Scott Morrison issues lockdown advice as Victoria refuses to budge on restrictions
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has urged Australians to download the government’s COVID-19 tracing app as Victoria continues to hold strong on retaining its lockdown restrictions until at least May 11. Here’s what he had to say.
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Prime Minister Scott Morrison has urged Australians to download the federal government’s coronavirus tracing app, as Victoria bucks the national trend by keeping its lockdown measures fully in place.
Mr Morrison also praised those who have followed the tough restrictions, but warned complacency must be stamped out in order to avoid a second wave.
“It’s over to you Australia,” he said, while urging people to sign up to the tracing app.
“Success during the COVID-19 pandemic is not just about containing the virus and having low numbers of cases.
“That’s not the only curve we need to flatten - we need to reduce unemployment, we need to get businesses open, we need to enable Australians to go back to work.”
Mr Morrison also noted the national cabinet had a good discussion about how professional sporting codes could resume playing matches.
However, he detailed decisions on how and when that happened would be up to state health authorities, not the national cabinet.
PARTYGOERS HIT WITH PRICEY LOCKDOWN FINES
Police have busted a birthday party in Melbourne and fined 10 attendees for breaching the state’s coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
The party of 10 were caught flouting the rules at a home birthday celebration and it is believed each were fined $1652 – or a total of $16,520.
The group were among a total of 74 people who were issued fines in the past 24 hours.
Four people were also busted drinking booze at a shopping centre car park and criminals fined while out committing thefts and drug offences.
– Aneeka Simonis
WHAT VICTORIA NEEDS TO DO BEFORE MAY 11
Daniel Andrews has given fresh insight into how Victoria’s lockdown restrictions will be lifted — as three new coronavirus cases were confirmed overnight.
The Premier made the admission in a press conference on Friday morning, telling media the extent of a potential peel back relies on the state government’s lofty goal of 100,000 COVID-19 tests before May 11.
“The more tests we can get done in the lead-up to 11 May, the more options we will have to potentially ease some of the rules,” he said.
“If we are going to change those settings, then we need to be really clear on how much virus is out there in the Victorian community that we didn’t previously know about.”
Mr Andrews also asked Victorians to stay vigilant while Stage 3 restrictions remain in place, following a cluster at a Melbourne aged care home this week.
“I know it’s easy to think that with such low case numbers maybe the worst has passed, maybe this is over. I just want to remind every Victorian this is very, very fragile,” he said, “We saw a spike in numbers a couple of days ago. We have had outbreaks in lots of different settings right across Victoria.
We have also had significant community transmission in Victoria as well.
“About 10 per cent of our cases we can’t track them back to an overseas traveller. Not every state is like that. Some states have no community transmission at all.”
The Premier also outlined the government’s priorities while navigating how the restrictions are pulled back, noting how Mother’s Day — on May 10 — will look different to most years.
“Doing the popular thing is not what this job requires, it requires us to make really difficult decisions that are not always popular,” he said.
“Sadly we’ve got police heroes being buried in very very different circumstances to normal, families who can’t spend the final moments of a loved one’s life at their side, holding their hand — lots of things that are very different and this Mother’s Day will be very different to what it has ever been.”
Victoria has had 1364 COVID-19 cases in total, including three diagnoses in the past 24 hours.
Sixteen people remain in hospital, including seven in intensive care. The state’s death toll is 18.
WHY HUGS ARE OFF THE CARDS THIS MOTHER’S DAY
Victorian families will not be able to celebrate Mother’s Day together, despite other states and
territories moving to ease restrictions so that relatives can visit each other on May 10.
Premier Daniel Andrews wants families to catch up over video calls instead as his government stands firm on strict rules limiting travel and visits to other’s homes.
Victoria’s state of emergency lifts on May 11, when the National Cabinet is expected to lock in a nationwide plan to start to pull back on tough social distancing laws.
But Mr Andrews said Mother’s Day, which is the day before that critical meeting, “needs to be very different this year”.
Mr Andrews told the Herald Sun: “We all want to be together, but the only way to get through this crisis is to work together.
“I know we all just want to give our mum a hug,” he said.
“Catch up with your mum over a video call. Support a local business and send her flowers or some special goodies — that’s what I’ll be doing,” he said. “And know that if we all do the right thing we can keep our state safe and get back to normal sooner.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said this week the National Cabinet had already agreed states and territories that had better infection rates than the national baseline could start to taper off their individual measures before May 11.
In New South Wales, the government relaxed its rules this week so two adults and their dependent children would be able to visit other households from today.
In South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, gatherings of up to 10 people are allowed as long as people keep 1.5m apart. Two people are able to visit other homes in Queensland, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.
For families whose mother has died, advice from Victoria’s Health Department says people are “encouraged to delay visiting a cemetery” but such visits are not prohibited.
“Alternative ways to remember your loved ones while staying at home include lighting a candle or holding a virtual remembrance with family and friends,” the department said.
“If you do visit loved ones at the cemetery, please ensure that no more than your immediate household or two people (including you) are gathered. Physical distance has to be maintained by staying at least 1.5m apart.”
Friday’s National Cabinet meeting focused on improving mental healthcare during the pandemic and developing a code of conduct for aged care homes, which have been under pressure from Mr Morrison after some barred residents from having visitors.
Chief Nursing Officer Alison McMillan said on Thursday the national medical expert panel had been working closely with professional sporting organisations on its advice to resume sport, based on the current restrictions.
She said it would also be used by individual states to ease restrictions on recreational activities.
TWENTY-FOUR HOURS IS ALL THAT WE NEED
There is only one thing Wendy Sims wants for Mother’s Day – and she has her fingers crossed the Premier can deliver.
The 61-year-old grandmother, who recently lost her job, has written a heartfelt plea to Daniel Andrews asking him to bring forward the easing of lockdown rules by one day, to allow people to visit their families on Mother’s Day.
Victoria’s strict social distancing measures are up for review one day later, on Monday May 11.
Mrs Sims, of Wallington on the Bellarine Peninsula, said Mother’s Day would be a much more memorable occasion if changes to the stay-at-home rules came into effect a day earlier.
“Please on behalf of all mothers in our state, please review your decision and make this the best Mother’s Day ever,” she wrote in her letter to the Premier.
Mrs Sims said she had not been able to see her two adult children or her two-year-old grandson since the start of March.
The impact of the virus meant the company she worked for as a sales rep folded and her daughter had also lost her job in the advertising industry.
She said it would be great to have something to look forward to if they could start planning a long-awaited catch-up on Mother’s Day.
“I’ll tell you what, every mum in Victoria would love Daniel Andrews,” she said
HEALTHCARE HEROES RIDE HIGH
Healthcare workers will be able to travel in their own fleet of rideshare vehicles under a new service to help minimise their risk of infection from coronavirus.
Ridesharing giant DiDi has invested $2 million in the DiDi Hero scheme and has now launched it in Melbourne and other major cities.
The dedicated fleet of cars will have even stricter requirements for cleaning and disinfection between every trip, while drivers will also be reimbursed if they install a protective screen in their vehicle.
They will also allow healthcare professionals to ensure they are not competing with other passengers to secure a ride quickly.
It comes as authorities in Australia have provided extra resources, including temporary accommodation, to help essential staff do their job safely.
DiDi Australia general manager Lyn Ma said he hoped the initiative would make life easier for the medical professionals.
“DiDi is proud to commit $2 million to the creation of the DiDi Hero fleet … to ensure our healthcare heroes have access to safe and reliable rides as they continue their great work in providing essential healthcare services,” he said.
GRANTS TO KEEP 55 BUSINESSES AFLOAT
A chef who runs wood-fire cooking classes and a handmade jewellery business are among the latest recipients of the City of Melbourne’s grants to help businesses survive the economic brunt of COVID-19.
Ryan Andrijich of Whack it on the Barbie cooking school at Queen Victoria Market will receive financial support to help stay afloat as will e.g. etal jewellery gallery, based in Flinders Lane.
Lord Mayor Sally Capp will announce the latest round of grant recipients today, in which 55 businesses will share in $264,000, bringing the total commitment so far to $430,000. The council has reserved $5 million to enable businesses to invest in online and e-commerce operations, or take part in training and professional development.
“These businesses play a major role in providing jobs for Melburnians, and right now, they urgently need our support,” Cr Capp said.
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