NewsBite

Rolling coverage: Victoria records no new cases after review

VIctoria has no new coronavirus cases for the fourth time this week after an expert panel reviewed and rejected a “low positive” case recorded overnight.

WATCH LIVE: Sky News COVID-19 channel

This coronavirus article is unlocked and free to read in the interest of community health and safety. Save and refresh this article page for updates all day. Get full digital access to trusted news from the Herald Sun and Leader for just $1 a week for the first 12 weeks.

Victoria has recorded no new cases of coronavirus following an expert review panel.

The person returned a “low positive” test after previously testing negative several times. A subsequent test was also negative.

The low figures have driven metropolitan Melbourne’s 14-day average down to just 2.4, while in regional Victoria where there are no active cases the average is zero.

No new deaths were recorded.

Victoria has now recorded four days of no new cases.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said the case was a “low positive” and in isolation.

“(You) can get these indeterminate results or only a weak signal on the test and they are a normal part of testing,” Prof Sutton said.

The case would be analysed by the expert review panel.

Prof Sutton said as fewer true cases were detected, low positive would become more prominent.

There are 71 active cases in the state, which is down from 80 on Friday.

“In terms of those recovered numbers, really, there were thousands of notified cases for July and August,” he said.

“A small percentage of those have changed address or phone numbers and were not contactable but it has been over 28 days since they were initially notified,” he said.

Three healthcare workers are among the 71 active cases.

Authorities are now confident Victoria is well placed to further ease restrictions on November 9, with Daniel Andrews expected to confirm the next steps next Sunday.

It will include dropping the 25km travel limit and scrapping the metro-regional border.

There are just two Victorians in hospital.

More than 19,000 Victorians were tested for coronavirus in the past 24 hours.

Melbourne’s two mystery cases recorded in the past 14 days are in postcodes 3081 and 3152.

Melburnians slowly return to the city as restrictions begin to ease. Picture: Andrew Henshaw
Melburnians slowly return to the city as restrictions begin to ease. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

RETURN TO THE OFFICE POSSIBLE FOR SOME WORKERS

Some city office workers should be able to return to their buildings by the end of the year, according to the chief health officer.

Prof Sutton said businesses had been working through plans to have a safe return.

“...and they will make arrangements for people who can still work from home to continue to do that,” he said.

“There are some pinch points - public transport, lifts - that will need to be worked through.”

SAFE TO VISIT GRANDPARENTS

It is safe to visit grandparents, Prof Sutton has confirmed.

“We’re saying you can go to another house within 25km,” he said.

“If we did not think it could be done, we would not be saying that it is allowed and a reasonable thing to do.”

But he urged anyone with symptoms to get tested and refrain from visiting others while they await their results.

“In some individual symptoms can be milder but it can be fatal and severe in others.”

MESSAGE OF LOVE FROM DAN’S MUM

He’s copped plenty of criticism over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic but Daniel Andrews has received a public show of support from his number one fan - his mum.

Jan Andrews phoned in to ABC Radio this morning to speak of the pride she felt for the Premier as he enjoyed his first day off in more than three months.

With case numbers as low as they’ve been since March, Mr Andrews on Saturday ended his 120 day run of consecutive press conferences to spend time with his family.

Mrs Andrews said she had no idea what he was doing, but hoped it was something that made him happy.

“I spoke to him on Thursday night and I purposely didn’t ask him because I thought, no, that’s their time. I’m sure whatever they do, perhaps put the shutters up and turn the phones off and just be a family,” she said.

Mrs Andrews, who lives in regional Victoria, said she hadn’t seen her son since Christmas but had kept in regular phone contact.

But video calls were not an option because “I’m not very good at doing that”.

“I have watched every press conference, and some days I have thought yes you look okay, other days I’ve thought Daniel you’re looking very tired,” she said.

“But he’s strong, and he has a responsible job and he has a wonderful wife, and the rest is history.”

Melburnians embracing their new freedoms. Picture: Getty
Melburnians embracing their new freedoms. Picture: Getty

Mrs Andrews praised her son’s handling of the pandemic and said he inherited a stoicism from his dad, Bob who died in 2016 after a long battle with cancer.

“I would like to think that if he has inherited anything good for me it would be a little bit of empathy,” she said.

The proud mum said she was surprised with the fascination over the Premier’s North Face jacket that took on a life of its own throughout his press conferences.

Victorians started to guess whether he was about to deliver good or bad news based on his choice of apparel.

“When he wore the jacket it was good news and when he wore a suit we’re in trouble,” Mrs Andrews said.

“I think it just reflected him as a person. He’s an ordinary person doing the very very best he can do.”

Mrs Andrews said she was proud of her son and relieved Victoria was now on top of the pandemic.

“Now we just have to be very very mindful and do everything responsibly because we never ever want to experience this again.”

Premier Daniel Andrews leaves for a well earned break. Picture: Ian Currie
Premier Daniel Andrews leaves for a well earned break. Picture: Ian Currie

PREMIER TAKES A BREATHER AFTER EPIC FEAT

After 120 consecutive press conferences the Premier did not front the media today, with Health Minister Martin Foley taking his place.

“I will not see you tomorrow,” Mr Andrews announced at the end of Friday’s hour-long press conference.

“The Minister for Health will conduct the daily briefing and I’m sure you’re all very pleased to hear that news.”

The first press conference without Mr Andrews still had the familiar cautionary tone, with Prof Sutton pointing to the rising numbers in Europe as evidence of the need to be wary.

“This pandemic started with a single person in December last year and we are now at 50 million cases globally so we always have to be precautionary ... and not be complacent,” he said.

“We need to remain vigilant.”

“There are countries in Europe that were in a celebratory mood just a few months ago that are going through the worst times right now.”

But he did point to a need to for people to get back to the “normal way of life”.

“We have been in our homes for a long time so I think we need to move gradually back to that sense of new normal,” he said.

It was July 3 when the Premier first took to the Treasury theatre stage 120 days ago.

Victoria had just recorded 66 new coronavirus infections and Mr Andrews was on the cusp of announcing local lockdowns for 10 Melbourne postcodes.

That would later become the entire city and state, resulting in a gruelling 112-day lockdown that Melburnians are only just emerging from.

“This is the 17th consecutive day of double-digit case growth in Victoria, with a continuing and concerning number of new cases associated with transmission in households and families,” the Department of Health and Services media release ominously said that day.

Also in the media statement on July 3 were the details of three cases linked to the Stamford Plaza outbreak.

“Two close contacts of a known case and one contracted security guard member who was already in quarantine – bringing the total to 35,” it said.

Saturday will be Martin Foley’s first time giving a coronavirus briefing without the Premier by his side. Picture: David Crosling
Saturday will be Martin Foley’s first time giving a coronavirus briefing without the Premier by his side. Picture: David Crosling

Hotel quarantine has since been credited with sparking Victoria’s deadly second wave and an inquiry into the program is expected to be handed down in December.

It also cost former Health Minister Jenny Mikakos her political career and prompted Department of Premier and Cabinet secretary Chris Eccles to resign.

Saturday will be the new Health Minister’s first time addressing the media regarding coronavirus without the Premier by his side.

Mr Foley took over the portfolio when Jenny Mikakos resigned late last month.

It will remain to be seen whether he adopts the same tactic as the Premier, who often stays at the microphone for up to 1.5 hours to field every question from waiting journalists.

He has also sparred with reporters over hotel quarantine, contact tracing and lockdown restrictions, and his battles with Sky News host Peta Credlin have been particularly heated.

Mr Andrews did not say when he would be back but it is expected to be Sunday.

HOPE GROWS FOR ELIMINATING VIRUS

Victoria is well on track to open up further next weekend and could eliminate coronavirus altogether.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said eliminating the virus from Victoria was now “absolutely possible”.

“Elimination may happen by virtue of finding everything that is out there,” Prof Sutton said.

“We aren’t hanging our hats on that because there could be hidden cases, chains of transmission that just go on without being detected, as well.

“If we can find each and every case that identifies the chains of transmission and use the isolation and quarantine in that broad contact tracing that has been done to stop it all, fantastic.”

Daniel Andrews said the state was set to be reunited from November 9 with the scrapping of the metro-­regional border.

The Premier said he was likely to announce the next easing of restrictions next Sunday.

Daniel Andrews said the state was set to be reunited from November 9 with the scrapping of the metro-­regional border. Picture: Aaron Francis
Daniel Andrews said the state was set to be reunited from November 9 with the scrapping of the metro-­regional border. Picture: Aaron Francis

He refused to say what if any thresholds would force the government to abandon that plan.

Mr Andrews said some restrictions might have to stay in place until a vaccine was available.

“I think there is a broad consensus that they will get there (to a vaccine),” he said.

“There are timelines about how you make it and get it out through the Victorian community. All of that takes time. It is some way off.”

Prof Sutton said a vaccine would be key to certainty and being confident of avoiding a third wave. He said the risk of a third wave was minimal, but not zero.

“I don’t want to say it is zero because it will not be zero for any of us in Australia until there is widespread use of a vaccine that is effective,” he said.

Mr Andrews said the Melbourne Cup weekend would test the determination of Victorians to stay the course.

“We just have to keep vigilant. We just have to keep doing this. We have to be, as a community, as stubborn as this virus,” he said.

“It is not going away. It spreads rapidly and silently. We have come so far and done so much that we just have to safeguard that.”

MORE NEWS

HEALTH CHIEFS CONFIDENT RISK OF THIRD WAVE ‘MINIMAL’

OPPOSITION CALLS FOR FREEZE ON FEES, RATES TO AID RECOVERY

WHY OUR CITY AND STATE COULD BE FOREVER CHANGED

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/coronavirus/rolling-coverage-andrews-takes-a-breather-as-hope-grows-for-eliminating-virus/news-story/1be16fe17ebbcd4c1d363ce72c44c4ae