Melbourne coronavirus live coverage: No new northern suburbs cases from 1100 results as major easings of restrictions delayed
Embattled Melburnians have been given a fresh dose of hope on Sunday after rigorous testing across the northern suburbs following a coronavirus outbreak produced no new cases from 1135 negative results.
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No new cases have been linked to the northern suburbs cluster on Sunday after more than 1100 COVID-19 tests results came back negative.
The 1135 negative test results are in addition to the 2500 results from yesterday, with more than 13,000 tests carried out since October 20 in Banyule, Darebin, Hume, Moreland and Nillumbik.
The DHHS is now waiting on the results of 1400 swabs taken today, which are already in the labs and will be processed throughout the evening.
Victoria’s Testing and Community Engagement Commander Jeroen Weimar said the results were reassuring but warned there could be delays as “more people come forward”.
“This testing enables us to get a very clear picture of how many cases there are and ensure there is a plan in
place for everyone who tests positive along with the close contacts,” he said.
“People have really embraced this call to action for which we are very grateful.”
There are currently 39 cases linked to the outbreak, including those associated with East Preston Islamic College and
Croxton Special School, with DHHS still investigating links to other positive cases in the area.
A special paediatric pop up site has also been established to cater for the specific needs to the Croxton Special School community.
AUS DAY AMBASSADOR STEPS DOWN AFTER LOCKDOWN COMMENTS
Australia Day Ambassador Dale Potter has resigned over his concerns about Victoria’s lockdown.
The former police officer said in a statement that he was concerned about the “erosion of our basic rights and freedoms” and could no longer continue in the role.
“Whilst I understand and am in favour of the need for some basic restrictions,” he said,
“The harsh measures of the lockdown do not justify the anguish and despair of very many Victorians whose mental health has severely deteriorated because of the actions of the Victorian government and top public servants.”
“I am disgusted at the actions taken against honest law-abiding citizens who have been fined, arrested and charged for simply expressing their freedom of thought, speech and protest.”
Mr Potter said the Premier’s move to outlaw ANZAC day commemorations as well as the “inadequate” hotel quarantine probe had destroyed his faith in his leadership.
“I am an apolitical person and very much regret that I have to make this decision but I believe it to be necessary until there is a change of leadership in this state,” he said.
PRIME MINISTER SLAMS STALLED RESTRICTIONS
Scott Morrison has expressed his “profound disappointment” after the Victorian Government delayed the easing of restrictions.
It comes after Premier Daniel Andrews put a “cautious pause” on the major easing of restrictions that Melburnians were expecting on Sunday.
Despite just seven new cases of COVID-19 and Melbourne’s 14-day rolling average dipping below the initial target of five, the delay was due to an outbreak in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, with many cases still under investigation, Mr Andrews said.
In a joint statement with Josh Frydenberg and Health Minister Greg Hunt, the Prime Minister said the decision not to announce reopening when scheduled indicated Mr Andrews must not have confidence in his own contract tracing systems.
“Victoria’s public health systems are either up to the task of dealing with future outbreaks or they are not,” the joint statement read.
“The decision to keep businesses closed suggests that there is still not sufficient confidence within the Government that their systems can support reopening. This is a profound disappointment.”
The senior federal government figures said it was time for Victoria to “move forward” and begin a return to COVID-normal.
“At some point, you have to move forward and put your public health systems to work in a bid to reclaim the jobs that have been lost, and rescue the livelihoods and peace of mind of so many Victorians who have been affected by the inability to contain the outbreak that led to the second Victorian wave,” the statement read.
As two of the most senior Victorians serving in the federal government, the Treasurer and Mr Hunt have both strongly advocated for their state to reopen faster than the state government has allowed.
The Victorian Premier agreed to a new national reopening framework at Friday’s national cabinet, but Mr Morrison now believes many businesses would not survive until Christmas.
“While the Commonwealth Government welcomes Victoria’s commitment to the national framework agreed at National Cabinet to have Australia open by Christmas, for many Victorian businesses and their workers today’s announcement will mean they will simply not be able to make it,” the statement read.
More than 1000 jobs had been lost every day during the state four lockdown and Medicare-funded mental health consultations have jumped by almost a third over the period, according to the federal government.
Mr Morrison, Mr Hunt and Mr Frydenberg urged the Victorian government to “rapidly” move forward with reopening that would bring the state in line with NSW.
“The Victorian Government has stated that they have now significantly improved their contact tracing capabilities to deal with any future outbreaks,” the joint statement read.
“Such capacity has been critical to enabling NSW to deal with numerous outbreaks, while staying open.
“If this is the case, then we strongly encourage the Victorian Government to rapidly take the next steps to implement the National Framework and mirror the NSW COVID Safe restrictions for the sake of health, mental health and halting the loss of more than 1,000 jobs per day.”
SUBURBAN OUTBREAK GROWS SIGNIFICANTLY
The outbreak in Melbourne’s northern suburbs has grown to 39 cases across 11 households, growing significantly from just six households with 36 “people in close contact” on Tuesday.
Two new households have been added to the cluster as authorities continued a testing blitz, with 13,000 swabs taken across the state on Saturday, including 3000 in the northern suburbs.
“We had hoped today to be able to announce that metropolitan Melbourne would take significant steps, not from today but from midweek, round retail, hospitality and a whole range of other, important next steps,” Mr Andrews said.
“We are not in a position to do that today because we have at least 1000 test results from that northern metropolitan outbreak that are in the labs. We will get those today, probably the balance of them tomorrow, and they will be additional testing conducted throughout the day.
Statement from the Premier on next steps for regional Victoria: pic.twitter.com/1Fo1r0IRZI
— Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) October 24, 2020
“This is not anything other than a cautious pause, to wait to get that important information, to get the results of those tests. Just to rule out whether there are, whether there is more virus there than we think.”
Mr Andrews said the announcement on easing restrictions would be delayed for “a couple of days” but claimed it would not cause any “meaningful” delay to Melbourne’s reopening.
“I know people are keen to have a long and detailed list of changes to the rules. It is not appropriate for us to do that now,” he said.
“It will be in the next couple of days, and we will not be, I don’t think, really in any meaningful way behind schedule but we had already set.”
The November 1 date originally set for easing of restrictions is still possible, Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said.
“Absolutely. Absolutely, but it is appropriate to get the data in,” he said.
Facing great disappointment from Victorians, Mr Andrews said that despite a road map that set dates and targets for reopening, “nothing can be guaranteed”.
“Nothing can be guaranteed, except the fact that we will be guided by the data and the science,” he said.
“We have come a long way … there are results that are pending and we do not have those processed tests.”
Meanwhile, the Department of Health confirmed there were no deaths from the virus on Saturday.
Six of Sunday’s new cases are linked to the northern suburbs outbreak.
Melbourne’s 14-day rolling average has dropped to 4.6 with just nine mystery cases between October 9 and 22.
Regional Victoria’s rolling average has dipped to 0.2. In total, there are 100 active cases in Victoria.
RETAIL, HOSPITALITY FURIOUS OVER REOPENING LIMBO
The hospitality industry is shattered by the delay in reopening cafes, restaurants and bars.
Owner of Chin Chin and several other restaurants, Chris Lucas, called on Mr Andrews to resign, and for the federal government to step in and take over the health response in Victoria.
“This is a Premier that’s lost all perspective, as he’s determined to pursue a policy of eradication,” he said.
“He continues to lie and gives every excuse to keep a city of five million people in lockdown.
despite the calls from the Prime Minister, federal Treasurer, federal Health Minister, community and church leaders, businesses, and CEOs.”
Mr Lucas said Mr Andrews had achieved his road map of less than five average daily cases, but he continues “ to thumb his nose at us and create smokescreens”.
“This means more job losses for hospitality and millions of dollars of effort and food gone to waste in preparation for reopening,” he said.
Wes Lambert, from Restaurant & Catering Australia, said the announcements were “nothing short of a betrayal of the hospitality sector”.
“It is an act that will stick in the minds of operators for years and it should hang as an albatross around the government’s neck,” he said.
“The original road map was 26 October, five cases. It will be 26 October in a few hours, and Victoria is under five cases.
“The Victorian government has always known the capacity of contact tracing, they has known the capacity of testing, they have known that there would always every day be outstanding tests that were to be processed in labs, and during a pandemic we must accept that there will be spot fire outbreaks, these are all known factors.
“What the government and the premier has shown today is they do not trust hospitality operators, they do not trust their own contact tracers and they do not trust the Victorian people.”
The city’s retail, events, tourism and fitness sectors remain effectively closed, with the Large Format Retail Association saying it was “extremely disappointed” that a firm reopening date was not announced on Sunday.
“We stand ready to reopen in a COVID-safe way as soon as we are lawfully permitted. The mental health of our customers and staff is a significant issue,” association chief Philippa Kelly said.
“Hopefully we will be given the green light to reopen in the next 48 hours.”
Chapel St retailers have savaged the Premier’s delayed announcement, saying it “seems he is making this up as he goes”.
“Stop patting yourself on the back and saying you’ve done a great job Dan,” Chapel St Precinct chairman Justin O’Donnell said.
“The harder solution is to keep the numbers low while also protecting our economy and opening up. It can be done if you have a competent, accountable team.
“Swallow your pride and look to see how NSW is managing. Dan, you keep saying this is not about politics, so why won’t you follow NSW’s lead and open us up.”
Chapel Street Precinct general manager Chrissie Maus said the mental health of business owners and staff was “past the tipping point”.
“Is the cure worse than the disease? For metro Melbourne, I’m afraid it now absolutely is. Our economy is flatlining and we urgently need to start the long, hard road of our recovery right now,” she said.
Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chief Executive Paul Guerra said businesses were “shattered”.
“Today’s announcement is a shattering blow to businesses, who have again been told to wait,” he said.
“It’s like Groundhog Day, and has left businesses in limbo even though average case numbers are now below the government’s target for reopening.”
And Business Council of Australia chief executive Jennifer Westacott said the delay had left people at “financial and mental breaking point”.
“How is it in a Federation that we can be operating off two completely different assumptions? It’s absolutely essential we are able to understand this because at the moment its preventing Victorian businesses from reopening and keeping people out of work,” she said.
“It’s just inexplicable that a state with comparable or lower case numbers than NSW cannot adopt the same best-practice system used in NSW and implement that state’s tools and technologies to contain local outbreaks and effectively manage contact tracing and tracking.
“Why is the science and medical advice in Victoria so different to the expert advice in NSW?
“A pattern of delays, maybes and apologies doesn’t excuse Victoria’s failure to manage local
outbreaks. It is taking too long and too much is being lost.”
Ms Westacott hit out at Victoria’s contact tracing and said a lack of confidence was the only reason to blame.
“There can only be one explanation for the delays — Victorian authorities do not have confidence in their procedures to manage local outbreaks and we urge them to collaborate with NSW and adopt the NSW system” she said.
“This isn’t about politics — it’s a desperate plea for clarity to outline and stick to a plan to safely reopen the state to protect lives and livelihoods.”
KENNETT SLAMS ‘CONTROL FREAK’ ANDREWS
Former Liberal premier Jeff Kennett said Mr Andrews was a “control freak”, labelling his actions “criminal”.
“Encourage businesses to prepare to open and then again slam the door in their faces,” he said on social media.
“I say open up businesses, and let this control freak through (sic) us all in jail. He cares not for your welfare, health or financial. He is out to destroy!”
Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien said Victorians could not have confidence in the Premier, who he said is “not up to the job”.
“Once again Daniel Andrews has moved the goalposts on Victorians,” he said,
“We’ve done the hard work, we’ve made the sacrifices, we’ve endured the pain and Daniel Andrews says ‘oh, just another few days’.”
Mr O’Brien said: “we can’t afford to be held hostage to every minor, little outbreak.
“NSW averaged 10 new cases a day in July and August but their schools stayed open, their businesses stayed open, their churches stayed open, they were still allowed to see family and friends. We deserve so much better.”
Former health minister Jenny Mikakos on Sunday ripped into the government for not lifting coronavirus restrictions in Melbourne, saying “any delay is unnecessary” and accusing authorities of having “paralysis in decision-making”.
It comes after she sensationally resigned in September after being infuriated by Premier Daniel Andrews’ evidence at the hotel quarantine inquiry.
Meanwhile, Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp expressed her disappointment at the delay in easing of restrictions, saying the move shattered the confidence of businesses.
“We are bitterly disappointed by today’s announcement that provides no certainty for businesses across our city — particularly those in hospitality and retail.”
“All Melburnians have done an amazing job to stop the spread of the virus and our rolling 14-day average is below five.”
“Changing the goalposts is confidence-shattering for businesses that are struggling to hold on.”
“Every day is critical to keeping Melburnians in jobs and saving businesses.”
Deputy Lord Mayor Arron Wood criticised the state government, asking: “What is wrong with our systems?”
“If we had a world leading tracing, testing & quarantine system why would reopening be delayed?’ he said on social media.
“There’s no transparency on strategy, the systems & what next 6 months look like. Start genuinely working with us instead of telling us!”
It comes as Health Minister Greg Hunt on Sunday said Victoria had earned more freedoms and the state should be brought in line with measures in NSW.
He said the rolling 14 day-average being below the five-case benchmark set by the Andrews Government needed to be followed.
“What we see now in Victoria is a 14-day rolling average of under five well under the standard set by Victoria, well under the standard set,” Mr Hunt said.
“On that basis, the Commonwealth position is that Victoria should be recognised for where it is now.
“We’ve reached the time when Victoria said that they were looking to move forwards, their own time frame, their own timetable.”
Mr Hunt said Victoria failing to reopen as scheduled would be a sign of a lack of confidence from Mr Andrews in his state’s own contact tracing system.
“It is simply the case that on the balance of evidence, and risk, Victoria is in a sufficiently strong place to replicate that which has occurred in NSW,” Mr Hunt said.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison made representations to Premier Daniel Andrews this week to urge him to make significant steps towards reopening, Mr Hunt revealed on Sunday.
NORTHERN SUBURBS CLUSTER CONTINUES TO GROW
Five children at East Preston Islamic College have now tested positive. All are “well” and considered close contacts of known cases.
Victoria’s testing commander Jeroen Weimar said authorities had been able to connect the 11 households.
“We have linked 11 households primarily by geography,” he said.
“Some of those chains lead back to one of the schools and some of those chains lead back to direct contact between households, either through a work contract or a personal contact.
“Clearly not all 11 households are connected to each other, there is a chain that runs through them.”
Authorities revealed this week that a grade 5 boy mistakenly went to school at East Preston Islamic College on Monday and Tuesday, after confusion over whether he and his family had been cleared to leave home.
All new positive cases identified in the past 24 hours have been students at East Preston Islamic College.
“What we have seen over the last four days has been significant links through a school setting, two school settings … and that has led to five further households being identified,” Mr Weimar said.
“We are very focused that we completely understand those chains of transmission but also if there are any other chains out there.”
Mr Weimar said some groups associated with the northern suburb clusters refused to get tested, but were currently quarantining at home.
“There’s isolated clusters of people who refuse to be tested at a certain time,” he said.
“There are occasionally good reasons for that. We do not allow people who were suspected of harbouring the virus to go out to the community.”
The Premier last weekend suggested that the November 2 reopening of retail and hospitality businesses could be brought forward — but began cautioning Victorians on Saturday that the move might no longer happen following an outbreak in the northern suburbs.
Despite the delay, Mr Andrews said the “process was working”, and the test results could rule out whether there was “more virus there than we think” spreading in the northern suburbs.
“Numbers when they’re this low are less important than the narrative and the story,” he said.
Meanwhile, locals flocked to a mobile testing site in Heidelberg West on Sunday morning after an urgent push from the government as clusters emerged in neighbouring suburbs.
Queues began to form just after 10am outside the Banyule Community Health Centre, with locals reporting short wait times compared to busy sites such as Northcote.
More than 120 residents were tested on Saturday at the health centre, six times the number of tests done the previous week, said a testing site staffer.
“People are really getting the message now,” he said.
Northcote resident Craig Dickson said he was “pleasantly surprised” with how efficient the testing process had become since his first test in August.
He said he has had to wait up to two hours for a test in the past.
“It’s not as bad as what a lot of people think,” Mr Dickson said.
The pop-up site was set up amid an outbreak of 39 cases spread across Melbourne’s north.
Reservoir taxi driver Jeff Brownrigg said he was at the site getting tested after the local cluster forced him to stop working.
“I just want this to be over,” Mr Brownrigg said. “Luckily I was only waiting about half an hour,” he said.
But a testing site at Roxburgh Park sat quiet on Sunday afternoon despite the push for locals to be tested in Melbourne’s north.
The Herald Sun witnessed about four cars pulled into the drive-through testing site at Roxburgh Park Youth and Recreation centre while on scene for more than an hour.
Testing staff could be seen waiting idly for cars to pull into the drive-through tent.
Some walk-in locals had to be turned away.
One of the few locals to be tested in the afternoon was Roxburgh Park resident Catalina Vergara.
She said the site remained quiet on multiple occasions when she went to be tested, even though the cases were rising in her area following an outbreak in the northern suburbs that spread between 11 households.
“This thing is real,” Ms Vergara said.
Ma Vergara, whose dad died of the virus overseas, said more people should be coming forward to be tested.
“I myself have been tested several times because I have young kids,” she said. “This isn’t over yet.”
RESTRICTIONS ROLLED BACK IN REGIONAL VIC
There was better news for regional Victoria, where restrictions will ease further from Wednesday.
Gyms and fitness studios will be able to reopen for a maximum of 20 people — up to 10 per space, subject to a one person per 8sq m rule.
Up to 20 people, plus a faith leader, can gather indoors for a religious gathering, with up to 50 people and one faith leader indoors.
A cap on outdoor funerals will increase to 50 mourners.
In Shepparton, where three cases were linked to a rogue Melbourne truck driver earlier this month, restrictions will also ease after no new cases were recorded.
The city’s restrictions will now be brought into line with the rest of regional Victoria, allowing its hospitality venues to host up to 40 people indoors.
“I want to congratulate the people of the Goulburn Valley for the amazing job they have done,” Mr Andrews said.
“That gives you a clear sense that once you are across these outbreaks, once you can rule out these linkages, you wait for the test results and then you can take really big and significant steps.”
REGIONAL VIC CALLS FOR MELBURNIANS TO BE FREED
Regional areas starved of visitors want Melbourne outbreaks contained without locking down the city.
As country Victoria eyes a further easing of restrictions — recording two active cases in Shepparton among 98 statewide — businesses are calling for freedom for Melburnians.
Regional towns have seen spikes in visitor numbers since city slickers were given the green light to travel to holiday homes and prepare them for flood and fire.
But Rural Councils Victoria deputy chair Jenny O’Connor said they didn’t have permission to visit local businesses, which had been crippled by COVID-19 and the summer bushfires.
“People are moving into the regions already so I suppose we’d say, let those businesses benefit,” she said.
“Our economy has been hammered and everyone is really keen to see a recovery as soon as we can.”
Cr O’Connor’s hope for a “targeted approach” to Melbourne hot spots was all but dashed by Premier Daniel Andrews who on Saturday said, “I don’t think that would be the appropriate response”.
Kinglake’s Centre Stage Studio owner Taryn Jennings said she “doesn’t understand” why regional Victorian restrictions couldn’t be eased more quickly.
“We haven’t had any cases here for months,” she said.
“It would be nice to have some sense of COVID normal before Christmas, especially because we have only been able to open for six weeks out of this whole year.”
Ms Jennings said fellow dance school owners and community sport organisations had struggled under the “tough” measures.
Victorian chamber of commerce and industry chief executive Paul Guerra said “we need to find the balance between suppression and living with the virus”.
“Let’s open up and become one Victoria again,” he said.
Regional Victoria’s rolling 14-day average was just 0.2.
MEASURE YOUR 25KM RADIUS
THE RESTRICTIONS MELBURNIANS WOULD HAVE BEEN FREED FROM
A growing coronavirus cluster in Melbourne’s north has rocked Premier Daniel Andrews’s plans to unveil new freedoms on Sunday.
An urgent analysis of test results this morning will now determine the timings of new freedoms.
Before the latest northern suburbs outbreak, the state government had been planning by next weekend to axe restrictions on leaving home, end the 25km travel restriction and allow two people and their children to visit another family in their home.
Read the full story here.
CREDLIN: WE WON’T FORGET ANDREWS CAUSED LOCKDOWN HELL
As you look at the rest of the country living some sort of COVID normal, you see how devastating Daniel Andrews’ decisions back in March have been for Victorians – who’ve endured one of the longest and toughest lockdowns in the world, writes Peta Credlin.
Read her opinion piece in full here.
READ MORE