Victoria records 1571 new local Covid-19 cases as vaccination rate climbs

A date for when Melburnians could taste freedom has been revealed, and it’s sooner than most people expect.

Melburnians could taste a freedom as early as next week, with figures revealing the state is on track to reach vaccination targets earlier than anticipated.

The Victorian Government initially forecast an end to lockdown for Melbourne on October 26, once 70 per cent of the population was vaccinated, but new figures released from Covid Live suggest targets could be met by October 22.

It means hospitality venues would be allowed to operate in an outdoor setting, the 9pm curfew would be scrapped, and hairdressers and outdoor retail would be allowed.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton this week said the government would likely end lockdown sooner if targets were met early.

“There’s some flexibility depending on how quickly we get at or around that 70 per cent double-dose mark,” Professor Sutton said.

“If we move there faster, there’s obviously consideration of having public health directions kick in a little bit earlier, potentially.”

Victoria’s Health Minister earlier dodged committing to a date to reopen the state despite the population surging toward the vaccination target earlier than expected.

Victoria recorded 1571 new locally acquired Covid-19 cases and 13 deaths on Wednesday, as a key milestone of 60 per cent double dosed was reached overnight.

At least 60 per cent of Victorians aged 16 and older are now fully vaccinated, as the state gallops towards its 70 per cent reopening target.

Victoria’s lockdown is set to end when 70 per cent of Victorians aged 16 and older are fully vaccinated.

Under the initial road map plan, that date was given as October 26, but some models suggest Victoria will now reach the target on October 22, which is just nine days away.

Despite Veterans Minister Shaun Leane telling reporters restrictions would “absolutely” ease as soon as the vaccination goal was reached, Health Minister Martin Foley said that was still yet to be determined.

Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley dodged committing to a reopening date. Picture: David Crosling / NCA NewsWire

“As the chief health officer indicated yesterday, he is open to those considerations when we get to 70 and 80 per cent double dose, but we are not there; we are well on track,” Mr Foley said on Wednesday.

“Indicative dates were released in the (road map) and Victoria is racing along. As the chief health officer has indicated, when the data is in a position to be interpreted, he is in a position to look at it.

“But it will depend on the conditions at the time and the sooner Victorians get double dosed, the sooner the chief health officer will be able to consider that.”

Mr Foley suggested Mr Leane was referring to the RSL being able to sell poppies outside for Remembrance Day once the state hits 70 per cent fully vaccinated, which he confirmed was correct.

As of Wednesday, at least 87.1 per cent of Victorians aged 16 and over had at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine and 60.9 per cent were fully vaccinated.

Lockdown in Melbourne will end at 70 per cent fully vaccinated. Picture: Wayne Taylor / NCA NewsWire

Premier Daniel Andrews celebrated the 60 per cent vaccination milestone with a series of posts on social media.

“Well done Victoria, we’re almost there,” he said.

“It’s too soon to be a trend, but for the first time since August, our seven-day average of cases has come down.

“And even better – our seven day average for vaccinations has never been higher.”

Covid-19 data analyst website Covidbase AU said Victoria’s Reff number – how many other people on average a single Covid-carrying person will infect – was also trending down at 1.06, its lowest point of the outbreak.

There has also been a “stabilisation” of Covid cases in concerning hot spots such as Hume.

The 13 new deaths announced on Wednesday takes the number of lives lost during Victoria’s outbreak to 114 and the toll of the pandemic in Victoria to 934.

Well done Victoria, we're almost there. pic.twitter.com/PkOydSyrOI

— Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) October 12, 2021

The deaths included a man in his 50s, a man in his 60s, a man in his 70s and two men in their 80s, all from the Whittlesea area, a woman in her 90s from Darebin, a man in his 80s from Hume, a woman in her 80s from Moonee Valley, a man in his 70s from Brimbank, a woman in her 70s from Banyule, a man in his 70s from Moreland, a woman in her 60s from Stonnington and a man in his 60s from Nillumbik.

At least 705 Covid-positive patients are in hospital in Victoria, with 146 of those in intensive care, including 92 cases on a ventilator.

There are 19,861 active coronavirus cases in Victoria

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Originally published as Victoria records 1571 new local Covid-19 cases as vaccination rate climbs