Rolling coverage: ‘Ring of steel’ scrapped, Melbourne free at last
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer will go on leave for the first time since January. It comes as Melburnians have fled the city in droves after the “ring of steel” was lifted overnight.
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Victoria’s Chief Health Officer will take a break for the first time since January.
Brett Sutton took to Twitter to let Victorians know he will be on leave for a week from Thursday.
“Longest break since January so very grateful to Allen Cheng @peripatetical for stepping in,” Prof Sutton wrote.
I’ll be taking leave from this Thursday for a week. Longest break since January so very grateful to Allen Cheng @peripatetical for stepping in. Keep those 🩠and those tests coming!
— Chief Health ðŸ©fficer, Victoria (@VictorianCHO) November 9, 2020
It comes as Victoria became one again as relaxed restrictions now allow families across the state to reunite and businesses to ramp up ahead of Christmas.
After 123 days, the “ring of steel” separating Melbourne and regional Victoria has been lifted, and 25km travel limit dropped.
Melbourne residents poured out of the city on Monday as coronavirus travel restrictions were lifted.
Motorists were banked up at various exit points, and police struggled to contain the crowds while temporary infrastructure was removed.
Traffic was seen streaming out of Melbourne and along the Western Highway, with traffic also busy on the West Gate Bridge heading out of the city.
In Bacchus Marsh, the “ring of steel” checkpoint was still being packed up at lunchtime on Monday, with traffic reduced to one lane as workers continued to move the roadblock.
The state on Monday recorded its 10th consecutive day with no new coronavirus cases or deaths. There are currently just four active cases.
While a person who recently arrived from West Australia tested positive to COVID-19 on Sunday, Victoria’s coronavirus testing commander Jeroen Weimar said the case was revealed to be “viral shedding” rather than a currently infectious patient.
Mr Weimar said people could continue shedding the virus in low, but detectable levels for several weeks after being infectious without presenting a risk of transmitting COVID-19.
“We did have a positive result last night (but) upon further investigation … that was determined to be an old case, he was previously quarantined outside of the state,” he said.
“We have analysed that as a case of a viral shedding and therefore it will not be included in our numbers.”
Daniel Andrews on Sunday confirmed previously promised easing of restrictions from Monday, flagging greater freedoms from November 23.
Melbourne’s gyms, cinemas and museums are now allowed to reopen and cafes, restaurants and pubs can host more patrons both in and outdoors.
All Victorians will be permitted to have two people visit their home per day — from the same or different households.
The police union said the easing of restrictions came as relief to its members “who, for a large part of this year, have been placed in the unenviable position of upholding restrictions which have impacted the lives of so many Victorians”.
“Our members look forward to moving off checkpoints and back into police stations and communities,” the Police Association of Victoria said.
Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton said he never doubted Victoria could get to the current point — with just four active cases and no new infections for nine consecutive days.
The rolling 14-day average has dropped to 0.4 in Melbourne and zero in regional Victoria, and there are no longer any active cases of the virus among healthcare workers.
“We backed the modelling that we commissioned and supported,” Prof Sutton said.
“I’m very pleased that’s been validated and vindicated. I’m just happy that we’re here.”
Health authorities remain satisfied with the level of coronavirus testing across the state.
After undertaking a further 10,365 coronavirus tests on Sunday — increasing Victoria’s 14-day testing total to 235,359 — Mr Weimar said the rate had increased by 8 per cent over the past fortnight.
Crucially, Mr Weimar said the testing rates were strong across the entire state, particularly metro Melbourne.
“I am particularly pleased to note that every single LGA across Victoria is increasing at least 1.5 per cent of its population over a two week period,” he said.
One in four of the current tests are being undertaken in children and those under 19, while another third are aged 20 to 39.
Mr Weimar said three quarters of Victoria’s current coronavirus testing is taking place among members of the community fronting testing centres with symptoms, while the remainder are in surveillance programs targeting workplaces and aged care.
MASK RULES HERE TO STAY
Victoria’s mask directive will continue and there remains no timeline for the winding back of the rule, despite no other Australian state mandating face coverings be worn.
Mr Weimar said it had only been a fortnight since Stage 4 restrictions were eased and many of the biggest actions of Victoria’s roadmap we’re yet to be undertaken, so it was too early to consider easing the wearing of masks.
With prospect of interstate and international travel increasing over the coming weeks, Mr Weimar said masks would remain a key element of Victoria’s COVID-19 defence for some time.
“Masks are a thing that all of us can use. It is a low cost and easy thing to do that makes a material difference in reducing the risk of transmission,” Mr Weimar said.
“That continues to be a position and we think it is a really important part of our armoury to prevent coronavirus.
“We have to look at the future of this program. When we start to look at people coming back into the state from overseas it will all change the risk profile of what we are dealing with.
“There will be a package of measures that we have here in Victoria … right here, right now masks are a critical element in safeguarding against that we have made.“
Read the full story here.
EATERIES EAGER TO WELCOME MORE DINERS
Cafes, restaurants and pubs will be able to throw their doors open for more patrons as the latest round of restrictions allow more people to dine in.
Premier Daniel Andrews announced on Sunday that the number of customers allowed in eateries would increase to 40 people inside and 70 outside from Monday. The caps would then increase to 100 patrons inside and 200 outdoors — up to 300 across an entire venue — from November 23.
The move has been welcomed by restaurant owners and pub owners, who have been struggling with patron caps since reopening last week.
The venue manager for O’Connells in South Melbourne, Tony Moss, said: “It’s a huge step forward.
“We have been turning hundreds of people away because they don’t have a reservation and the answering machine is full, so it’s just a relief as that extra capacity means everything.”
Restaurateur Chris Lucas, chief executive of Melbourne’s largest restaurant group, Lucas Restaurants, said the news was good for larger venues.
However, Mr Lucas called for state and local governments to support a voucher or discount program to encourage Victorians to spend money in restaurants — similar to stimulus packages used in NSW and other countries.
“It’s a step in the right direction as with these previous restrictions we haven’t been able to bring all our workers back,” he said. “So it is good, but I’d like to see a program similar to what they did in the UK where they committed to providing patrons with some financial incentive in the form of money to spend at local cafes and restaurants, a voucher or something like that.”
The move would also encourage people to dine out in Melbourne’s CBD, according to Mr Lucas, bringing in much-needed foot traffic with workers not likely return to offices until after Christmas.
The state government announcement on Sunday made no immediate changes to food courts, which are capped at 25 per cent capacity indoors and 200 people outdoors, but from November 22 this will increase to 50 per cent of capacity.
But live music can return — “outdoors where possible” — if performers remain 5m from their audience and 2m apart from each other.
Australian Hotels Association Victorian president David Canny said while Monday’s changes were a positive step, there were still venues that would not be able to open under current patron caps.
“Going to 40 inside is a small step and some larger venues still won’t open up,” he said. “We are more excited about the announcement of going to 100 inside later this month. It is a welcome move.”
CINEMAS NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Moviegoers will be thrilled that cinemas are open for business — initially with small numbers of visitors — but with bigger crowds later this month.
A maximum of 20 people per cinema will be allowed, with a ban on bookings over 10 people. The 1.5m rule will be enforced while movie showing times are to be staggered to allow a 30-minute gap between showings to avoid crowds mingling in foyers or bathrooms.
The rules also apply to concert halls, galleries, museums and the State Library.
From November 23 a maximum of 100 people will be allowed at cinemas, museums, galleries and the State Library with a maximum 25 per cent capacity. Bookings will be available for up to 20 people.
Village Cinemas said its Victorian locations will open from November 12.
IMAX Melbourne will reopen on November 19, with an exclusive showing of Tenet.
State Library Victoria CEO, Kate Torney, welcomed the easing of restrictions ahead of schedule.
“We are in the final stages of preparation to reopen, including implementing the required public health and physical distancing measures to keep our staff and visitors safe.”
Casinos will be able to open 10 separate rooms with a maximum of 10 people per room.
Electronic gaming can return also, with up to 10 patrons per gaming room.
SPORTS UP AND RUNNING FOR YOUNG AND OLD
Victoria’s sports teams will be able to hit the court and oval within weeks, as fitness fanatics head back to the gym on Monday.
From Monday, children aged 18 and under can play non-contact sport indoors, with contact sport allowed for the juniors outside.
But from November 23, adults and children will be able to play contact sport both indoors and outdoors, paving the way for football, cricket, basketball and netball teams to return.
Patrons at indoor sport venues will be capped at 100 in groups of up to 20, with 500 people in groups of up to 50 outdoors.
Preston Futsal Club president Aki Retoulis said it was welcome news to players benched during the lockdown.
“It has been a long time coming, we are very excited about it all,” he said. “We’re looking to get back into it, no one has been able to play futsal for a very long time.”
Mr Retoulis said although the 200 members of his club had kept in touch online during the last seven months, it was “very exciting” to see everyone in person again.
“It is crucial for us to go back and see one another,” he said. “It wasn’t just the sport we were deprived of, but the social circles. It has been very difficult, tough.”
Gyms will battle through tough restrictions — limiting patrons to 20, including 10 per space — until the current caps are increased from November 23.
Up to 100 people will then be allowed in indoor gym and fitness facilities.
Density restrictions will also halve from one person per 8sq m to 4sq m, a move the fitness industry had campaigned for.
Indoor pools will increase their capacity from 20 to 50 people subject to density requirements while outdoor pools will have no patron cap.
Fitness Australia chief executive Barrie Elvish welcomed the increase in patronage, saying it was “excellent” news for the industry.
“We have worked hard to get a more common sense approach to gym re openings and we are very pleased with the announcement,” Mr Elvish said.
“Accessing a fitness facility is essential for people who use exercise to maintain their mental health, physical health and overall wellbeing.”
Mr Elvish said the fitness industry had strict COVID-safe protocols in place to protect everyone.
“The gym will look a little bit different as people start to return from today, but the industry is 100 per cent committed to their safety,” he said.
“The last thing these businesses want is to be shut down again.”
Pam Campbell, 70, was looking forward to hitting her local Genesis gym in Croydon this week.
“It gives you a reason to get out of bed,” Ms Campbell said.
“You always feel better leaving the gym, it lifts your spirits and gets the adrenaline going.
“I am excited to go back and see the people I train with. I’ll ride the bike, do some weights but most importantly exercise the tongue catching up with my gym friends.”
TOURISM INDUSTRY’S DESPERATE PLEA
Victorian tourism is set to be boosted with Melburnians finally allowed back into the regions but the struggling sector has warned it will not recover without interstate borders reopening.
Intrastate travel is back on the cards for Melbourne residents after the “ring of steel” and 25km rule were scrapped at midnight.
Felicia Mariani, chief executive of the Victorian Tourism Industry Council, said the sector could “breathe a sigh of relief” with the removal of the harsh travel restrictions.
But for tourism to recover completely, interstate holiday-makers needed to return.
“Intrastate travel is really critical, so that’s why it’s so important that Victorians choose a Victorian holiday first, but for full recovery to actually kick in, we need that interstate participation and we need to be participating in the travel bubble with New Zealand,” she said.
Travellers from New Zealand can officially fly to Victoria from Monday as part of the travel bubble arrangement.
So far, NSW is the only state to confirm when it will reopen the borders with Victoria, with quarantine-free travel between the two states allowed from November 23.
Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein has indicated that the island state could reopen to Victoria before December 1, with those returning potentially being allowed to quarantine at home.
And South Australia’s border could reopen to Victorians within a fortnight depending on case numbers. It is expected SA will take a similar strategy to Victoria as it did to New South Wales.
“What we have said with NSW is that we needed to see 14 days of no community transmission after their restrictions had been lifted,” Premier Steven Marshall said on Sunday. “We will apply the same methodology, but we can’t get confused between nine days thinking we are only five days away, because there’s been very significant restrictions (in Victoria).”
Premier Daniel Andrews said he was confident that other states would follow NSW in reopening to Victorians.
“All of us, with the possible exception of WA, we’ve signed up to having … those internal borders gone by the end of the year,” he said.
Meanwhile, Visit Victoria has launched its new “Stay close, go further” campaign to encourage staycations to bushfire areas including Gippsland and the High Country.
Bookings for regional hotels have spiked as Victorians plan getaways in the country, with Choice Hotels revealing that their online reservations are up 40 per cent after the lifting of restrictions was announced.
Jesse White, from Surrey Hills, said his family were looking forward to a Victorian getaway. “It would be nice just to get out of Melbourne,” he said.
“We were planning to go to the Grampians or maybe Phillip Island to stay here locally in Victoria,” Mr White said.
— With Alanah Frost, Tamsin Rose, Alex White
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