Victoria’s roadmap from lockdown revealed

Melbourne is set to spend the next five weeks locked down, but authorities are hoping to hit a crucial vaccine target around Cup Day.

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Premier Daniel Andrews has unveiled his roadmap from lockdown, with heavy restrictions and the curfew forecast to remain in Melbourne until October 26.

Meanwhile, Sydney is set to enjoy a raft of new freedoms about a fortnight earlier, despite having far more cases and deaths.

It comes as three Victorian regions were plunged into lockdown again, as authorities revealed their roadmap to freedom.

A seven-day lockdown will be slapped on the City of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast Shire, and Mitchell Shire from midnight.

It comes after the state recorded 507 new cases overnight, along with one death — a man in his 90s.

Under the detailed roadmap from lockdown, tennis, basketball and other outdoor recreational sports could be reopened as early as next week, along with an extension of Melbourne's travel limit from 10km to 15km.

The changes will come into effect when 80 per cent of Victorians have received a single dose of the Covid vaccine around September 26, under the same limits as picnics.

Personal training will also resume for up to five fully vaccinated people outdoors.

VCE students are set to sit their GAT test on October 5, and year 12, final-year VCAL and International Baccalaureate students will be able to resume on-site learning.

From October 18, prep students will be allowed back to school three days a week, while grade 1 and 2 students can return two days a week.

More freedoms will be unlocked around October 26, when 70 per cent of Victoria’s eligible population is forecast to be double-vaccinated.

The lockdown will be lifted and curfew will be scrapped, while travel limits will be extended from 15km to 25km.

All school students can return on-site at least part-time.

Melbourne will remain locked down until late October. Picture: Ian Currie

The hospitality sector will open for outdoor service, but only fully vaccinated people will be allowed to dine out, with a maximum of 50 patrons.

Hairdressing and personal care will resume for up to five fully vaccinated people.

Regional Victoria and Melbourne will come under the same plan once 80 per cent of the population aged over 16 is fully vaccinated, which is currently expected around November 5.

Home visits will be allowed, with up to 10 people, including dependants.

Up to 150 fully vaccinated Victorians can dine outdoors, and groups of up to 30 people can gather outside.

Indoor community sport will resume, and masks will only be required inside.

Hospitality will open for seated service only for up to 150 fully vaccinated people indoors, and 500 outdoors.

All students will return to school, and on-site adult education will resume for fully vaccinated Victorians.

Workers will still be urged to continue remote working, but can return to the office if fully vaccinated.

All retail will open, along with early childhood education and childcare.

A Melbourne family enjoying a picnic on Sunday. Picture: Asanka Ratnayake

Weddings, funerals and religious services will return for 150 fully vaccinated people indoors, and 500 outdoors.

Premier Daniel Andrews also flagged that up to 30 family members would be able to gather around the table at Christmas this year.

“Make no mistake: We are opening this state up,” the Premier said.

“We are opening up, no doubt about that, and there will be no turning back.

“We have got to normalise this, we have got to pass through and beyond this pandemic.”

The Premier said he did not believe that vaccine passports would be a permanent feature of everyday life.

We don’t have a passport for the flu,” he said.

But he said it was a likely prospect that people would be showing proof of their vaccine booster shots into the new year.

Mr Andrews also urged Victorians to book an AstraZeneca jab because of concerns about Pfizer supplies.

He said it was “uncertain how much Pfizer is going to come to our country in October.”

“Go and book an AstraZeneca appointment,” he said.

REGIONAL CENTRES LOCKED DOWN AGAIN

Three regional Victorian hubs are set to re-enter lockdown after cases spiked in recent days.

The City of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast Shire, and Mitchell Shire, will enter a seven-day lockdown from 11.59pm Sunday.

These areas will fall under the same rules currently enforced in Ballarat and Melbourne, with only six reasons to leave home: procuring of necessary goods and services, caregiving or compassionate reasons (including medical care and getting a Covid test), authorised work or permitted education, exercise and outdoor social interaction in limited groups, and getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

They can also leave home to visit an intimate partner or single social bubble buddy. Shopping, exercise and outdoor social interaction will be limited to 10km from home.

They will not be subjected to a curfew.

Geelong will enter lockdown again. Picture: Mark Wilson

Victoria recorded 507 new cases overnight, along with one death — a man in his 90s.

The latest infections bring the state’s total active cases to 5262.

More than 43,000 vaccines were administered on Saturday, with 43.5 per cent of eligible Victorians now fully vaccinated.

Eleven Victorians have now died with Covid during the latest outbreak, with 831 lives lost since the start of the pandemic.

In a promising update, Mr Andrews revealed a dramatic fall in the number of mystery cases, with 282 of the 507 infections from households with an existing case.

Meanwhile, NSW LGAs not in lockdown will be downgraded from extreme to red risk from 11.59pm Sunday, meaning Victorians in NSW will be able to complete 14 days’ quarantine at home.

Premier Daniel Andrews has unveiled Victoria’s path from lockdown. Picture: Daniel Pockett

WHERE SATURDAY’S CASES WERE FOUND

The following Local Government Areas recorded more than one newly diagnosed case on Saturday:

· 10 cases in Banyule

· 3 cases in Bayside

· 2 cases in Boroondara

· 14 cases in Brimbank

· 9 cases in Cardinia

· 16 cases in Casey

· 13 cases in Darebin

· 7 cases in Glen Eira

· 14 cases in Greater Dandenong

· 17 cases in Hobsons Bay

· 158 cases in Hume

· 6 in Knox

· 4 cases in Manningham

· 3 cases in Maribyrnong

· 10 cases in Melbourne

· 16 cases in Melton

· 4 cases in Monash

· 13 cases in Moonee Valley

· 40 cases in Moreland

· 3 cases in Nillumbik

· 6 cases in Port Phillip

· 67 cases in Whittlesea

· 40 cases in Wyndham

· 2 cases in Yarra

· 3 cases in Yarra Ranges.

There were 14 cases notified in regional Victoria including; 7 in Mitchell Shire, 2 in Geelong, 2 in Surf Coast, 1 in Ballarat, 1 in Bass Coast, 1 in Moorabool.

LONG WAIT FOR CHILDCARE

Working parents in Melbourne will have to wait until November 5 for childcare to be fully open under the roadmap announced by the Premier on Sunday.

The milestone 80 per cent double-dose vaccination is the trigger for the reopening of early learning.

However, fully vaccinated parents will be able to send their children to childcare from October 26 when 70 per cent of adults over 16 will be double-dose vaccinated.

Before and after school care is open from October 18 on all days for all children.

At present childcare is only open to vulnerable children, and the children of single parents and permitted workers.

In the regions childcare centres are open and in-home childminding is allowed as long as the carers are from regional Victoria.

Julie Price from the Victorian Community Childcare Association said it was positive to have a clear roadmap.

“But I understand that for some families who aren’t permitted workers, reopening must feel like a long way away,” she said.

“Families who are using childcare at the moment are concerned about the spread of the virus and the vaccination rates so it’s good to see what’s ahead”.

Ms Price said many childcare centres are operating with at least 50 per cent and as much as 65 per cent of children present. “It made a big difference when single parents were allowed back,” she said.

The government is providing briefings to childcare industry figures at 2pm today when more detail is expected to emerge.

Sunday’s announcement comes as more than 100 outside school hours centres and childcare centres are closed across the state.

MORE JAB MANDATES TO COME

The Premier said more announcements will be made this week on cohorts that will be required to get vaccinated.

Mr Andrews hinted that hospitality workers would also be subjected to mandatory vaccines.

“If you’re going to deny people entry on the basis of their vaccination status, well, the person pouring the beer has to be vaccinated too. Logic tells you that,” he said.

Meanwhile, Education Minister James Merlino said the state was now looking at a mandate for teachers to get the jab.

“A requirement for vaccination of teachers will be important to stop the spread and protect our kids,” he said.

“The chief health officer will be considering this in the coming days, and we will have more to say about that very soon.

Aquinas College Year 12 students Karissa, 17, Jay, 17, and Molly, 18, celebrate the schools announcement. Picture: Alex Coppel

“For now, I just want to urge every teacher, principal, school staff member, parent, carer and student over 12 — go and get vaccinated. That’s our fastest way out of this.”

Mr Merlino said he understood how hard school closures had hit families.

“Kids are yearning to get back to school and see their friends — and my kids are absolutely no different, constantly asking when they can go back,” he said.

“But I also don’t want them — or any member of our school communities — to end up in hospital, and that’s why we have to do this in a safe, staggered way, following public health advice.”

Full story on return to schools here.

HOW TO BOOK MODERNA VACCINE

Thousands of doses of the Moderna vaccine are set to hit Victorian pharmacies from Monday, with footy fans urged to don their team’s colours and get the jab ahead of the grand final.

Pharmacists, the federal government and the AFL rallied behind the Sunday Herald Sun’s call for Victorians to get jabbed on the grand final weekend.

More than 300,000 Moderna vaccines will be delivered to 721 Community Pharmacies across Victoria from Monday, September 20, with the delivery of doses to ramp up over October and November.

With the MCG empty for another grand final and the public holiday Friday for a match that is not held here, the Sunday Herald Sun last week pushed for a mass vaccination hub at the MCG to drive up our vaccination rates and speed up the path to freedom from lockdown.

When the state government and the MCG failed to support the call, pharmacists and the federal government stepped in, with federal Health Minister Greg Hunt committing extra Moderna supplies.

As well, pharmacists backed a plan for footy fans to wear their colours when getting vaccinated at their local chemist.

“This grand final weekend show your club colours and the footy spirit and get vaccinated so we can all be back playing the game we love,” Mr Hunt said.

Since September 15, pharmacies have administered more than 536,000 AstraZeneca jabs nationally, including more than 90,000 in 635 Community Pharmacies across Victoria.

As of Friday, 69 per cent of Victorians have received their first vaccine dose, while 42 per cent have received two doses.

In NSW, 81 per cent of people have received their first dose and 50 per cent have had their second jab.

Pharmacy Guild of Australia Victorian branch president Anthony Tassone encouraged footy fans to dress up in their team’s colours and get the jab.

“For many, Moderna is the vaccine they’ve been waiting for as it’s a mRNA type vaccine. Any initiative that increases uptake of Covid vaccinations is a good thing,” Mr Tassone said.

Anthony Tassone from the Pharmacy Guild of Australia (middle) with Eliza Forrest, 22, and Pat Forrest, 16. Picture: Alex Coppel.

“It makes sense to promote access from local pharmacies, which are the most frequently visited and accessible primary healthcare destinations in Australia.”

Chemist Warehouse group director Mario Tascone said: “Our booking system will be open as of this Monday for the Moderna vaccine, with injections to start the week after on Monday, September 27.”

“Grand final weekend is a great time to get the jab, we have AstraZeneca available, then we’ll have 41 sites up and running in Melbourne and regional Victoria and then a week later, an additional 32 sites for Moderna,” he said.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said the league supports the campaign to get Victorians vaccinated.

“We encourage all footy fans across Victoria to put on their team colours and get out to a Chemist Warehouse or their local chemist to get vaccinated,” he said.

“We want all people who love the game to take the opportunity to get vaccinated and ensure that we can open up the community and get people back to the footy – whether in the suburbs or the ’G.”

TEST FOR COVID IMMUNITY

A groundbreaking new finger prick test has been developed to show when people need a Covid-19 vaccine booster.

The test, created by world-leading experts at the Burnet Institute and Doherty Institute, shows when immunity to the virus is lagging and needs to be topped up.

Results can be obtained in less than 20 minutes, arming people with an indication of how susceptible they are to coronavirus and when they need another jab.

While the test doesn’t check for current infections, it will predict a person’s immunity to new and emerging variants and can be used for large groups.

The test is at the prototype stage, but Burnet and Doherty Institute chiefs are in commercial discussions to progress the widespread use in Victoria and around the country.

UK DATA REVEALS IMPACT OF VACCINES

Fully vaccinated people are highly unlikely to die from COVID-19, official figures from the UK show.

Britain’s Office of National Statistics has crunched the numbers during the first six months of this year and discovered that although during that time more than 50,000 people in England died of COVID-19, less than half of one per cent of them had been vaccinated twice before they contracted the virus.

The figures, which are likely to be mirrored in Australia as the vaccine rollout gathers pace show deaths from COVID-19 in England are now almost entirely confined to the unvaccinated.

In the first six months of the year there were 51,281 deaths in England of people with COVID-19 – almost 20 per cent of all deaths – of whom 38,964 were people who had not been vaccinated.

In total 640 people who died with COVID-19 in England had been given two doses of coronavirus vaccine at the time of their death while only 256 had been double vaccinated at least two weeks before they were first infected.

The median age of the double-vaccinated people who later contracted and died with COVID-19 was 84 years old and 193 of them were classified as “extremely vulnerable” when they became ill.

Melbourne has been in lockdown for more than 200 days. Picture: Ian Currie

A similar drop in the death rate in Australia can be seen by comparing the first and second years of the pandemic.

In 2020 there were 28,428 cases of COVID-19 and 909 deaths in Australia, whereas this year to date, there have been 51,974 cases and 219 deaths.

The news comes as Australia hit a new peak vaccination number of Friday when 338,375 people jabbed in one day.

At the current rate of rollout more than half the eligible population will be fully vaccinated by the end of next week.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said the British data showed how critical vaccination was to cutting the death rate.

“More than 70 per cent of eligible Australians have rolled up their sleeves and received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, and we’ve administered over 24.3 million doses around the country to date,” he said.

“If you haven’t had your COVID-19 vaccine yet, call your local GP, Community Pharmacy, Commonwealth or State Hub and book a vaccination today.”

“Every death is a tragedy. That’s why together with health experts across the nation, I urge all Australians to protect your lives and your health and opt for vaccination.”

— Additional reporting: Suzan Delibasic, James Campbell