Lockdown questions Premier Daniel Andrews won’t answer

After 211 days in lockdown, and with no end in sight, Victorians want straight answers — but the Premier has offered little hope.

Victoria has clocked up 211 days in lockdown and the state’s crippling sixth lockdown will be extended with no end date in sight. These are the questions Premier Daniel Andrews needs to answer.

What do the daily case numbers need to be to see some easing of restrictions?

Premier Daniel Andrews on Sunday said the state had options available with “low numbers”, but when asked how low those numbers needed to be he wouldn’t say.

“As low as we can get them,” he said.

“At the moment the numbers are too high. It’s not just about numbers, though. It is about the narrative and the story behind each of those numbers.”

When will we be out of hard lockdown?

The premier confirmed the state’s lockdown would be extended but did not provide details on how long the restrictions would last. The week-long “circuit breaker” has now gone 26 days.

“It is not going to be possible for us to be able to open our Victorian community in just a couple of days’ time,” he said.

“We will, however, look at all the different options. We don’t have advice yet from the chief health officer as to what is possible later on this week.”

With the premier and chief health officer Brett Sutton fixated on a zero-case strategy, there are fears Melbourne and Victoria’s lockdown measures will drag on until 80 per cent of the population is fully vaccinated, which will not be likely until mid November.

What restrictions will be eased when 70 per cent of the population is fully vaccinated?

Mr Andrews acknowledged that 70 per cent was a target but may not lead to major changes.

“Seventy per cent is a marker but the really significant shifts don’t appear until you get to 80 per cent,” he said.

Some restrictions could be eased before this, he said, but he didn’t detail what they could be.

Melbourne principals and psychologists are asking the government to open up schools for children’s mental health. Picture: Jason Edwards

When will children be able to return to school?

Unlike in NSW, the Victorian state government has not outlined a timeline for when children can expect to return to classes.

Year 12 students will be prioritised for exams and final-year study but it has not been revealed whether this will depend on the vaccine rollout. VCE students have already been told they will need negative Covid tests to take some exams.

Despite the high case numbers, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has revealed a staged return to school from October 25 starting with year 12, kindergarten and grade 1.

All people working on school campuses must be vaccinated by November 8, when all students return.

Will people who are fully vaccinated be given any extra freedoms before the 70 and 80 per cent targets are reached?

Australia’s national cabinet has been working on a strategy for vaccine passports and passes, with further discussions to go on this week. But the premier has not yet guaranteed any extra freedoms for vaccinated Victorians before we reach the 70 per cent and 80 per cent targets.

“A restaurant or major event that is only attended by people who are double vaccinated is always going to be a safer event,” he said.

“The time is coming where your vaccination status will matter.”

When will some industries to able to reopen in a Covid safe way?

Unlike New South Wales, where it is trialling reopening some industries to fully vaccinated people, such as hairdressing, there’s no indication from the Premier when they can plan to open.

There are no planned dates for childcare centres to reopen. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

When will childcare centres be allowed to reopen?

Under ramped-up restrictions introduced last week, childcare centres are closed except for children whose parents are authorised workers and can’t be supervised at home. No date has yet been set for them to reopen.

Will the Premier and cabinet place greater consideration on the mental wellbeing of children after the state’s chief psychiatrist revealed the toll it was taking on younger Victorians?

On Sunday, Mr Andrews said the state’s chief psychiatrist to address the media at one of the government’s daily press conferences, although this promise was first made 17 days ago.

“I wouldn’t want anyone to think that there wasn’t a massive effort that has gone into bolstering and supporting those who provide mental health care across the board,” he said.

“We understand that there is a big impact.’’

When will playgrounds reopen?

Despite no direct evidence of children catching Covid there, playgrounds have been shut and there is no date scheduled for their reopening.

When will the curfew end?

The Premier has not yet revealed any plans to end the curfew, which right now is in effect from 9pm to 5am. The current restrictions will be reviewed this week.