Victorians allowed to get on the beers as further easing of restrictions announced
Easing of Victoria’s coronavirus restrictions will go ahead on June 21, with Premier Daniel Andrews announcing some rules will be relaxed even further than initially expected. It comes as the state recorded nine new cases yesterday.
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Victorians will be able to have a beer at the pub sans parma as the state moves to further ease restrictions from next Monday.
Premier Daniel Andrews announced this morning the planned lifting of restrictions from midnight June 21 will go ahead, despite concerns a Black Lives Matter protest could delay the rollout of stage 2.
These include allowing up to 50 people in cafes, restaurants and pubs - up from 20 people.
Patrons must be seated but the requirement to have a meal served with alcohol will be scrapped.
The same increased limit will apply to galleries, museums and amusement parks.
Betting pubs and casinos will open from July 20 with appropriate social distancing.
It comes at nine new cases were detected overnight.
Three are in hotel quarantine, five are linked to known outbreaks including a GP who tested positive while in self-isolation and one additional case identified through routine testing.
Two household family contacts of the doctor are among the newly diagnosed cases, taking the total number in this outbreak to four.
Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton said every state was “going at their own pace” and unlike other parts of Australia including NSW, Victoria had no plans to scrap the 1 person per 4sqm indoor rule just yet.
“NSW is going to the beat of its own drum,” he said.
“We’ll have consideration about caps ongoing but we’re not foreshadowing changes at this stage.”
Mr Andrews said the density caps were constantly under review and National Cabinet will make a recommendation to change or maintain the rule when it meets in a forntight’s time.
“I know there are a number of pubs and venues where there’s no way of getting 50 people in that enclosed space cause the room simply isn’t big enough,” he said.
“That’s why the (square metre rule) is being tested,” Mr Andrews said.
Victorians must continue to work from home if they can until the end of June.
But Mr Andrews flagged a change to policy in July with details to be outlined next weekend.
“That remains one of our most significant concerns,
“We’ve still got two weeks to run in June,”
“We’ll make sure that employers and workers have as much notice as we can possibly give them,” Mr Andrews said.
TARGET TESTING POPS UP IN SUBURBS
Residents of regions from suburban Dandenong to country Kyabram will be targeted in a fresh wave of coronavirus testing after a Melbourne doctor has been confirmed as having the disease.
The eastern suburbs GP was among eight new cases confirmed on Saturday.
Patients of Croydon Family Practice, Lilydale Medical Clinic and Cedars Medical Clinic in Coburg have been notified of the positive test.
The GP did not have any symptoms when he spent time at the clinics and went into isolation immediately upon learning he was a close contact of a confirmed case, making the risk of transmission unlikely, health authorities say.
Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said council areas where cases were more likely or testing numbers were low would now be “zeroed in on” to ensure the State Government was tracking the virus as effectively as possible. The results would help inform the further easing of restrictions.
More than 564,000 Victorians have already come forward for testing.
The targeted testing program would run until the end of August and would be rolled out in four three-week waves across different council areas, starting with Mildura, Kyabram, Dandenong and Brimbank, Ms Mikakos said.
CBD WELCOMES BACK VICTORIANS
Melbourne is slowly coming back to life with fashion, retail and hospitality luring people back to the CBD.
Lord Mayor Sally Capp has urged Melburnians to safely and carefully show their support for the city and the boutiques, department stores, restaurants, cafes and business owners that are welcoming back customers after the COVID-19 shutdown.
“We normally welcome almost one million people into the city each day. At the height of COVID-19 restrictions, CBD streets were deserted and our sensors showed average pedestrian traffic fell by almost 90 per cent some weeks,” Ms Capp said.
“As more businesses cautiously reopen and workers return, we are slowly seeing an increase in people moving around our streets.
“It is encouraging to see more people in the city but it’s vital that we continue to follow the most up-to-date health and safety advice. This means practising physical distancing and maintaining good hygiene standards to keep our community safe.
“Everyone that can safely come into the city should try to support local businesses where they can. Enjoy a lunch with friends or stop and shop at one of our retail stores.
“We’re making a record $50 million investment in rate relief and stimulus packages to help ensure our economy recovers as quickly as possible.
“We are only at the beginning of our city’s economic and cultural recovery but there are genuine reasons for optimism.”
Forever New managing director, Carolyn Mackenzie, said the fashion brand had recently reopened its CBD stores with customers snapping up winter must haves such as puffer jackets and recycled cashmere knits.
She said isolation has shown the importance of having a few key investment pieces.
“A luxe, wool-blend coat is a must-have as we enter the cooler months,” Ms Mackenzie said.
“In store, we have beautiful colours for the season including deep forest greens through to neutral camel tones. There has also been a great response to our luxe padded parkas as well as the double-breasted shapes with large lapel detailing.”
Myer Melbourne store manager, Brooke Blades, said staff were delighted to welcome customers back into the store.
“There’s been a great sense of excitement among customers and staff alike. Everyone has adapted well to the new shopping environment and enhanced hygiene measures in place,” Ms Blades said.
“With our popular Myer Stocktake Sale underway it’s a really great time to shop.”
She said Myer was committed to providing a safe environment for customers and its team with measures including increased cleaning, easily available hand sanitiser, team members provided with face masks and gloves, and sneeze guards at registers.
— Fiona Bryne
DANCING CLOSE TO THE EDGE
Dance schools across the state are facing closure because of tough social distancing measures.
As the state works toward a coronavirus recovery, operators say more than 150,000 dancers risk missing out on their weekly lessons without immediate changes to restrictions.
Dance classes are not allowed, but may be allowed to proceed from June 22 with a limit of 10 people per activity.
But in a letter to Premier Daniel Andrews, signed by 140 dance schools, operators warned schools could still be forced to shut.
“Premier, while we fully support the 20 people per enclosed space and 4sq m per person, we cannot operate our businesses effectively with 10 people per activity,” it said.
Ararat Dance Studio Owner Karly Harris said a class of just 10 students means some dancers keen to get back in the studio will have to miss out.
Ms Harris said the limit is unreasonable when kids do not have to social distance at school.
“We have the same kids in the same classes every week.”
Opposition leader Michael O’Brien agreed.
“Victorian kids can sit next to each other in the classroom yet Andrews says jazz or ballet is too risky,” he said.
— Shannon Deery and Olivia Jenkins