Rolling coverage: Checkpoint queues stretch for kilometres, 45 new cases and five deaths confirmed
People infected with coronavirus visiting other homes are believed to be behind a new cluster in Melbourne’s south-east, while Dan Andrews’ ring of steel is causing traffic delays stretching for kilometres at checkpoints out of the city. Forty-five new COVID cases and five deaths were confirmed on Friday.
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Victoria has recorded a spike in new COVID-19 cases, with 45 new cases recorded overnight.
The total number of cases in Victoria has now surpassed 20,000.
The number is a significant increase on yesterday’s total of 28 new cases, but has had no significant impact on the 14-day rolling average which has fallen further to 42.7 for metropolitan Melbourne.
Regional Victoria’s average fell to 2.3.
Five more deaths were recorded, including one man in his 50s, one in his 70s, another in his 80s, and two women in their 90s.
All deaths were linked to aged care facilities.
Ninety Victorians are in hospital with coronavirus, including 11 in ICU with seven on a ventilator.
The total number of cases from an unknown source in the last 14 days is 73 for metropolitan Melbourne and zero for regional Victoria.
15,910 tests were processed on Thursday.
Of the state’s 920 active cases, 474 are linked to aged care outbreaks, and 140 involve health care workers.
Colac Otway has 14 active cases, Greater Geelong has three active cases, Greater Bendigo has one active case and Ballarat has no active cases.
CASEY CLUSTER SPREAD ACROSS FIVE HOUSEHOLDS
Infected people visiting other households may be behind a concerning virus cluster in Melbourne’s south-east, the state government says.
Thirty-four cases are now linked to the cluster in Casey, with cases across five households in Hallam, Clyde, Narre Warren South and Cranbourne North.
Thirty of these cases are still active while two are in hospital receiving care.
DHHS deputy secretary Jeroen Weimar said: “But we’ve also seen in this particular cluster visiting of houses beyond the 5km radius, so these five houses in this particular cluster have had, unfortunately, some members of those households visiting other households.”
Premier Daniel Andrews said people breaching current restrictions could result in a longer road out of lockdown for the entire city of Melbourne.
“The 5km is one thing and visiting others is the real issue here, frankly,” he said.
“The rules are in place for a reason and anyone who undermines this, undermines the entire strategy and it means the rules will be on far longer.
“The one thing that is almost certain, if you have this and spend time in other people ‘s homes, you will give it to them.”
While none of today’s cases are linked to the cluster, five cases reported yesterday and seven on Wednesday have been linked.
The first case in the cluster was identified on September 4.
An alert has been issued for anyone who shopped at Fountain Gate shopping centre between August 18 and September 6 to get tested if they have any symptoms.
“We do want anyone who has even the slightest of symptoms to come forward for testing, particularly if they have been in the area of Fountain Gate,” deputy chief health officer Allen Cheng said.
4228 people have been tested over the past week in the Dandenong and Casey areas, while a total of 90 cases are active across the two areas.
“We’ve seen some outbreaks around Dandenong police station station and some industrial sites around Dandenong and Casey,” Mr Weirmar said.
Two additional pop-up testing sites have been set up at Dandenong Market.
NO INCOME TAX ON GOVERNMENT GRANTS
Victorian businesses will not have to pay income tax on any grants they receive through the state government’s $3bn support package.
Scott Morrison announced the exemption in a statement on Friday, saying it recognised “the exceptional circumstances Victorian businesses face”.
Daniel Andrews had lobbied the Prime Minister this week to ensure the grants would be tax-free.
HUGE DELAYS AT LITTLE RIVER CHECKPOINT
It comes amid major delays for drivers leaving the city this morning as police continue their “ring of steel” and ensure people have a valid reason for travel.
Footage from the Little River checkpoint, on the Princes Highway heading towards Geelong, shows traffic banked up for kilometres.
Some reports suggest the line stretched as far back as Werribee, with police and ADF members pulling over drivers and checking details.
It comes after it was revealed on Thursday that the same police point was left unmanned earlier in the morning due to wet weather.
It’s understood police are not permitted to operate the checkpoints in the rain because of safety concerns.
POLL STILL SHOWS SUPPORT FOR ANDREWS
The second wave of coronavirus has caused a dip in support for Premier Daniel Andrews but he would still win an election if one were held today, a new poll predicts.
According to the Roy Morgan SMS survey, Labor leads the coalition 51.5 per cent to 48.5 per cent on a two-party preferred basis.
The Labor vote is down 5.8 per cent since the 2018 state election.
Primary support for Labor has dropped 5.9 per cent, to 37 per cent, giving a narrow lead to the coalition which is up 3.3 per cent to 38.5 per cent.
Melbourne voters were more inclined to vote Labor, with 53.5 per cent support for the party.
The snap survey, conducted between Tuesday and Thursday, polled 1,147 voters across Victoria.
Roy Morgan chief Michele Levine said while the ALP remained the favourite to win an election, support for the coalition had risen substantially since 2018.
“The Second Wave of COVID-19 in Victoria has led to a tightening between the two major parties with the ALP on 51.5% only narrowly ahead of the L-NP on 48.5% on a two-party preferred basis in mid-September,” she said.
“ALP support has dropped substantially since the 2018 Victorian State Election with primary support down nearly 6% points to 37%.
“As Victoria (hopefully) emerges from the Second Wave of COVID-19 in the next couple of months the big issues will revolve around supporting businesses and rebooting the Victorian economy and providing jobs for the hundreds of thousands of Victorians now looking for new work.”
VICTORIA DRIVES DOWN NATION’S JOBS, PUSH TO REOPEN GROWS
Victoria is responsible for almost half of the decline in Australia’s workforce during the pandemic, prompting the federal government to increase pressure on Premier Daniel Andrews to accelerate his plan to reopen the state.
New figures show from April to August, the nationwide workforce shrank by 413,600 people, including 188,400 people in Victoria.
Victoria has clawed back just five per cent of the jobs lost in April and May — compared to 53 per cent nationwide and 70 per cent in New South Wales.
Victoria’s jobless rate jumped to 7.1 per cent last month.
The dire jobs data came as Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said they wanted the state government to move more quickly to allow businesses to get back to work.
The Premier offered a glimmer of hope on Thursday, conceding “if we finish up ahead of schedule, then we will adjust things”.
Under the state’s road map, major changes will only occur on October 26 if the daily average for new cases across 14 days is less than five.
Deputy Chief Health Officer Professor Allen Cheng said that figure was not locked in.
“There is going to be a lot of judgment so it isn’t going to be exactly five we’re aiming for,” he said.
“If it was six and the last outbreak was like a closed community outbreak and was in aged care, we were pretty sure we had a ring around it to make sure there weren’t going to be any ongoing cases, then yes, we’d be happy with that.
“Similarly, if the numbers come down quicker than we hope then we’ll always be happy to look at that again.”
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the national unemployment rate fell from 7.5 per cent to 6.8 per cent in August, surprising economists and even the Treasurer, although the federal government puts the effective rate at 9.3 per cent.
In Victoria, the unemployment rate climbed to 7.1 per cent as 42,400 people lost their jobs. Another 113,000 Victorians who had jobs did not work any hours in August, out of 215,000 people in that position nationwide.
Victoria lost 197,900 jobs in April and May, and most of the gains made in June and July were lost in August.
The PM said Victoria was not opening “quickly enough” for many residents, but he hoped the plan could be sped up. “I said a few weeks ago when they announced the plan that I hoped that this was the worst-case scenario in terms of what the plan would be,” Mr Morrison said. “That’s what Dan Andrews and I are working on at the moment.”
Mr Frydenberg said he had been in talks with his state counterpart Tim Pallas.
“When it comes to Victoria, business has been very outspoken and businesses have called for an easing of those restrictions and more flexibility,” the Treasurer said.
“I would welcome that from the Victorian government.”
Mr Andrews said he was pleased daily case numbers had fallen from 725 six weeks ago to 28 — although there were fears over the growing cluster in Casey in Melbourne’s southeast which has hit 33 infections.
Eight new deaths, six related to aged care, were recorded on Thursday.
Modelling released by the government to justify its reopening road map predicted that by mid-September Victoria would record about 60 new cases a day — far higher than yesterday’s 28.
Asked whether the modelling would be redone and new timelines set, Mr Andrews said the “story” behind the numbers was important. He said the steps were also set out with a “period between them” so authorities could determine the effect of easing restrictions.
STRANDED PETS TO FLY HOME VIA SYDNEY
Relief is on the way for pet owners sent barking mad after reduced flights into Melbourne meant their furry friends were stuck overseas without them.
A deal struck with Qantas will see cats and dogs allowed to fly into Sydney before being transferred to the usual quarantine facility in Melbourne when they are unable to secure a direct flight into Victoria.
Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said the temporary arrangement would allow people who had moved home during the pandemic to be reunited with their four-legged friends.
“Pets are part of the family in almost every household in Australia,” Mr Littleproud
said.
“The Australian Government understands how hard it has been for some pet owners to
make the difficult decision to leave their pets behind due to the COVID-19 inflicted travel
restrictions.”
More than 1200 pets have gone through the Mickleham quarantine facility since May- about 40 per cent down on last year.
Qantas was required to show all biosecurity requirements could be met in Sydney before the deal was inked.
The service will be available from later this month.
“I look forward to seeing Australians being reunited with their beloved pets and hope that
this brings some happiness during a difficult period,” Mr Littleproud said.
SWIM LESSONS ESSENTIAL
Indoor swim schools are raising concerns about ongoing delays to children’s lessons ahead of summer.
Jump swim school’s Michelle Bradley and James Bradley said they were desperate to restart lessons for their 800 students aged between three months and 12 years.
Under Melbourne’s reopening road map, outdoor pools will be allowed to reopen later this month but indoor pools must remain closed.
“The road map is saying end of October but it’s not crystal clear, so we’re in a bit of limbo,” Ms Bradley said.
“Given that the warmer months are coming and outdoor pools are open we’d love to see swimming lessons happening as soon as possible.”
Ms Bradley said worried parents had contacted the school with concerns ahead of summer. “Parents just want their kids starting lessons again. They don’t seem to care as much about missing out on footy and soccer, it’s swimming that’s the one thing a lot of parents say is a non-negotiable activity for their children to do. Learning to swim is essential in a lot of parents’ minds,” she said.
HARDWARE BUSINESSES HIT HARD TIMES
Father-and-son team who run a suburban hardware store have called for an early retail reprieve.
Barry and Jarrod Rosenberg, who run Provans Mitre 10 in Clifton Hill, said times were tough, even though the business was allowed to offer click and collect.
“I’ve looked at the restrictions that are coming off at the end of the month and they are not really helping anyone — they’re certainly not helping business at all, not one tiny bit,” Barry said. “It’s much harder to get an order ready for someone with click and collect. It is a bit aggravating for someone when they get home and realise they need something else, and have to reorder and pay and go back.”
— Andrew Koubaridis
ESTATE AGENTS BEG TO ALLOW INSPECTIONS
Melbourne’s real estate sector says it only needs one little freedom to save hundreds of homeowners and tenants from financial and mental stress: the ability to run physical one-on-one inspections.
Ray White Werribee director Michelle Chick is one of many property professionals urging the Victorian government to revive the crucial element of the selling and leasing processes earlier than October 26.
“Everything else, we can do virtually. We’ve had a lot of success with online auctions,” she said.
“We just need that final piece of the puzzle.”
The Real Estate Institute of Victoria is campaigning for private inspections to resume as part of the second step on the state government’s road map to reopening, due to start September 28, rather than the third. And more than 1600 people have signed a petition on the state parliament website that calls for the sector to be able to reopen.
Ms Chick said the vast majority of buyers and tenants were unwilling to commit to homes they hadn’t set foot in — but some who had already sold homes and needed to buy or lease new ones did not have the luxury to wait six weeks.
“Some have had to move on for financial reasons, or to get into school zones for their kids,” she said.
— Samantha Landy
WEARING MASKS TO REMAIN COMPULSORY
Masks will remain mandatory in Victoria after Daniel Andrews says there is no current deadline to lift the policy.
When quizzed about the use of masks on the road to recovery the Premier said: “To be honest, I can’t answer when people won’t have to wear masks anymore.
“What I am saying as frankly as I can is that it won’t be anytime soon.
“I know it is not pleasant and as the weather gets warmer it will become more challenging.
“But for the benefit you get, and there is a lot of international evidence about this as they have moved through similar circumstances to us, you do get a really significant benefit.”
Anyone failing to wear as mask could be fined $200.
JOB LOSSES HIT MIGRANTS
Migrants and refugee communities have felt the full brunt of the pandemic with new data revealing stark job losses.
An analysis by refugee and migrant agency AMES Australia has shown the unemployment gap between migrants and the Australian-born population has increased to almost 2 per cent.
According to the study, there were twice as many migrants and refugees looking for work as Australian-born jobseekers.
AMES Australia researcher John Van Kooy said unemployment rates had reached 8.5 per cent for those born overseas while for people born in Australia it was 7.2 per cent. The rates were almost even this time last year.
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