Victoria records no new coronavirus cases as state of emergency extended again
Covid boss Jeroen Weimar has urged returning travellers to abide by Victoria’s rules after five people were fined for flouting red zone requirements.
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Victoria’s Covid boss has urged returning travellers to abide by the state’s health measures after five people were fined for flouting red zone requirements.
The returning travellers had visited red zone areas interstate and were fined after they were visited by Australian Defence Force personnel undertaking enforcement checks.
Victoria COVID-19 Commander Jeroen Weimar said the majority of returning travellers were abiding by isolation rules, but some continued to disregard the requirements and isolate for 14 days.
“We are now taking them forward for appropriate enforcement action,”
he said.
“Our biggest fear right now. is ongoing releases from hotel quarantine and people not abiding with restrictions.”
Asked about whether those under 40 should get the AstraZeneca vaccine or wait for Pfizer, Mr Weimar said that, “for younger Victorians … it is only your GP who can give you well informed advice.”
Mr Weimar was confident everyone across the state could receive the jab by the end of the year.
He said the focus on vaccination demand across Victoria continues to be high, with 40,000 booked to receive the jab next week.
The Covid chief defended the controversial state of emergency after it was extended to deal with the pandemic.
Mr Weimar said “the state of emergency provides a framework to respond quickly.”
The situation in Victoria, he added, is “in good hands indeed”.
“We are excited to see a stable picture …[but] the hard work isn’t over.” he said.
For health authorities, the focus for the week ahead will be identifying the 210 primary close contacts of existing cases, and reducing the number of active infections around the state.
NO NEW CASES, STATE OF EMERGENCY EXTENDED AGAIN
Victoria has recorded no new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours for the third consecutive day.
A total of 24,247 tests received and 19,623 vaccine doses were administered.
The state now has 30 active cases.
It comes as the divisive state of emergency — first declared in March 2020 — has again been extended until the end of the month as the state’s outbreaks remain “stable”.
From 11.59pm on July 1, chief health officer Brett Sutton’s emergency powers will be extended until 11.59pm on July 29.
Alice Springs and the Greater Darwin area are now considered orange zones under the state government’s travel permit system.
Red zone status still applies to Greater Sydney, Wollongong, the Perth and Peel regions in New South Wales and parts of South East Queensland, including Greater Brisbane, plus Townsville, Magnetic Island and Palm Island.
Meanwhile, authorities visited 160 households of recent interstate arrivals on Thursday to ensure they were isolating.
Police continue to patrol the border between Victoria and New South Wales, with 50 members of the Australian Defence Force assisting the public health team with household checks.
NSW RECORDS 35 NEW CORONAVIRUS CASES
New South Wales has recorded 35 new cases of coronavirus overnight – less than 24 hours after an urgent health alert was issued for dozens of new locations.
There are fears the state could be plunged into a further lockdown after more than 31 new cases were recorded on Friday.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said health authorities were anticipating more cases to emerge over the weekend after Friday’s numbers emerged but maintained the “positive impact” of lockdown would be seen from next week.
ANTI-VAXXERS TARGET JAB HUBS
Anti-vaxxers are targeting Victorian vaccine hubs, with police called in to protect nurses under siege.
Security has also been boosted at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition centre in an effort to protect staff.
Health Minister Martin Foley said on Friday nurses had been spat on and abused by “tin pot” theorists opposed to the vaccination program.
Mr Foley said nurses had also been subject to racist remarks and other “disgusting” behaviour.
Read the full story here.
OVERSEAS TRAVELLER NUMBERS TO BE CUT
Australia will halve the number of people allowed to enter the country on commercial flights after National Cabinet agreed to state government demands to reduce the number of people being held in struggling hotel quarantine systems.
But Canberra has agreed to increase the number of commercial flights into Darwin that can use the quarantine facility at Howard Springs.
The cuts to inbound commercial flights will begin on July 14 and last until the end of August.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that breaches from hotel quarantine that have led to the current lockdowns across Australia had occurred predominantly as a result of infection control procedures and human error.
Read the full story here.
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