Daniel Andrews eases Victorian restrictions with golf, gatherings, AFL training to resume
You will finally be able to catch up with loved ones and friends from 11.59pm tomorrow night, with Premier Daniel Andrews revealing the easing of some tough rules on the road back from lockdown. And the changes pave the way for footy’s return.
Coronavirus
Don't miss out on the headlines from Coronavirus. Followed categories will be added to My News.
This coronavirus article is unlocked and free to read in the interest of community health and safety. Get full digital access to trusted news from the Herald Sun and Leader for just $1 for the first 28 days.
From midnight tomorrow, Victorians will be able to go golfing, gather in small groups, and have up to five friends over for dinner, while AFL players can train in groups of 10.
The Premier this morning announced the “cautious first steps”, with a slight easing of coronavirus restrictions effective from 11.59pm on Tuesday night and in place until 11.59pm on May 31.
After months of telling Victorians there were only four reasons to not be at home, Daniel Andrews revealed an additional fifth reason for Victorians to be out: visiting family and friends.
The eased restrictions do not include a return to classrooms for Victorian students, despite Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton saying it was safe.
“My advice clearly is that prior to tend of term 2, there can be a reopening but it’s for the department to announce,” Dr Sutton said.
Read the full list of what’s changing here.
WHAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DO FROM 11.59PM TUESDAY
Outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people will be allowed from Tuesday night, while up to five non-household guests are permitted gather indoors.
“This is not an invitation to be out every minute of every day,” Mr Andrews said.
Handshakes, hugs and kisses should remain off the table, the Premier said.
Recreational activities such as golf, fishing, hiking and walking in state and national parks will be permitted from Tuesday night, subject to physical distance guidelines.
But he warned Victorians not to plan a camping trip or try booking a weekend away just yet.
Mr Andrews confirmed that AFL players could resume training from just before midnight on Tuesday night, paving the way for the league’s return.
The Premier said there would be no changes made to remote learning in Victorian schools at this stage, while cafes and restaurants will remain takeaway only until the end of May at earliest.
Mr Andrews urged Victorians who were able to work from home to continue to do so for the remainder of May.
Yesterday, the Sunday Herald Sun exclusively revealed Victorian students would be back in classrooms in the next two weeks.
ALL THE LATEST STATS
Victoria recorded seven new coronavirus cases overnight, with one linked to the Cedar Meats cluster.
Of the 141,000 tests processed in the past two weeks, 30 positive cases have been found that weren’t connected to any cluster or overseas travellers.
$20m will be spent on further testings and tracing, with another 150,000 people to be tested by end on May.
Dr Sutton said sewerage testing would be part of a new coronavirus detection process, with one sample of a million people able to show whether the virus is present in that catchment.
But he said only applying strict rules to those most vulnerable had failed overseas and wouldn’t work here.
“We’ve always had the message that those who are at greater risk, over 65, with chronic illness, in particular, need to be precautionary about how they engage with others,” he said.
“Obviously, they shouldn’t have people who are unwell visiting them at home. They shouldn’t go out unnecessarily. The same advice for everyone. I would say the real protection of vulnerable individuals is doing the right thing across the board.
“The idea you can just cocoon the highest risk individuals and everyone gets on with normal life is not an approach that’s worked overseas.”
CEDAR MEATS INCREASED HOURS AFTER OUTBREAK
Working hours increased at Cedar Meats in the days after the abattoir was notified of a COVID-19 outbreak among workers.
The Herald Sun can also reveal a sample from at least one Cedar Meats employee was mishandled by a laboratory, and he is still unsure if he has the virus 10 days after taking the test.
The distraught worker yesterday said he feared workers had been put at greater risk of exposure after Cedar Meats increased its shifts after confirmation of the outbreak.
Cedar Meats last night confirmed it continued receiving and processing livestock days after being notified of coronavirus-positive workers, but denied it increased production before its May 1 shutdown.
Read the full story here.
– Grant McArthur
10 ARRESTED AT ANTI-LOCKDOWN PROTEST
Angry protesters calling for tough lockdown restrictions to be eased clashed with police yesterday, sending one officer to hospital.
Violence broke out when police arrested 10 people outside the state parliament yesterday, resulting in crowds spilling onto Spring St and swarming police vehicles and officers.
Although focusing on the lockdown, demonstrators also labelled coronavirus a conspiracy, even suggesting it was created by billionaire Bill Gates.
Some also hit out at the safety of the 5G network and slammed compulsory vaccinations.
Read the full story here.
– Tamsin Rose and Grace McKinnon
CONFUSION SURROUNDS POSITIVE CASES AT PRISON
Three Victorian prisoners have returned positive coronavirus tests in the state’s south west.
The three male prisoners from the medium security Hopkins Correctional Centre in Ararat initially tested positive to COVID-19 last week.
However two additional tests on each of the men over the weekend has returned negative results for the deadly virus.
The prison went into lockdown over the weekend after the initial positive results.
The Department of Corrections said there were “no current cases of coronavirus” in Victorian prisons.
“Three asymptomatic prisoners at Hopkins Correctional Centre underwent further testing as a precaution following initial positive tests – all three have now come back negative for coronavirus,” a department spokeswoman said.
“Working with the Department of Health and Human Services, measures have been taken to minimise risks for staff and prisoners in line with Corrections Victoria’s coronavirus management plan.”
It is understood the prisoners undertook voluntary tests as part of the state’s blitz to better track the spread of coronavirus.
Contact tracing has occurred in the prison since the positive tests and close to 200 prisoners have been tested.
– Brianna Travers
LOITERER, TOURISTS AMONG MOTHER’S DAY FINES
Police have issued 44 fines on Mother’s Day to disobedient Victorians ignoring stay at home orders.
Among them were six people attempting to visit the Twelve Apostles on the Great Ocean Rd.
In another case, a man received his third fine for loitering in Frankston.
He’ll be coughing up close to $5000 in fines for his blatant disregard for the law.
Victoria Police conducted 719 spot checks across the state yesterday as part of Operation Sentinel.
– Brianna Travers
RAPID RESPONSE TEAMS PREPARED FOR NEW OUTBREAKS
It comes as rapid response teams were set up to tackle new coronavirus outbreaks.
The “crackdown squads” will operate as part of a new outbreak unit within the Department of Health and will carry out testing, contact tracing and deep cleaning as soon as a cluster is identified.
The teams will also visit high risk facilities, businesses and industries, to work on infection prevention.
Mass testing will also continue to add to the tally of 161,000 Victorians tested over the past two weeks.
Even those with the mildest of symptoms are encouraged to be checked to help achieve a target of 50,000 tests to be conducted over the next week.
JOBS TO RECOVER IN 2024
Australia’s economic recovery from the coronavirus will be a slow ‘marathon’ and unemployment is not expected to bounce back to pre-pandemic levels until late 2024, according to a new report.
Deloitte’s latest Budget Monitor released today says unemployment would be the biggest challenge, with more than one million Australians already out of work because of the virus.
“The ‘mission accomplished’ signs can’t be put up until unemployment is back at said per cent,” report author Chris Richardson said.
“On our forecasts that doesn’t happen until 2024.”
Unlike the speed at which lockdown measures were introduced, the recovery “may well be slow” as families and businesses are cautious about taking risks after “copping body blows to their confidence, income and wealth”.
The report said the pandemic had unfolded at a speed governments around the country had never dealt with before and that had caused divides in opinion on key issues like schools.
“The crystal ball had never been foggier,” the report said.
“Well-meaning expert advisers to governments were often disagreeing on the best path forward.”
The report said governments were in the unenviable position of choosing between jobs and health.
“Until there’s a vaccine or effective treatments, Australia will stay stuck in a terrible trade-off between risks to our lives and risks to our livelihoods,” the report added.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg echoed that sentiment, pointing to the $130 billion Job Keeper payments being provided in a bid to curb unemployment.
“We are fighting a war on two fronts in trying to protect both our health and our economy from the coronavirus,” Mr Frydenberg said.
“Every arm of government and industry is working to keep Australians in jobs and businesses in business, and to build a bridge to recovery on the other side.”
The report was a “sobering assessment” of the serious economic damaged caused to Australia by the virus so far, according to Labor Treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers.
“Weak growth, stagnant wages, record high household debt, falling business investment and record high underemployment were major economic challenges before the virus and are expected to hamper Australia’s recovery,” Mr Chalmers said.
Treasurer Frydenberg will present an updated economic outlook at Parliament House on Tuesday when the government returns.
CYCLING BOOM DRIVES PUSH FOR MORE LANES
Cyclists want to claim a bigger slice of the road.
Bike traffic has tripled on trails across the city as most Victorians continue to avoid public transport and long trips in their cars.
The state’s peak cycling group, Bicycle Network, says the increase will be permanent but the government must improve safety.
It is pushing for action on key streets where it says dedicated lanes are needed, and projects to connect Melbourne’s network of bike trails.
The RACV has been making the case for 17 cycling superhighways so people can more easily ride into the city each day.
Bicycle Network chief Craig Richards said travel behaviour was changing.
“We’ve seen a lot of people that are new to riding enjoying the roads with very few vehicles,” he said.
“Then there are the people who ride regularly who are getting to the stage where they feel trails are overcrowded.
“We’ve got this short-term opportunity to build something to address this change before life starts returning to whatever the new normal becomes.”
The group is calling for bike lanes that would have barriers between bikes and cars, on St Kilda Rd, La Trobe St, Exhibition St, Sydney Rd and other roads.
Infrastructure Australia also has a plan to revamp busy peak-hour routes into cycle-friendly superhighways as a priority project.
Among these would be a massive City Loop stretching from the inner-west to Kew, then down to Elwood.
Mr Richards said authorities should temporarily hand over some roads to cyclists immediately to meet demand.
“They are doing it overseas with new pop-up bike lanes,” he said. “Not only is it a great opportunity to rethink our roads but if we do accelerate the process of building more permanent infrastructure there is an economic stimulus benefit.
“We also need to run trials so we’re ready for when people return to their workplaces but crowding on to public transport is not recommended. When that happens, bikes will be a key solution.”
The City of Melbourne last week announced it would bring forward plans to replace carparks with more footpaths and bike lanes across the CBD.
RACV senior mobility planner Stuart Outhred said the surge in riders had proven the need for safer cycling infrastructure.
“With fewer vehicles on the roads, and most Victorians working and studying from home, now is an ideal time to fast-track this project,” he said.
Eltham resident Scott Louder said he and his family regularly used bike paths and encouraged others to do the same instead of riding on the roads.