1750 cases, nine deaths, as protesters gathered in St Kilda
Demonstrators marched in St Kilda to vent their anger at the vaccine mandate as the state marked 1750 new cases and nine deaths.
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Dozens of maskless protesters took to the streets of St Kilda on Saturday afternoon to protest the state’s vaccine mandates.
Demonstrators marched down Acland Street and could be seen holding signs which said “pro choice”, while one man wore a T-shirt which said “I do not consent!”
The protesters sat on blankets on the footpaths outside of the street’s pubs and restaurants as Victoria Police personnel watched on.
One man was handcuffed by police, but it is understood he was released shortly afterwards after the officers spoke with him.
The protest comes in the wake of the state’s new health measures, which requires Victorians to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to enter hospitality venues.
Victoria recorded 1750 new cases and nine coronavirus deaths in the past 24 hours.
There are now 770 Covid-infected Victorians in hospital with 144 in intensive care and 90 on a ventilator.
A total of 39,126 vaccines were administered and 72,858 cases recorded.
Seventy-two per cent of Victorians are now fully vaccinated.
The deaths included a man in his 60s, three women and two men in their 70s, one woman in her 80s, and two women in their 90s.
Covid commander Jeroen Weinmar revealed there had been a surge in regional cases and infections among children and students.
Mr Weimar revealed three in four active Covid cases in Victoria were aged under 40.
He also said the majority of people who were ending up in hospital with the virus were unvaccinated.
Of the 770 hospitalisations from Covid in Victoria, 86 per cent are not fully vaccinated.
Of the 144 people in ICU, 93 per cent were not fully vaccinated.
“Again, this highlights time and time again that vaccination really is the best way to protect yourself from the ongoing pandemic,” Mr Weimar said.
However, the state has reached 72.5 per cent full vaccination coverage, with only a small number of jabs to go before hitting the important 80 per cent milestone.
There are 440,000 second doses left to enter Victorians’ arms before the state reaches 80 per cent double-dosed.
“We want to get those 440,000 and as quickly as we can over the days ahead,” Mr Weimar said.
“It’s really charging into the 80 per cent per cent double vaccination milestone as quickly as possible.”
CHAPEL STREET CROWDS ERUPT ON FREEDOM DAY
Chapel Street was the site of unruly scenes on Friday night as revellers kicked-off their first weekend of freedom.
Impromptu street parties began on the footpath, with young people spotted dancing on roofs and canopies. Police reportedly stepped in to break-up the crowds to prevent festivities from getting out of hand.
There was little social distancing in sight as maskless revellers descended on the popular strip.
In footage posted to social media, revellers were seen jumping on utes and cheering as vehicles passed by doing burnouts on the road.
Pubs, bars and restaurants were packed with crowds as Melburnians made the most of their first big night out since the end of lockdown six.
Manager of Chapel Street bar Tusk, Shannen Harumani, said most customers at the venue were well behaved but there have been some unruly exceptions.
“Everyone is having a good time but there are some people who have taken it a little too far and lost in the excitement,” she said.
The bar was forced to call the police after a seemingly intoxicated man tried to smash the venue’s window.
Burnouts were a real crowd pleaser #Melbourne#Burnoutpic.twitter.com/XoGPucJkFN
— Darragh Masterson (@darraghmasters) October 22, 2021
“So just a usual night out on Chapel Street,” Ms Harumani joked.
The bar manager said the venue has been flat our since it opened at 6.40pm
“We have been absolutely slammed all night with customers,” she said.
“But I’m happy to he back, I’m a social person, so it’s great to be here.”
A Victoria Police spokesperson said they had not been alerted to any serious incidents to the street as of 11.45pm.
TRADING UP ‘5000 PER CENT’ AT QUEEN VIC MARKET
The wet weather didn’t put on a damper on Melburnians’ spirit on Saturday morning, as customers flocked to Queen Victoria Market.
Fruit shop owner Rosa Ansaldo said trading was “5000 per cent” better than during lockdown.
“We’ve all been down the gurgler, we’re just so happy to see people back,” she said.
“I’ve got a lot of loyal customers, we just want everyone to get down here.”
Marshall Waters has owned his wine stall for 12 years and said trade had dropped to 30 per cent compared to normal business during lockdown.
“We survived and it’s a good feeling to see things return back to normal,” he said.
“Putting the tables out gives people the opportunity to sit down and taste the wine which is the best environment possible.”
Jewellery shop owners Herman and Dotty Maierhofer reopened their stall after three months of closure and said it was “good and bad” to be back.
“It’s good to be back selling but we got so used to being at home and not doing much. You get stuck in a bit of routine,” Mr Maierhofer said.
“It’ll take a little bit for business to get back to normal but it’s like everything. The wheels start slowly and then they pick up.”
Kerry Archer and son Allister Lovelock have been regulars at the market since Allister “was in a pram”.
“I love it. I couldn’t shop at the supermarket, it was stressful trying to buy my fruit and veg,” Ms Archer said.
“I’m 65 and I used to come here with mum and dad when I was 14 or 15. When I got married I started religiously coming in.”
Ms Archer said there was “comfortability” that she missed about the market during lockdown.
“I know what I’m doing, I know what I’m buying and you know the quality,” she said.
“It’s just so great for it to come back alive.”
FREEDOM A CASH BOOST FOR SUFFERING INDUSTRIES
Melburnians have rushed to celebrate the end of the state’s record sixth lockdown giving a much needed cash boost to long-suffering businesses.
Cafes, pubs, and hairdressers across the city were booked to capacity, with many operating extended opening hours to accommodate 77 days of pent up demand.
Many treated the opening up, after a world record 263 days of lockdown, as a soft opening ahead of further expected restriction easings next weekend when Victoria is set to hit its 80 per cent fully vaccinated target.
Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief Paul Guerra said only then would many businesses start making a profit.
“Hitting the 70 per cent double vaccination milestone is an incredible achievement and demonstrates the commitment Victorians have for our state,” he said.
“It’s not quite the end of the road — we now turn our attention to the next significant milestone of 80 per cent of the eligible population being double vaccinated.
“The Victorian Chamber hopes that on Sunday, Premier Daniel Andrews will announce that 80 per cent settings will be implemented on Friday, and that’s when we can lift the lid and show the rest of Australia that we are back.
“There is no question it’s good to be open but many businesses won’t start making a profit until we get to 80 per cent levels.”
After enduring the world’s longest lockdown city streets were buzzing with some venues wasting no time to get back to business, opening at midnight as lockdown ended.
Queues 30-people deep formed outside hairdressing salons as punters rushed to tidy up three months worth of growth.
Outdoor dining areas were packed to capacity as family and friends took the chance to catch up for meal for the first time in months.
Centro Expresso cafe owner Mardy Farrant said there was “a good buzz in the air” on reopening day.
“It’s a better vibe for sure, it’s good to see more people about but it’ll be better when office workers are back,” she said.
The Flinders Lane cafe owner bought the business three years ago and said trading had plunged 80 per cent during lockdown.
“We’ve limped along, we usually employ backpackers so we’re looking for workers at the moment,” she said.
“I’m quite proud of the fact that we’ve really persevered.”
She said she wasn’t “terribly thrilled” about the government directive forcing businesses to check the vaccination status of customers.
“It’s not going to be great to cop it from (unvaccinated) customers.”
Australia Hotels Association president David Canny said pubs across the state had been booked to capacity.
Thousands of patrons were unable to secure a seat, with strict venue capacity limits in force. But he said all eyes were on next weekend with the hopeful increasing of capacity, and ultimately no venue limits in place.
“Everyone’s excited about getting trading and welcoming people back,” Mr Canny said.
“It’s a good day.”
Mr Canny said there had been the need to help some patrons download vaccination certificates, but had heard of no reports of any pushback against the measure.
“Everyone’s been exceptionally good,” he said.
“There’s a bit of frustration from people who are ringing pubs and can’t get in. There was the carrot dangled that said if you get vaccinated you’ll be able to go to the pub.
“But density limits are preventing that from being the case.”
Small Business Australia executive director Bill Lang said tens of thousands of businesses were still unable to trade under continued restrictions.
“We have retail outlets closed because they cannot move their shop outside and hospitality venues closed because of the change in rules on vaccination status or the simple fact the small number of patrons they can have in their venue makes it financially unviable for them to open,” Mr Lang said.
“North of the border we have a government intent of getting businesses open with limited restrictions, meanwhile in Victoria we have a government intent on applying ongoing restrictions that limit the capacity of small business families to trade — so while the Premier chooses to celebrate and pat himself on the back for finally allowing limited freedoms — tens of thousands of small business families suffering under his governments rules and restrictions would prefer to have started their business anywhere but Victoria.
“Victoria has the most complicated, confusing and error riddled Covid rules in the nation. When it comes to business these rules are clearly created by those with zero business acumen and by people who have never spent any meaningful time working within a small business — if they did they would ensure that the rules they did have in place were simple, consistent and fair.”
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