrison will provide Victoria with 800 support staff after 75 new coronavirus cases were identified on Monday — the worst day since March.
The Herald Sun can reveal Premier Daniel Andrews has asked for Commonwealth assistance to combat the state’s worrying jump in cases.
Canberra has agreed to provide:
100 managers to support on-the-ground co-ordination of community engagement and doorknocking,
500 staff to form part of the public engagement and door knocking teams, and
200 clinical staff to undertake testing at fixed sites, to release clinical staff to participate in mobile testing in hotspots and surrounding suburbs.
The agreement was struck late on Monday following a day of talks between Mr Andrews and Mr Morrison.
“This is a public health bushfire — just as we help out other states in summer, help is coming from across the nation now — and we are grateful for that,” a government spokesperson said.
Mr Morrison has pledged to give Mr Andrews anything he needs to combat the dangerous outbreak, which threatens to put a handbrake on the easing of border restrictions and slow the nation’s economic recovery.
The Herald Sun believes federal health officials may be used to bolster the struggling state’s response and provide extra expertise to Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton’s team.
Victoria’s monitoring system is almost at breaking point, with more than 2500 close contacts of COVID-19 patients being tracked, and Prof Sutton warns case numbers will keep getting worse.
Mr Morrison and Mr Andrews held talks on Monday after the fourth-largest single day tally of cases was identified since the pandemic began.
Federal Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Alison McMillan, who spent more than 30 years in Victoria’s health system, said: “If there’s anything they need, we will of course come to their aid.
“The Commonwealth stands with Victoria in its response and we are offering every assistance we can to them, should they require it.”
The Herald Sun can also reveal the state’s prison officers have been approached to help provide security at quarantine hotels after lax procedures among private contractors sparked outbreaks.
A senior Corrections Victoria official emailed employees inviting them to apply for positions.
Prof Sutton warned on Monday that the outbreak would get worse before it improved.
He said managing more than 2500 close contacts was almost unmanageable, even after the team dedicated to the task was increased from 1000 to 1350.
Other states are providing resources and the Defence Force is helping with a testing blitz.
South Australian Premier Steven Marshall said his plan to open the state’s border to Victoria on July 20 was now “under a cloud”, while Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will detail her border plans on Tuesday.
Mr Morrison said the outbreak was “of grave concern”.
“We can leave no stone unturned and no resource left unapplied to this task,” he said.
Prof Sutton said it was clear Victorians were ignoring messages about social distancing and testing if they were even mildly symptomatic.
He warned further restrictions could be enforced if the spread of the virus was not slowed.
“What we’re seeing is transmission across settings because people are still going out with symptoms,” he said.
“The solution is there already, which is people not having unnecessary contacts across multiple households, across multiple settings.”
While he hinted that Victoria was now in the middle of a second wave, Prof Sutton refused to use the term.
“Whatever you call it, it’s as big as the first one and it’s looking that way,” he said.
“Second peak, second wave, it’s got the same challenges. We’ve got significant numbers to follow up, and we’ve got significant risk of transmission.”
Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said the government was “obviously concerned” after double-digit case increases for 13 consecutive days.
- With additional reporting by Grant McArthur, James Mottershead
Originally published as 10 Victorian postcodes slapped with strict stay-at-home orders in fight against second wave