Rolling coverage: 10 cases, seven deaths as Melbourne’s rolling average dips below 20
High-risk coronavirus hot spots around Melbourne have been updated by the Department of Health and Human Services to include more popular locations. It comes as Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg made a desperate plea to Daniel Andrews to ease restrictions so all Victorian students can return to school.
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Ten new cases of coronavirus have been detected in Victoria, bringing metropolitan Melbourne’s rolling 14-day average below 20.
The city’s average is now 18.2, with 27 mystery cases over the past fortnight.
Seven deaths were also recorded overnight, taking the death toll to 794.
The latest fatalities include a man in his 60s, a man in his 70s, a woman and two men in their 80s, a man and a woman in their 90s. Six deaths were linked to aged care.
Three of today’s 10 new cases have been linked to known outbreaks or complex cases. One is linked to aged care (Embracia Moonee Valley) and two are linked to health services (Western Health and Monash Health). The other seven cases remain under investigation.
Of the 10 new cases, there are two cases in Casey, Monash and Moreland and single cases in Hobsons Bay, Knox, Moonee Valley and Wyndham.
Forty-six Victorians are in hospital, including five in intensive care, four of which are on a ventilator.
Currently, there are 326 active cases of COVID-19 across the state, including 158 in aged-care and two in disability care, and 53 among healthcare workers.
There are also six active cases in regional Victoria, but no new cases were recorded today.
It comes after the state recorded five infections on Monday, the lowest daily figure since June 12.
If cases remain low, Melbourne is expected to take the third step on the state’s COVID-19 recovery road map on October 19, a week earlier than originally scheduled.
FRYDENBERG PUTS PRESSURE ON ANDREWS TO REOPEN SCHOOLS
Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has urged Premier Daniel Andrews to return Victorian students of all year levels back to school amid concerns of declining mental wellbeing.
Mr Frydenberg, whose children attend school in the state, said he “cannot see why all students can’t get back to school in Victoria now”.
It comes after the timeline to return primary kids in grades 3 to 6 was brought forward by two weeks, while those in years 7 to 10 would have to wait until at least October 26.
“I’ve read letters from well-regarded doctors and GPs, open letters to the Premier of Victoria, and they speak of the mental health state of young people in Victoria as a result of the lockdown,” Mr Frydenberg said.
“And the number of cases that they are seeing through their doors (are) skyrocketing, providing antidepressants to kids as young as 12 and 13 as a result of this lockdown.
“So I say to the Premier, follow the medical advice, but please get Victorian children back to school at all levels.”
NEW HIGH RISK LOCATIONS REVEALED
High-risk coronavirus hot spots around Melbourne have been updated by the Department of Health and Human Services to include more popular locations.
While cases are plummeting by the day, the DHHS says if anyone has visited a high-risk location on specific dates they should be wary of coronavirus symptoms.
“If you have visited any of the locations listed in the list below during the date indicated for the next 14 days you should watch for coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms,” the DHHS said.
“If symptoms occur, immediately get tested and stay at home while you wait for your results.”
The new risk locations include:
— Shearwater Village Park in Werribee, on 20th September between 4.30-5.30.
— Ginifer Station to Footscray Station on the Sunbury line in the hours between 4pm-6pm on September 22nd.
— Footscray Station to Werribee Station on the Werribee Line in the hours between 4pm-6pm on September 22nd.
For the full list of high risk locations, click here.
NEW RESTRICTION RULES CLARIFIED
Daniel Andrews has clarified a number of aspects to Melbourne’s new restrictions.
Weddings: There is no 5km limit however you cannot travel to regional Victoria for a wedding unless you are the celebrant and you are working.
Apartment complex swimming pools: All pools, indoor or outdoor at residential premises, including apartment complexes, are closed. Only outdoor pools at non-residential premises are open in the second step.
Travel for childcare: You can travel across the metro border for childcare. But the restrictions follow you, so you are subject to step two restrictions when in regional Victoria. You should not travel unless you really need to.
Cricket nets: Can be used in public spaces so long as they do not require facilities beyond that. Other restrictions apply including two-hour time limit and the 5km travel limit.
Learner drivers: Can practise driving if you are out for one of the four reasons. For example, driving to the supermarket. You cannot go out solely for the purposes of driving practice.
Dog groomers: Are only allowed to work in retail stores, not from home in Metro Melbourne. Dog groomers can work at homes in regional Victoria.
Tradies in the home: Emergency repairs can take place at occupied properties. However, no interior design or renovations can happen if the property is occupied.
Gardening and landscaping services: Allowed to work as long as it’s contactless and can be done safely alone.
ANDREWS DEFENDS 5KM RULE
Daniel Andrews has hit back after a leading epidemiologist blasted the Victorian government’s coronavirus 5km rule, saying there’s no epidemiological reason people should remain within such a radius.
While announcing 10 new infections and seven more deaths, the Premier said he did not wish to get involved in a modelling debate.
“With the greatest of respect to Catherine Bennett, she’s not the chief health officer,” he told reporters on Tuesday morning.
“She can have views, lots of views. I’ve got to say to you I’m not getting into this modelling debate again. I’m just not. We’ve got a series of decisions that have been made. This strategy is working. The numbers are coming down, and there are aggregate benefits from each of the measures we’ve taken.
“That doesn’t mean that every health (inaudible), every person from public health across the world would necessarily agree with every decision we’ve made, but you have to call these things and that’s what we’ve done.”
Deakin University epidemiologist Professor Catherine Bennett on Tuesday morning said the State Government’s 5km rule had no epidemiological basis.
But Mr Andrews said “movement means virus”.
“It‘s as simple as that. It’s about reducing movement. That’s what stay-at-home orders are all about,” he said.
“That’s what just about every single one of the measures we’ve put in place – it’s about reducing movement. If you’ve got more virus out there than you know, and that’s a product of the fact that any person with symptoms gets tested.”
BIG CHANGE MAY BE COMING TO HOTEL QUARANTINE
Overseas arrivals would be able to quarantine at home under a plan being considered by the nation’s medical expert panel.
Scott Morrison on Tuesday defended the hotel quarantine system, instituted by the national cabinet at the end of March, saying it was a “great shame” that it had gone wrong in Victoria and sparked the state’s deadly second wave.
The Prime Minister said it had been the states and territories that were “the most urgent in moving forward” with the hotel model.
But Mr Morrison said the medical expert panel was now considering “alternative methods” for quarantining those returning from overseas, after the matter was considered by the national cabinet earlier this month.
“As time goes on, we will need a more flexible approach that gives us more options for managing this,” he said.
Mr Morrison would not be drawn on the criticisms of Victoria’s chief public servants made by counsel assisting the quarantine inquiry on Monday.
But he said it was clear that “the offer was made” for the Defence Force to support quarantine arrangements.
“How best that was to be done was a matter for those states and territories to determine,” he said.
WHERE VIC’S ACTIVE OUTBREAKS ARE
Non-aged care outbreaks with the highest number of active cases include:
— 9 linked to the Casey community outbreak (total cases: 44)
— 7 linked to Footscray Hospital (total cases: 20)
— 6 linked to Alfred Hospital (total cases: 11)
— 5 linked to the Springvale shared accommodation outbreak (total cases: 5)
Active aged care outbreaks with the highest active case numbers are:
Estia Keilor: 34 (45 total)
Opal Hobsons Bay Altona North: 23 (total cases: 44)
Embracia Moonee Valley Aged Care: 22 (total cases: 80)
Baptcare Wyndham Lodge Community Werribee: 14 (total cases: 260)
Edenvale Manor Aged Care Facility Keilor East: 13 (total cases: 22)
Doutta Galla Aged Services Woornack: 8 (total cases: 60 )
Mercy Place Parkville aged care: 7 (total cases: 104)
Twin Parks Aged Care Reservoir: 4 (total cases: 127)
Churches of Christ Care Arcadia Aged Care Essendon: 4 (total cases: 22)
Epping Gardens Aged Care: 3 (total cases: 220)
INGRID STITT TO JOIN CABINET
Daniel Andrews has announced Ingrid Stitt will join the Victorian cabinet, filling the vacancy left by Jenny Mikakos.
Ms Stitt, who represents the Western Metropolitan electorate in the upper house, will be sworn in this afternoon.
The married mother of two was first elected to parliament at the 2018 election.
Before that she was secretary of the Australian Services Union.
It is not yet clear which portfolio Ms Stitt will be responsible for.
The Premier said he would make portfolio announcements later today which would include a minor reshuffle of responsibilities.
DAN HITS BACK AT INDOOR-DINING LIMITS
Daniel Andrews has hit back at critisim over his plan to limit indoor-dining.
Industry heavyweights argue indoor-dining should be allowed because no case before the state’s second wave had been linked to hospitality settings.
However, Mr Andrews rejected that argument.
“The fact that we don’t have known cases doesn’t mean there were no cases,” he said.
“The number of mystery cases we’ve got out there; there are many, many cases that we simply don’t know where they got it or where they spread it.
“The scientists — those who deal with this and have many decades of experience in the science of this virus and viruses like it — tell us that indoor environments are 20 times more dangerous than outdoor environments.”
SIX FINED AT DANDENONG GATHERING
A man who wanted to visit a country florist and a group gathered at a home in near Dandenong are among the latest COVID-19 rule-breakers to be slapped with fines.
Victoria Police issued a total of 67 fines in the last 24 hours to people caught breaking lockdown restrictions.
This included nine people who were fined for not wearing a face mask and 18 people nabbed at vehicle checkpoints.
One man was stopped at South Cross Railway Station attempting to board a train to Wallan.
He told officers he wanted to visit a florist in regional Victoria.
Meanwhile six men were caught red-handed, after their cars – all registered to different addresses – were noticed outside a home in Greater Dandenong.
All six men were issued with fines.
More than 2100 spot checks were conducted in the last day, including at homes, businesses and public places.
GROWING HOPES FOR BOXING DAY TEST
Confidence is growing about the possibility of crowds attending Melbourne’s Boxing Day test.
But Mr Andrews is still unable to guarantee the Melbourne Cup won’t go ahead in front of empty stands.
The Premier said on Monday he couldn’t guarantee crowds at the race that stops the nation.
“It is a very iconic event, and we understand that,” he said.
“We have done our best to be able to keep the industry going – but it has to be done in a COVID-safe way. I can’t give you a picture of what that level of activity would look like.
“It will be as open as it can be but we won’t allow that event to compromise the overall strategy.”
Mr Andrews said the state government was working closely with organisers of each upcoming major event.
“Whether it’s the Boxing Day test, Australian Open tennis, all manner of different events we have to work through.
“I’ve had many, many discussions with them in recent weeks about how we can deal with that.
“And I thank all the different codes and different leagues, operator, tournament officials, all different people involved in that. It isn’t simple. It is quite challenging work.”
Mr Andrews said it was too early to speculate on a crowd size for the Boxing Day test but hinted crowds were likely.
“It is an outdoor environment, even though part is covered. It would – apart from some function rooms, the ‘G would be considered largely as an outdoor venue.
“It’s too early for us to put a number on how big the crowd might be. What I can say, though, is if we all stay the course and we continue to see these numbers down that becomes more possible to have a crowd of some size.”
SCOMO PRAISES VICTORIANS’ ‘GREAT SACRIFICE’
Scott Morrison thanked and praised the “great sacrifice” of Victorians in recent months to tackle the state’s deadly second wave.
“Australia will not win until Victoria wins, and I believe Victoria is now beginning to win,” the Prime Minister said.
Speaking about next Tuesday’s federal budget, he said it was likely the most important budget since World War II.
“In these unprecedented times, we have cushioned the blow,” Mr Morrison said.
“We are recovering what has been lost, although there is still much ground to take.”
“We are building for the future with the JobMaker plan.”
MURRAY RIVER REOPENS TO REGIONAL VICTORIANS
New South Wales will no longer prevent regional Victorians who visit border towns from entering the Murray River, ending a bittersweet period for tourism operators.
While the easing of Victorian restrictions had brought tourists back to towns such as Mildura, the rules in NSW kept those visitors from paddle-steamer trips and houseboats.
The Murray River is part of NSW and the rule applied even if a boat journey began and ended at a Victorian port.
NSW on Monday night amended its border control public health order to allow Victorians to enter the river without a permit.
But there is a catch — find out more in the full story here.
SMALL BUSINESSES PLEAD FOR HELP
Thousands of mum and dad businesses that distribute food to cafes, hospitals and restaurants are pleading for support after months of job-killing lockdowns.
Independent Food Distributors of Australia have written an open letter to Premier Daniel Andrews saying that they need tax relief and to be included in the state government support package.
They say an urgent return to indoor and outdoor dining is needed and back an initiative for households to be gifted $100 vouchers for use on meals at pubs, clubs and restaurants.
It comes as business groups say Daniel Andrews is moving too slow in allowing a return to work for thousands of Victorians.
Executive officer of IFDA Richard Forbes said revenue had torpedoed because pre-purchased stock was unable to be sent to food outlets, and debt was racking up.
“It’s a bit like drought for farmers – just because it rains don’t think that they will all be okay because they had to go into debt to feed their stock,” he said.
The group backs the “eat out to help out” plan for vouchers given to households for meals at restaurants, in order to lead a “consumption led recovery”.
Abolishing payroll tax – or at least 50 per cent relief for two or three years – was also needed instead of just a deferral.
Other service industries have been left confused about whether or not they can legally return to work.
Poolwerx founder and chief John O’Brien said the pool maintenance industry felt let down.
He said bans on servicing risked the health of 155,000 Victorian families who had pools.
“If the Government does not allow pools to be treated urgently then there will be another health crisis – the biggest gastroenteritis outbreak, and ear and eye infections in recent Victorian history. Unhealthy and green pools are a perfect breeding grounds for legionella, Cryptosporidium and Giardia parasites and in extreme cases these can cause death in infants and the elderly.”
Australian Industry Group Victorian head Tim Piper said the slow and steady transition to COVID-normal left many businesses extremely vulnerable.
“There remains uncertainty for businesses given the aggressive suppression strategy that threatens to permanently suppress businesses as well as the virus,” he said.
“There will be long-term implications from the impact of the overly harsh restrictions for many businesses in terms of their continued existence, to the desire to invest in Victoria and their ability to employ people,” he said.
Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief Paul Guerra said it was vital to get remaining industries back to work as soon as possible.
“With extremely low case numbers in regional Victoria, we would hope to see further easing of restrictions in coming days,” he said.
“We must acknowledge that managing COVID-19 comes at the expense of so many businesses, jobs and livelihoods.
“The Victorian Chamber recognises that the Government is listening by dropping the date requirement to go to the next step, but we must find a way to get all Victorians back to work sooner.”
Opposition leader Michael O’Brien said Mr Andrews should urgently rethink the roadmap.
“It’s time for the premier to give small businesses ago,” he said.
“This is crunch time for the premier, he’s got to listen to small business, he’s got to listen to hospitality, he’s got to give them a chance to safely reopen with the COVID safe work plan.”
Daniel Andrews said there was no choice but to take a slow approach to opening up.
“I know that that is frustrating. With low numbers, people I know would love to move to take even further steps as quickly as possible. But this thing is silent,” he said.
“You just can’t know today what the impact of yesterday’s announcements will be, at least for two to three weeks.”
— With Matt Johnston