Rolling coverage: Today’s single case could be a reinfection as Premier hints early easing of restrictions
Epidemiologists are probing whether the single case of coronavirus recorded today is a new infection in a previously positive case. It comes as Daniel Andrews hints Melbourne’s next round of restriction easing could be brought forward.
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Victoria has recorded just one new case and zero deaths from coronavirus in the past 24 hours.
The latest low figure brings Melbourne’s 14-day rolling average to just 6.4, with 13 mystery cases in the past fortnight.
It follows four cases on Monday, two on Sunday and one on Saturday.
However, today’s sole new case previously tested positive, and authorities are now investigating whether it is an active case or ‘shedding the virus’ — meaning the daily tally may actually be zero.
Victoria now has 122 active cases and 11 people are in hospital with none in intensive care.
Ten healthcare workers are among the active cases.
The consistently low case numbers also led the Premier to hint Melbourne could see an early easing of restrictions next week.
“I think we’re well placed to reach the point on the weekend where we can talk more and possibly bring forward some of those changes that were slated for November 1,” he said.
“We are well placed this weekend to be able to make very significant announcements about a further step to opening.
“We still have a few days, obviously, to run this week and things can change rapidly. But Victorians, I think, and particularly Melburnians, can be confident, can be absolutely optimistic, that the strategy is working.”
However, Daniel Andrews was quick to refute rumours any rules would be eased before the AFL Grand Final on Saturday.
“I’ll stand here on Sunday and hopefully be able to confirm for Victorians that when it comes to retail, pubs, restaurants, cafes, bars, as well as a number of other settings, that we can have what’s been termed a dark opening for, say, the first one or two days of next week and then we can be up and running from then. It’s not appropriate for us to try and bring that forward,” he said.
ANDREWS, FRYDENBERG WAR OF WORDS INTENSIFIES
A war of words has erupted between Daniel Andrews and Josh Frydenberg after the Victorian government was accused of “callous indifference” to the economic cost of the lockdown.
Amid increased tensions from frustrated business groups over the slow pace of Victoria’s easing of restrictions, the federal Treasurer said the Premier’s stubbornness was “unforgivable”.
There are now fresh calls for the state government to release the public health advice that underpinned its slow and limited easing of restrictions.
“More than 1000 jobs are being lost every day on this Premier’s watch. The bloody-mindedness is unforgivable,” Mr Frydenberg said.
“He’s making it up as he goes. It’s not even his original road map. Victorian businesses, big and small, are just pleading for a fair go. They just want to get their workers back into a job. Enough is enough.”
Mr Frydenberg said businesses were “losing hope”.
“It’s fine for him to lift the travel restrictions from 5km to 25km, but if businesses are not open, people have nowhere to go,” he said.
“It’s fine … to say people can go play tennis and golf and go down to the skate park, but what about giving them their jobs back? They need their job more than anything.”
Mr Andrews fired back, accusing the Treasurer of playing politics during the pandemic.
“It‘s all about the politics with this bloke, isn’t it? That’s all he does. That’s all he does. He is not a leader, he is just a Liberal,” he said.
“All he does is play politics, every day, and I just don’t think that is fair … and I think Victorians are sick of it. Victorians want their families protected, they want their health issues dealt with so we can open up.
“I said last week I will start calling this out, and I am. You can’t be off there playing these political games running this political commentary and expecting that everyone in Victoria is just going to let it slide.
It is the second time in weeks tensions have boiled over between the pair, the last time on the eve of the federal budget.
Victoria recorded just four new COVID-19 cases and one death on Monday. The state’s 14-day rolling average dropped to 7.7.
Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief Paul Guerra said the government’s restrictions announcement had overlooked many businesses specifically among the retail and hospitality sectors.
“They are desperate to get back to work,” he said.
“That must happen over the next 10 days, and hospitality limits must be increased to 20 people per space indoors as part of a viable reopening. We need to ensure they can maximise every weekend from now, and enjoy a strong Christmas.
“We cannot keep the state locked up. The contact tracing system is in place, businesses have COVID-safe plans, and if every Victorian commits to doing the right thing with masks, social distancing and testing, we can again enjoy a sense of COVID normality, like we have seen in other states.”
Lord Mayor Sally Capp said she was frustrated at Mr Andrews indicating another two week wait before hospitality and retail sectors could reopen.
“People are trying to work out the logic behind some of these decisions,” she said.
“It is tough and with the Tigers and Geelong in you can imagine how many fans were planning to get together to make the most of a Grand Final that’s not here in Melbourne,” she said.
“But we are really hoping that everybody can do the right thing, because for all those small business owners out there, opening a week earlier than currently planned would make a massive difference.”
Harvey Norman executive chairman Gerry Harvey described the restrictions as “overkill”, adding that he believed there was no need for retail to remain shut until November 2. “When you’re in charge of a business or a state or a country or whatever you’re in charge of, you’ve got to be responsible but you’re not allowed to do overkill, because that makes you irresponsible as well,” he said.
Tim Piper, Victorian head of employer association Ai Group, said there was growing frustration among thousands of struggling Victorian businesses. He said there appeared to be no long-term plan to rebuild the shattered economy.
“The road map to recovery was always a maze that has now been turned into a long and winding road,” he said.
“The longer Victorian businesses are kept closed the greater the potential for deep economic and health damage across the state. Businesses are losing hope.”
State Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien called on the government to make public its latest public health advice.
“ We’ve seen thousands and thousands of construction workers not miss a beat during the entire pandemic. But when it comes to small businesses that are able to open in a COVID-safe manner, the Premier just says no,” he said.
“He’s more interested in picking fights with the federal government.”
NSW TOPS VICTORIA WITH FIVE NEW CORONAVIRUS CASES
There have been two new cases of locally acquired coronavirus diagnosed in NSW up to 8pm on Monday night, and three cases in hotel quarantine.
Tuesday’s announcement comes just one day after health authorities were forced to issue warnings for two entire suburbs after a mystery case went cafe hopping.
On Monday night, a spokesman from NSW Health said while investigations into the source of the mystery case were ongoing, no specific venues of concern had been identified.
“It is believed this case visited the Kingsford and Ramsgate areas while potentially infectious in the first two weeks of October, including several cafes for short periods of time while ordering take away,” he said.
“Anyone who has visited these suburbs, especially cafes, should monitor for symptoms and immediately isolate and get tested should even the mildest of symptoms appear. After testing, you must remain in isolation until a negative result is received.”
VRC PUSH FOR 10,000 PUNTERS AT CUP
A decision to let 10,000 punters attend this year’s Melbourne Cup is imminent, with the Victorian Racing Club’s last-ditch bid to the state government to be acted on this week.
Crowds attending Cup Day on November 3 remains on a knife’s edge, as the state government plans to ease more restrictions the day prior on November 2.
A spokesman for racing Minister Martin Pakula said an answer on the submission would be made “very soon”.
The secret VRC submission is rumoured to have requested permission to host between 8,000 and 10,000 racing fans.
VRC chief executive Neil Wilson said public health advice would determine the decision.
“Cup Week will go on whether we are able to welcome small crowds or not,” he said.
“While of course we would love to host crowds at Flemington for Australia’s greatest racing carnival, we know that most people will be watching away from the track.”
Daniel Andrews has said he would hope at a minimum arrangements could be put in place to allow connections to attend.
The Premier has repeatedly said he would not allow the Cup to go ahead in front of a crowd if it posed a threat to Victoria’s overall COVID-19 strategy.
HALLOWEEN CRACKDOWN
The state government has flagged the high likelihood trick-or-treating will be banned in Melbourne due to coronavirus.
The Department of Health and Human Services said children in regional Victoria could still enjoy the Halloween tradition.
“We’ll have more to say on this closer to the time but as current restrictions stand trick-or-treating would not be allowed in metropolitan Melbourne and could take place in regional Victoria with COVID-safe guidelines,” a DHHS spokesman said.
REAL WINNERS AND LOSERS OF 25KM RULE
Some Melburnians are winners while others have lucked out with the state government’s new 25km radius rule.
Ringwood, and surrounding suburbs in Melbourne’s east, appears to be the biggest winner — taking in the most usable amenities under its 25km threshold which includes access to Brighton Beach, Yarra Valley and the CBD.
Not all suburbs were lucky — Werribee and Werribee South in Melbourne’s outer west are too far away to include any exciting attractions such as big parks, shopping centres or beaches in their 25km radius.
Read more here.
CUSTOMERS QUEUE FOR HOURS FOR HAIR NECESSITIES
Shabby shoppers have expressed relief at finally being able to receive a trim, with queues at some barbers stretching for nearly two hours on their first day of reopening.
Knucklehead Barbers in Richmond was among those inundated with bookings after the state government gave salon operators the green light following the coronavirus outbreak.
Customer Camilo Fernandez said he had looked forward to a haircut for two months.
“I was absolutely excited,” he said. “(The haircut) 100 per cent gives me more confidence and I need that for work.
“I’m a consultant so I interact with lots of clients and confidence really helps with that.”
At Ringwood’s Eastland shopping centre, people queued for nearly two hours and lines stretched more than 30 people deep for a haircut.
The centre was prepared for the onslaught and had security, signage and helpers in fluoro vests on hand to monitor the queues.
Ringwood’s Thomas Oakley, 19, arrived about 9am and waited 90 minutes for a much-needed trim at Bob’s Barber Shop.
“I was an absolute mop beforehand, it’s like a weight is off my shoulders, literally,” he said.
North Warrandyte’s David Anerson, 80, said he had been a loyal customer for 20 years and was happy to wait for nearly two hours.
The lines were even longer at two “express” salons offering $10 cuts in the centre.
BABY CASE BAFFLES EXPERTS
Doctors are investigating whether a bone-marrow transplant may have passed coronavirus on to a Melbourne baby already fighting cancer.
In a case baffling medical experts, the baby boy being treated at the Royal Children’s Hospital tested positive to COVID-19 last Thursday week despite being in isolation while undergoing cancer treatment and having no contact with known cases.
While it is believed coronavirus cannot be transmitted via transplants or blood transfusions, exhaustive investigations have seen everyone connected to the baby — including hundreds of medical staff, patients and the child’s family — tested and cleared of COVID-19.
The baby, who the Herald Sun has chosen not to name, received a bone-marrow transplant from his mother on October 12, raising questions about whether she may have previously had an asymptomatic case which remained in her bone marrow despite not being detectable in tests.
The RCH said it was supporting the child’s family while efforts to contact trace and find the source of infection continued. “All staff working on the ward have been notified, along with current inpatient families and any who may have been discharged since 30 September,” the RCH said.
“Staff already identified as close contacts of the patient are now undertaking the required testing and self-quarantine. Asymptomatic testing of other staff who have spent time on the ward, along with inpatients and their families, is underway.”
It is understood doctors are undertaking additional tests on the mother to determine if the virus was transmitted with her bone marrow.
But as mystery continued to surround the case on Monday, Victoria’s Department of Health and Human Services said the possibility the baby’s tests results may have been a false positive was being explored.
Gabrielle Haeusler, who is leading an international study into the impacts of COVID-19 on children with cancer for the Murdoch Children’s Research Centre, said it was highly unlikely coronavirus could be transmitted through transplants.
Dr Haeusler, who is also an infectious disease physician at the Royal Children’s Hospital and Peter McCallum Cancer Centre but is not directly involved in the infant’s care, said similar respiratory viruses such as SARS, MERS and older coronavirus are known to not be transmittable by transfusion.
With about 60 cases of children with cancer also fighting COVID-19 now recorded, Dr Haeusler said they generally did not appear to be any more severely affected by the virus than otherwise well children.
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