70 new coronavirus cases, five deaths as vote on state of emergency extension looms
Two roadmaps to help Victoria exit lockdown will be revealed on Sunday, with Premier Daniel Andrews announcing regional Victorians will follow different rules to metropolitan Melbourne. It comes after five more people succumbed to the virus but a new low of 70 cases was recorded.
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Premier Daniel Andrews will on Sunday reveal two roadmaps for easing lockdown restrictions and opening up the state but warned against opening up too much too soon.
Given the low case numbers, the Premier flagged the possibility of having different settings in regional Victoria compared to those for metropolitan Melbourne.
It comes as Victoria recorded another new low as the daily COVID-19 numbers continue to trend downwards.
Just 70 new cases were detected over the past 24 hours, the lowest figure since 66 cases were recorded nearly two months ago on July 3, but five more Victorians — two females in their 70s, two females in their 80s and one female in her 90s — have died.
421 Victorians are in hospital, 20 in ICU, seven on a ventilator.
Premier Daniel Andrews said: “Test results are now being processed faster than ever, with many test results being received the same day, certainly within a 24-hour period”.
There are 4327 cases with an unknown source and there are 11 new mystery cases.
There are 352 healthcare workers with active cases, with 2519 active cases across the state and 139 infections in regional Victoria.
100,000 tests have been carried out in regional Victoria since stage 3 restrictions were introduced on August 5.
No new cases have been recorded in Ballarat and Bendigo, but there are two new infections in Geelong, which has 50 active cases.
There are 42 active cases in disability facilities and 1197 active cases in aged care.
3586 shifts have been filled in aged care facilities by hospital nurses and other hospital staff.
THE RESTRICTIONS LIKELY TO BE EASED FIRST IN MELBOURNE
INFECTED PERSON VISITS LATROBE CITY, CASEY AND CARDINIA
The DHHS on Tuesday revealed a person infected with coronavirus had visited several locations in Latrobe City and Casey and Cardinia over the previous two weeks.
Anyone who was in these locations at these times has been advised to monitor themselves for symptoms and get tested if feeling unwell.
ROADMAPS OUT OF LOCKDOWN TO BE OUTLINED
Minister for the Coordination of Jobs, Precincts and Regions: COVID-19 Martin Pakula said the “recovery road map” began on Monday night with about 150 different businesses, organisations, peak bodies, unions and individuals.
Nine different consultations will take place on Tuesday, including the construction, creative sport and tourism, manufacturing, agriculture, retail, professional services, transport and freight, and food and grocery industries.
Community organisations will also be consulted.
CHO: TESTING STILL KEY TO DRIVING NUMBERS DOWN
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said the roadmap would lay out the plans for beyond stage 4 lockdown.
“Everyone appreciates the certainty that the minister has talked about for industry, for sectors across the board, but we need the data through this week to be able to really understand where we can ease, what we need to hold the line on and where to from here,” Prof Sutton said.
But he said testing was still the pathway to keep driving virus numbers down and that an increase of 10,153 tests since Monday was not enough.
“I know there’s more respiratory illness out there so we need everyone who has compatible symptoms — runny nose, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath, fever, even headache, fatigue, change in smell and taste ... people need to step up for testing if they have any compatible symptoms,” Prof Sutton said.
“We have seen the peak in our ICU beds, we’ve seen the peak in our hospitalised cases.
“If we’re not aware of hidden cases because people have not come forward for testing, they will persist and then accelerate.
“As we ease restrictions, as we increase allowances for people to interact with others, if there are mystery chains of transmission — just like mystery cases — they will accelerate and potentially explode. And if we only detect them when they’re large outbreaks, it means there’s more community transmission out there. And even though we can identify and get on top of outbreaks, it does become really challenging if there’s widespread community transmission.”
In response to questioning over today’s testing numbers being the lowest since June 23, Prof Sutton said: “There is always that paradox — as numbers go down, as people feel safer, as people feel like there’s not much transmission out there, even though it’s still there, they may not be stepping up for testing, so I have to emphasise that anyone with compatible symptoms needs to come forward for testing”.
STILL POTENTIAL FOR TRANSMISSION IN AGED CARE
Prof Sutton said he had confidence in the virus modelling but the further we go down the line, the harder it would be to model.
“We will be close to single digits at mid-September but I don’t know if we’ll already be there or significantly above that, because there is ... there are still over 100 active aged care outbreaks,” he said.
“There is still potential for transmission in those settings and so when you’ve got 100 active outbreaks just in aged care, as well as others in various industries, a single case can cause 100.
“We are heading down to a number that will give us confidence that we can change settings, but exactly where we’ll be, we’ll look through the numbers this week to have greater confidence around that.”
The total number of healthcare workers infected is 3138, with 352 active cases.
There are 42 active cases in residential disability accommodation and 1197 active cases relating to aged care facilities.
Active aged care outbreaks include:
— 214 cases have been linked to Epping Gardens Aged Care in Epping
— 203 cases have been linked to St Basil’s Homes for the Aged in Fawkner
— 193 cases have been linked to BaptCare Wyndham Lodge Community in Werribee
— 161 cases have been linked to Estia Aged Care Facility in Ardeer
— 139 cases have been linked to Kirkbrae Presbyterian Homes in Kilsyth
— 124 cases have been linked to Twin Parks Aged Care in Reservoir
— 123 cases have been linked to Cumberland Manor Aged Care Facility in Sunshine North
— 115 cases have been linked to Outlook Gardens Aged Care Facility in Dandenong North
— 115 cases have been linked to Japara Goonawarra Aged Care Facility in Sunbury
— 114 cases have been linked to Estia Aged Care Facility in Heidelberg
REGIONAL ROADMAP TO DIFFER FROM METRO MELBOURNE
Premier Daniel Andrews said today was not the day to speculate or go into detail on the roadmaps out of lockdown but he confirmed that for all regional Victorians there would be a different roadmap announced on Sunday.
“It’s about giving people a clear sense of it in the first instance,” the Premier said.
“I made the point yesterday and I make it again — we had a very different Mother’s Day, we’ll have a very different Father’s Day. We have to stay the course on this so we’ll have as close to normal a Christmas Day has possible.
“All the sacrifice, the hard work that we have done, that has to count for something.
“That’s why getting this right, not opening up too much too fast but, instead, doing in in a gradual, slow, steady, cautious, however you want to term it, but in a safe way, that is how we will find a COVID normal that we can lock in for a long period of time.”
Mr Andrews said the rules to easing the restrictions would be “relatively” simple.
“We can’t literally have 50 different zones across regional Victoria,” he said.
“That would be very difficult to enforce. It wouldn’t mean much. If we have the right settings and we do this properly, having properly defeated the second wave then people will, as part of that long-term, safe and stable COVID normal, people will be able to travel to regional Victoria.
“People will be able to go and spend in regional Victoria. We’ll have a freedom of movement that we’ve not had, really, at any point this year. That’s what’s really important.
“This has been a very, very terrible year. We still have a way to go. But unless we find it in ourselves to stay the course on this, then 2021 won’t be much better.”
“It will be frustrating. We won’t be able to open everything on the same day. We just can’t do that.”
CRUCIAL STATE OF EMERGENCY VOTE UNDER WAY
Legislation to extend Victoria’s state of emergency is expected to be introduced as parliament’s Upper House sits from noon.
The Greens say they will provide the last vote needed to give the government its extension for state of emergency powers, with Upper House MP Samantha Ratnam to come back from maternity leave to cast her deciding vote.
The Victorian Greens are expected to announce the decision within the hour after lengthy negotiations with Health Minister Jenny Mikakos.
Ms Ratnam, who had initially planned not to come to parliament, will now attend to provide the third vote needed to grant a six-month extension.
She will be joined by Reason Party MP Fiona Patten and Animal Justice Party MP Andy Meddick from the crossbench.
Ms Ratnam said politicians needed to be “working together to defeat this virus”.
“We know restrictions are really hurting people, but with over 2000 active cases of COVID-19 in Victoria, we need the Chief Health Officer to be able to contain these cases so we can get back to seeing our family and friends and so that businesses can re-open,” she said.
“I wasn’t intending to attend Parliament this week, but this is a really important piece of legislation that means the Chief Health Officer can continue to quarantine COVID-positive cases and keep us all safe.
“I am pleased that the government has listened to our concerns, and I will only vote for this Bill on the condition that it is only for six months, and that the Health Minister is required to make health advice publicly available every four weeks to be transparent with the community.
“The Greens have had productive conversations with the Health Minister recently and along with other crossbenchers, have secured these important transparency and accountability conditions.”
Opposition Upper House leader David Davis said the bill would be opposed.
He said the six-month extension being sought, reduced from 12 months, was a power grab by Mr Andrews.
The government will need to secure crossbench support to push the legislation through.
However, the crossbench remains split about whether or not to back the bill.
Reason Party MP Fiona Patten on Tuesday said members had received vile abuse following the announcement of the bill.
Health Minister Jenny Mikakos on Monday messaged Upper House MPs with new details for the contentious Bill, as the government chases the three crossbench votes needed to ram it through.
Other proposed changes include a requirement that public health advice on an extension be tabled to parliament each month and a clarification of the Chief Health Officer’s powers under these rules.
Ms Patten and Animal Justice Party MP Andy Meddick have indicated they would support a six-month extension but said it was conditional on the inclusion of an additional oversight committee.
The Herald Sun understands the rest of the crossbench has not signed up to this plan and are reluctant to endorse any proposal that goes beyond six months.
The State Opposition will also put forward its own amendments for a month-to-month extension it is not expected to have the votes to pass.
Victoria’s police and nursing unions on Monday called for politicians to extend Victoria’s State of Emergency Powers on behalf of frontline workers fighting the virus.
It comes as expert advice obtained by the Opposition raises concerns over the legality of the changes proposed by the government.
A legal statement from Marcus Clarke QC flagged issues with altering the definition of what poses a serious risk to public health and with the extension of the declaration period.
Shadow Attorney-General Edward O’Donohue said the proposed laws gave too much power to an unelected official.
DOCTORS’ SCATHING LETTER TO DANIEL ANDREWS
A group of senior Melbourne medicos has lashed the Victorian government’s “unsophisticated” COVID response and called for it to consult doctors in developing a future management plan.
In a letter to Premier Daniel Andrews, 26 doctors from a wide range of speciality areas said
it was their professional opinion that stage 4 lockdown measures had “caused unprecedented
negative economic and social outcomes in people, which in themselves are having negative health outcomes”.
The harsh lockdown had caused, or exacerbated, depression, anxiety and other mental health issues, as well as likely contributed to domestic violence, they said.
“Job losses, home schooling, the isolation of the elderly and single people and the restriction on the number of people who may attend funerals, are but a few examples of how
the government’s current response is harming the health of the general population,” the letter states.
“In short, the medical, psychological and social costs of the lockdown are disproportionately enormous compared to the limited good being done by current policies, and are relevant factors to be taken into account by any responsible government.”
The letter goes on to state: “For all these reasons, ordinary sensible people if properly informed, should inevitably conclude that the current government policy is ill focused, heavy handed, and unjustifiable as a proportionate response to the risks posed by Covid-19 to the public’s health”.
Read the full story here
MAN CHARGED OVER ILLEGAL LOCKDOWN PROTEST
Another Victorian has been charged with incitement after organising an illegal suburban lockdown protest.
Police charged a 21-year-old Roxburgh Park man with incitement after Sunday’s march in the northwestern suburbs, where dozens of masked men breached stay at home orders.
A further five people were issued with $1652 fines for their role in the rally with police warning more charges were inevitable.
“A number more are expected over coming days as police continue to investigate the matter,” police spokeswoman Danielle Blanch said.
“Police will continue to monitor this type of activity and will be investigating all persons who attend.
“Rest assured we are well prepared to provide a swift and firm response if these selfish people continue to blatantly breach the restrictions.”
Read the full story here
The Roxburgh Park man is the second Victorian in the past week to be charged with incitement.
The Sunday Herald Sun revealed Solihin Millin, 76, was also charged with incitement on Friday.
The Windsor grandfather is the founder of anti-vaxxer group “Make Australia Healthy Again” and boasts online coronavirus is “not a scientifically defined disease”.
“They had a search warrant and confiscated all my computers and mobile phones,” Mr Millin said.
“I have been interrogated, fingerprinted, and released on bail with conditions to comply with the Chief Health Officer’s directions.”
A total of 122 fines were issued in the past 24 hours, police said.
They included 45 for curfew breaches, 19 at vehicle checkpoints and 11 for failing to wear a mask.
Among those flouting the law were two women “providing sexual services” at an illegal brothel and a man who was attending the brothel to “receive sexual services”.
Operation Sentinel continues.
SECURITY BOSSES TO BE GRILLED AT HOTEL INQUIRY
Senior managers from the security companies involved in Victoria’s botched hotel quarantine program will give evidence this week at the inquiry set up to examine how the program failed.
Unified, Wilson and MSS security companies will all appear before the inquiry chair Jennifer Coate, but are yet to nominate who will give evidence.
The inquiry is examining how the virus breached quarantine barriers and infected security guards working at two hotels – Rydges on Swanston and the Stamford Plaza – and spread into the community.
Genomic testing has shown those breaches seeded 99 per cent of Victoria’s second wave of COVID-19, which has now killed more than 500 people.
Read the full story here.
CONSPIRACY THEORIST’S SENSATIONAL CLAIM
Conspiracy theorist Eve Black has sensationally claimed she did nothing wrong, breaking her silence over claims she dodged lockdown in an online rant.
Ms Black, 28, went live on Facebook for more than 20 minutes where she insisted she did not break the law and claimed police hunted her down in revenge.
The former adult entertainer, whose real name is Eve Limberiou, shot to notoriety when she bragged about breaching one of Melbourne’s checkpoints during stage-three lockdown in another video uploaded on social media.
Read the full story here.
Meanwhile, police are investigating a late-night arson attack at a coronavirus testing station in Melbourne’s northeast.
Emergency services were called to Waterview Recreation Reserve in Mernda about 10.40pm Monday night following a call to triple-zero which reported the suspicious fire.
NAMED AND SHAMED: COVIDIOTS OF MELBOURNE’S NORTH
JOB EXPERTS TO EYE LOCAL SOLUTIONS
Employment experts will be deployed to Victoria to identify job opportunities for those struggling to find work in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.
The employment facilitators, part of a $62.8m federal government program, will develop localised plans on job opportunities and priorities, as well as skills gaps.
They will work across inner metropolitan Melbourne, western Melbourne, northwestern Melbourne, southeastern Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula and Gippsland, covering almost 250,000 job seekers.
Government data shows the unemployment rate was as high as 12.6 per cent in northwestern Melbourne before the city’s stage four lockdown.
Federal Employment Minister Michaelia Cash said local solutions were needed.
“Small and family businesses rely on their local communities and we want to tap into their expertise and connections to get people working again,” Senator Cash said.
“As the economy recovers from COVID-19, the jobs that are created may look different to those that existed before.
“The recovery is also likely to look different across sectors and communities which is why it is critical to provide tailored support.”
— Tom Minear