Regional Victoria restrictions lifted; no deaths, 42 new infections
Regional Victoria is set to open up in the next 24-hours, but it’s not all doom and gloom for Melbourne, with the Premier revealing the city is on track to wind back restrictions in a fortnight.
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Regional Victoria will open up further from 11.59pm on Wednesday, having reached the next trigger point on the recovery road map.
Premier Daniel Andrews said it was good news for all Victorians, because it proved the strategy of a steady easing of restrictions was working.
In a glimmer of hope for Melburnians, Mr Andrews said the city’s 14-day average of 52.9 meant it was on track to reach the second step of reopening by September 28.
Regional Victoria reached a 14-day average of 3.6 and no mystery cases, giving public health experts confidence it could take the next step.
No new infections were recorded in regional Victoria overnight, which currently has 43 active cases.
Under the step “household bubbles” will be allowed, and the number of attendees allowed at weddings and funerals will be increased.
Hospitality businesses will also be able to serve patrons outside, with a cap of 50 seated patrons per venue.
“It is a massive thing, it is such good news,” the Premier said.
“I know it hasn’t been easy … you’ve always got to be conservative, you’ve always got to be cautious.”
It also means Victorians in regional areas will now be free to leave their home for any reason.
Outdoor gatherings will be permitted for groups of up to 10, and schools will start returning to normal.
Retail will be expanded to allow beauty services and tattooing as long as a mask can be worn.
All community sport will be allowed for children and non contact sport for adults.
Outdoor religious gatherings will also be allowed for up to 10 people and one faith leader.
All businesses across regional Victoria will be forced to have a COVID-safe plan.
Among the changes, food venues can have up to 20 people seated inside, spread across two areas.
Mr Andrews said how that, and other measures, worked in coming weeks would help inform further details about how metropolitan Melbourne would open up.
He said many people had feared indoor seating at venues would not be allowed at this stage, but the public health advice was that it was safe to do so on a limited basis.
And Melburnians were warned to steer clear of regional Victoria, with Mr Andrews saying: “In terms of movement from Melbourne to regional Victoria, those reasons have not changed.
“You cannot be travelling to regional Victoria unless you absolutely need to … We can’t have people travelling unnecessarily and unlawfully into regional Victoria from metropolitan Melbourne, and potentially taking the virus with them.”
More cars are set to be stopped in the “ring of steel” encircling the city, with the Premier warning of traffic issues and significant queues.
But in a blow to the Mornington Peninsula, the coastal locale will remain classed as part of metropolitan Melbourne.
“Obviously, there are many second residences down there and it’s not appropriate as we come up to the school holidays and warmer weather, for instance, for people to be travelling to a second residence,” Mr Andrews said.
“That’s simply not on. That puts everything at risk. It’s unnecessary movement. It’s unlawful movement. And it should not be happening.”
It comes as no coronavirus deaths were recorded in the past 24 hours — the first time Victoria has seen a fatal-free day since July 13.
The state has also recorded 42 new infections overnight, with the health department saying the 14-day rolling average and mystery infections have also dipped.
There are 83 cases with an unknown source — just one in regional Victoria.
It comes the day after Victoria recorded its lowest number of cases in three months, with just 35 infections on Monday.
Currently, 118 Victorians are in hospital, including 11 in intensive care, and seven on a ventilator.
There are 1040 active cases in the state, including 515 in aged-care and 158 healthcare workers.
CITY EATERIES SLAM OUTDOOR DINING PLAN
Melbourne will be transformed into an outdoor dining mecca under a $290 million package to draw people back to the city.
But there are fears some of Melbourne’s top restaurants won’t be able to adapt to the outdoor model amid concerns some venues will be forced to close their doors for good.
Premier Daniel Andrews unveiled the plan on Monday, saying the city would be transformed into an al fresco dining hub that he hoped would prove popular enough to remain a feature in future summers.
Some roads and lanes would be closed to traffic, while parking would be banned in other streets to make way for footpath dining.
Specific details about density limits have not yet been revealed, but the Premier said Perspex screens between tables could be a feature.
A $100 million recovery fund will go towards injecting life back into the CBD.
Of that, $30 million will go to small and medium businesses to help pay for tables, plastic screens, umbrellas and other items needed for outdoor dining.
Another $87.5 million will go to councils and businesses outside the CBD to help make the transition to outdoor dining.
Outdoor only dining is a key feature of Melbourne’s recovery road map as most indoor dining is off limits until late November at the earliest.
Chris Lucas, chief executive of Melbourne’s largest restaurant group, Lucas Restaurants, said the model was unworkable.
He said a similar system in New York had done nothing to save up to 60 per cent of businesses there.
“The government thinks this is going to be some sort of outdoor Disneyland for dining, but it’s not going to work,” Mr Lucas said.
“The majority of the city’s restaurants cannot work outdoors. Outdoor dining really only suits cafes, not to mention Melbourne’s problematic weather.”
Mr Lucas, who founded and owns Chin Chin, said the government had shown no genuine attempt to hear industry feedback.
“The plan they wish to force down our throats is flawed,” he said.
But Restaurant and Catering Industry Association chief Wes Lambert welcomed the package.
Mr Lambert had submitted a $650 million rescue proposal to the government before the announcement.
“This is a generous and comprehensive package that matches calls from industry organisations like R&CA to help businesses operate outdoors,” he said.
The Premier said the rescue package could mean that Melburnians dine in parks, gardens, streets and lanes.
“This will utterly transform the city and not just for this summer but something that Victorians will love and appreciate and will provide a new alfresco environment for the CBD,” Mr Andrews said.
In a rare bright spot for the troubled hospitality sector outdoor floating bar and restaurant Arbory Afloat is returning to the Yarra River.
Arbory Afloat will reopen on October 26 with hopes it will prove the there is still life in the sector crippled by the lockdown restrictions in Melbourne.
Marketing Director Georgie Larkins said she was confident it could show the city could thrive, despite restrictions.
“We’re really excited, it will be nice to have some people down there,” Ms Larkins said.
“Melburnians have been craving to get out and we hope we can provide a home for a fun social scene in a COVID-safe way. We have a lot of confidence people will be excited to come and see us in October.”
CLAIMS OF 100,000 ON ELECTIVE SURGERY WAITLIST
The state opposition has claimed Victoria’s elective surgery waitlist has blown out to more than 100,000 patients.
Since July operating theatres across Melbourne have been closed to all but the most urgent surgery cases to free up beds and medical staff for critical coronavirus-positive patients.
The most recent hospital performance data available shows that in June Victoria had a record number of 56,000 Victorians awaiting elective surgery.
But shadow health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier has claimed that figure has more than doubled since then.
She has called on the government to urgently resume elective surgeries.
Asked on Monday about the current waitlist Daniel Andrews said he needed to check the latest figure.
“It’ll obviously be higher than it’s probably ever, ever been, because we’ve had to literally stop a whole range of surgeries,” Mr Andrews said.
Ms Crozier said it was time to immediately review the elective surgery freeze.
She said the continued cessation of elective surgery for category 2 and category 3 operations would only lead to a larger and more unmanageable waitlist.
“It is imperative that where safe to do so elective surgeries must recommence in Victoria as a matter of priority,” she said.
“If more patients are added to the already overwhelmed waiting-list, more Victorian’s will face the risk of ongoing health issues and even unnecessary premature death.
““With appropriate COVID-19 safeguards in place, it is vital that we prevent further strain on our health services and provide for the wellbeing of Victorians.”
It comes as the Australian Dental Association Victorian branch has called for the government to remove the restrictions on dental practice that currently only permits urgent care.
Under stage 4 restrictions only urgent dental care can be performed.
ADAVB president Dr Angelo Pacella said around one in eight dental practices in Melbourne had closed their doors in recent weeks.
Those that are still operating are seeing less than 25 per cent of their normal patient numbers.
“Many people are putting off necessary preventive care or delaying treatment that may make their condition worse,” Dr Pacella said.
“However, this ignores the importance of ongoing regular care that many people would normally have to prevent dental problems from getting worse.
“This is definitely compromising their health and wellbeing.”
STATE PARLIAMENT REOPENS AFTER DEEP CLEANING
State parliament has been cleared to reopen after a security guard working there was infected with coronavirus.
Parliament House was closed on Sunday and Monday while deep cleaning was carried out.
But it was announced on Monday night the upper and lower houses would be able to resume sittings from Tuesday.
The guard who tested positive had worked at Parliament House last week but stayed home on the day they felt unwell.
Legislative Council president Nazih Elasmar and Legislative Assembly speaker Colin Brooks said in a statement on Monday night: “Following advice from the Department of Health and Human Services, we confirm the scheduled parliamentary sittings will proceed this week”.
It said health and safety measures implemented in recent sitting weeks would continue to be followed, including wearing masks, physical distancing and high-level cleaning.
MOBILE GROOMING SERVICES GIVEN THE BRUSH-OFF
Dog groomers can reopen in two weeks, but only if they work from shops.
Mobile groomers will have to wait a while longer.
Premier Daniel Andrews announced on Saturday pet-groomers would be able to reopen should COVID-19 cases continue to fall.
Mr Andrews said the service must be at a venue and contactless. Public health experts have deemed mobile grooming to be unsafe.
During stage three restrictions, mobile grooming was allowed and retail grooming banned.
Mobile groomers are unhappy about the move saying the government showed little understanding of the industry.
Mobile operators Aussie Pooch Mobile and Blue Wheelers say mobile grooming allows for less interaction between groomers and customers, while retail grooming could have issues with social distancing.
“If 20 dogs are being groomed for the day in the salon, that equates to 20 different customers making in effect 40 separate trips,” they said.
Penella Etyngold, of PenPoochies Doggie Hairdresser in Beaumaris, will be able to reopen in two weeks but understands the hardship of mobile services.
“I am torn,” Ms Etyngold said. “When I heard the news I was so excited for myself but knowing I have quite a few friends in the mobile grooming industry, I was sad for them.”
Ms Etyngold opened up some space for fellow groomer Chloe Lorimer from Dress to the Canines to work in her shop.
“I don’t really understand the ruling but I am so thankful to those in salons that have opened up their space,” Ms Lorimer said. “Although it was hard to hear I couldn’t work from my own business for another month, it was absolutely heartwarming to see the love and camaraderie between all groomers.”
RED FLAGS RAISED OVER HOTEL QUARANTINE
A tree frog in a salad and “grossly insufficient” cleaning are among concerns raised over Victoria’s troubled hotel quarantine program.
The tree frog incident was among a string of matters brought to the attention of the Department of Health and Human Services.
The matter was referred to City of Melbourne food safety officers, according to a statement to the hotel inquiry from DHHS deputy secretary Melissa Skilbeck.
Another returned traveller quarantining claimed to have been bitten by a bed bug, but it was unclear whether she brought it in her luggage.
Documents to the inquiry also revealed a cleaning company was decontracted because of poor cleaning at the Stamford Plaza hotel.
Meanwhile, emails revealed how some public servants seconded to the hotel quarantine program were withdrawn due to concerns for their safety.
A request to remove staff was made by Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning senior official Kate Gavens.
The inquiry is due to resume on Tuesday with testimony from Emergency Management Victoria Commissioner Andrew Crisp.
— Josh Fagan and Melissa Iaria
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