12 cases, one death; Chadstone cluster spreads to regional Victoria
A warning has been issued to Melburnians that the contentious 5km rule could be in place for longer. It comes as footy fans have been given a glimmer of hope, after Premier Daniel Andrews hinted metro areas could be allowed to celebrate AFL Grand Final day like the rest of the state.
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Victoria has recorded 12 new cases of coronavirus overnight, along with one death — a man in his 80s linked to aged-care.
The latest figures reveal a slight rise from the eight new cases recorded on Saturday.
Of Sunday’s new cases, six are linked to known outbreaks, while the remainder are under investigation.
The important 14-day case average marker for metropolitan Melbourne stands at 11.9.
Under Victoria’s road map to reopening, restrictions will be eased after October 19 if the average is less than five.
Currently, there are 241 active cases, including 91 in aged care, 32 healthcare workers and one disability care worker.
There are three active cases in regional Victoria after a new infection in Mitchell Shire, linked to The Butcher Club in Chadstone.
That cluster now stands at 20, with six workers, eight household members, two customers and four other contacts. Three of Sunday’s new cases are linked to the outbreak.
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said: “We are identifying people who were at Chadstone at this time we were testing positive.
“Obviously, that gives us a suspicion that they are linked in some way. And it might be super spreaders or super-spreading events, somebody is particularly infectious.
“There is only casual contact or in shared facilities like the public toilets in Chadstone that might have contributed to this transmission, so it is a salient lesson.
“Workplaces, you know, essential workplaces will continue. People who work closely together can be part of a cluster, and all of their household contact them become the secondary cases and then the tertiary cases are where some of those household contacts go to their essential workplaces.”
Prof Sutton said he didn’t believe the outbreak was a result of anti-lockdown protests at the shopping centre recently.
“I don’t think so … (but) it’s clearly not helpful to have people gathering …” he said.
He said a specialised team had been sent to quickly track and isolate the cases.
“We’re standing up outbreak management teams for those individual cases. That’s how much we’re chasing this down.”
But he said new mystery cases remained a concern for health authorities, with three new infections emerging on Sunday.
“There are three new mystery cases which have been identified or classified as of today, they are not in today’s numbers but they are postcodes 3145, 3023, 3091,” Prof Sutton said.
“That is East Malvern and Caulfield East, Caroline Springs, and Deer Park and Braybrook to the southeast and west of Melbourne.”
He urged residents of those postcodes to be especially vigilant and get tested if experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms.
“It only takes a delayed diagnosis, working with very mild symptoms for a few days for that to mean 10, 15, 20 cases pop up in a day,” Prof Sutton said.
Meanwhile, Premier Daniel Andrews also foreshadowed upcoming announcements about Melburnians travelling to secondary properties to prepare for bushfire season.
5KM RULE COULD BE EXTENDED
The 5km rule could be in place for longer to keep Melburnians from flocking to popular spots across the city, Premier Daniel Andrews said.
He said the restriction - which now only applies to metro Melbourne - has a clear “purpose.”
“I can’t put a timeline on it but those rules serve a really important purpose and they’ll be in place for as long as that purpose is relevant and proportionate - the benefit is relevant and proportionate - to the challenge we face,” Mr Andrews said.
“There will be a time when that can come off, but exactly when that is - or it might be extended - when that is we can’t be certain now.”
The controversial rule was set to be removed once the state reached a 14-day rolling average of less than five cases, and less than five mystery cases, which is on-track to happen before October 19.
According to the government’s coronavirus information website, there will be “no restrictions on leaving home” when Stage Three of the state’s recovery roadmap is enacted.
GLIMMER OF HOPE FOR GRAND FINAL DAY
When asked if Melburnians might be awarded a little more freedom in time for Grand Final Day, Mr Andrews said: “If I could say now, of course I would … but we’ve just got to see how these numbers continue.”
He said he was “as confident as you can be” that Melbourne’s 14-day rolling average would get to less than five cases by October 19.
He also hinted that if numbers permit, the city could be allowed to celebrate the iconic day like the rest of the state.
“Hopefully we can finish up in a situation where we have got arrangements that are pretty close to what’s happening in regional Victoria,” Mr Andrews said.
“There’ll be a big focus on outdoors, maybe some indoors.
“It’s just a bit too early for us to be able to say now. I know that’s frustrating. People would love to know and I’d be love to be able to speak in completely clear terms, but that’s not the enemy we’re up against.”
DRAMATIC BEACH ARREST UNFOLDS AT ALTONA
Police at a Melbourne beach copped a barrage of obscenities from a mob claiming officers pushed a pregnant woman during a dramatic beach arrest.
Officers were trying to deal with a woman, arrested for multiple COVID breaches, as she lay on the sand when the other woman was allegedly pushed away.
Victoria Police said the members were patrolling Altona Beach on Saturday evening when they saw a group of people not wearing masks.
A police spokesman said the group became aggressive when approached and officers arrested a woman after she refused to give her name and address.
The members were bombarded with filthy language during the encounter, which threatened to erupt into violence in front of other families.
Read the full story and watch the footage here.
PADDLE BOARDERS IN BREACH
Two rescued paddle boarders and a group of beachgoers are among the latest Victorians to be slapped with fines for flouting lockdown rules.
Victoria Police issued 104 fines in the past 24 hour, including 17 for not wearing a face mask and 11 at vehicle checkpoints.
A man and woman who had to be helped by Water Police after they got into difficulty while paddleboarding in Hobsons Bay were fined for being outside their 5km radius, while four men who were “just having a day at the beach” in St Kilda were also punished for being over 5km from home.
A group of nine friends in two cars catching up on a dead end road in Melton were also fined for breaching restrictions.
BEACHGOERS SINGLED OUT AGAIN
Mr Andrews said the numbers were positive, but urged Victorians not to undo their good work.
He again singled out revellers who flocked to St Kilda across the weekend.
“Today the weather is warm … and we would hope nothing to see quite the behaviour we saw on Friday night,” he said.
“Let’s not any of us do anything that might undermine (our efforts).
“If you want to spend summer at the beach … (don’t) do anything silly, anything selfish now.
“It’s got to be done in the right way.”
He said the state was about a week ahead of schedule, but warned that could be undone if rules weren’t followed.
But the Premier also praised Victorians who did the right thing outdoors.
“I want to thank all those Victorians who were going to the beach and did so in full accordance with the rules — all of those Victorians who went to the park, who followed the rules and were able to connect with others, were able to get some sunshine and some fresh air,” Mr Andrews said.
“Heavens knows Victorians have earned it, but it has got to be done in the right way.”
Prof Sutton also reinforced the message and encouraged Melburnians to enjoy the outdoors safely.
“Outdoor activities are actually fine, if you do them safely,” he said.
“We know that we focused on law-breakers yesterday, but I have seen many examples of people doing absolutely the right thing, enjoying the outdoors. We know that it is good for emotional wellbeing, psychological wellbeing, so it is important to get out.
“There are many, many examples of people who were outdoors, enjoying their time in those groups under five and keeping a distance from others and wearing masks. Yes, the risk of transmission outdoors is less, but the whole point about limiting the number of households you can interact with is that they are new contacts for you.”
HALFWAY THROUGH ‘FACE COVERING’ GRACE PERIOD
Victorians have another week before the grace period for face coverings ends, but Prof Sutton has urged people to make the switch to fitted face masks now.
From next Monday, coverings like face shields and bandannas can no longer be worn alone.
“Face shields protect the eyes but they stop at about the chin level. There’s an open space,” he said.
“You can breathe in through your nose and mouth, so they don’t provide protection from transmission other than that eye protection.
“So in addition to wearing a mask, they have been used in hospital settings … to give an added level of protection by protecting the mucosa of the eyes — but as protection alone without a mask, they don’t do the job.
“So we’re basically saying you have to wear something fitting that covers the nose and mouth. That’s what the standard required is because we know that that’s really what’s needed to protect from transmission.”
THREAT TO CLOSE BEACHES AFTER REVELLERS GATHER
Premier Daniel Andrews warned that Melbourne’s beaches could be closed if rule-breakers continue to gather in crowds and flout restrictions, as revellers swarmed the St Kilda shoreline for a second night on Saturday.
The popular beach had a heavy police presence all through the warm Saturday after hundreds of people — many without masks –—partied on the foreshore on Friday evening.
But the police patrols did not deter people from congregating in the area, as groups emerged in large numbers on Saturday night, drinking, dancing and blaring dance music through portable speakers.
At his daily press conference, the Premier described their Friday night behaviour as “unacceptable”, saying it threatened to derail plans to ease restrictions in Melbourne.
Mr Andrews said police could shut down beaches if people did not follow the rules.
“Victoria Police have powers. They have steely determination to make sure people are following the rules,” he said.
But on Sunday, Mr Andrews said he had not been involved in discussion about closing beaches in bayside areas.
Instead, he maintained councils and police were very serious about enforcing rules.
A man resisting arrest was involved in a violent scuffle with four police officers on the St Kilda boardwalk about 6.20pm on Saturday.
Two police officers were treated for exposure to capsicum spray. The arrest resulted in a crowd of people jeering at the police, who soon bundled the man into a divvy van.
In a separate incident, police said a 24-year-old male allegedly assaulted police in St Kilda. He was arrested and is expected to be charged.
On Saturday afternoon, a large number of police, including the mounted branch and public order response teams, patrolled St Kilda beach and its surrounds.
Police were seen telling sunbathers to put on masks. One officer ordered a man to go home because he had been outdoors for more than the permitted two-hour period.
During the afternoon, the majority of people appeared to be staying within social distance circle markings on the grass and wearing masks, before chaos broke out in the evening.
Married At First Sight star Steve Burley spent Saturday at St Kilda beach and said he backed the Premier’s response to Friday night’s crowd antics. “At the end of the day we are so close to succeeding and I just want to be over it,” he said.
City of Port Phillip chief executive officer Peter Smith told the Herald Sun the behaviour on Friday night risked beaches being closed.
“Unfortunately, if we have large crowds of people doing the wrong thing, then we will have no choice but to close the beach or park as a last resort,” Mr Smith said.
‘WILL I DIE?’: CONFUSION OVER TRUMP’S CONDITION
US President Donald Trump reportedly asked aides if he was doing to die from COVID-19 while being flown to hospital, as a top official said the next 48 hours are “critical”.
According to a Vanity Fair journalist, Mr Trump asked his aides: “Am I going out like Stan Chera? Am I?”
Mr Trump was referring to New York real estate developer Mr Chera, a longtime friend and supporter who died of coronavirus aged 77 in April.
It comes amid confusion over the US President’s condition amid contradictory statements from White House officials.
Follow the latest Trump updates here.
VICTORIAN HOTEL INQUIRY’S SIX-MINUTE CONUNDRUM
Telephone records which could shed light on who in the Victorian government first decided to use private security in the hotel quarantine program are available – but cannot be presented to the inquiry.
The Sunday Herald Sun has confirmed the data Australia’s telecoms companies are required by law to keep includes the inbound phone calls their customers receive.
But privacy and other laws create hurdles which block the records being handed over.
The issue has been brought into sharp focus by evidence given to the hotel quarantine inquiry by former police chief commissioner Graham Ashton, who said he could not shed light on who might have given him information about private security because he could not obtain a record of his inbound phone calls.
Read the full story here.
PUSH TO GIVE STUDENTS FREE PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Students with myki concession cards should be given a year of free travel on public transport and Year 12 students issued a refund, according to the Victorian Liberal Nationals.
The state opposition has called for the government to provide financial relief for families in 2021 by waiving fares for those with student concession cards in Year 11 and below.
Year 12 students would be given a refund because they will not be able to use the cards after the end of this year.
The Liberal Nationals will argue that free trips provided throughout 2020 have provided little benefit as children have spent a major part of the school year at home.
Opposition leader Michael O’Brien said the current student refund system was difficult and more financial support was needed across the state.
“Rolling over this year’s student myki passes for students just makes sense and Daniel Andrews should announce that he will do it immediately,” he said. “Labor’s current refund policy for student myki passes just punishes parents who have already done it really tough this year. So many Victorian families are struggling financially due to Labor’s second wave of coronavirus, rolling over student Mykis for a free year of travel in 2021 is the least Daniel Andrews can do.”
It comes after Infrastructure Victoria last month urged the government to reform the public transport fare system, with heavily discounted off-peak fares to relieve congestion. Trips on buses and trams would also be cheaper than trips into the city by train.
Opposition transport spokesman David Davis said parents deserved some relief after working hard on remote learning for their children.
MEN’S BIZARRE STRIP CLUB FINE EXCUSE
Two men from regional Victoria have been fined for travelling into Melbourne to attend a strip club — only to realise they had gone into a stage 4 lockdown area where none were open.
They were among the 82 fines issued in the past 24 hours for breaching the Chief Health Officer’s directions.
There were 13 fines for failing to wear a face mask when leaving home and 11 were issued at vehicle checkpoints.
The men, from regional Victoria, were fined at a Macedon Ranges checkpoint for entering a Stage 4 restricted area. They claimed they wanted to “attend a strip club” but arrived in Melbourne to find no such premises were open.
A Melton woman checked on a train between Sunshine and Southern Cross Station, was fined for having no lawful reason for travelling 5km from home. She told police she was heading into the city to buy organic food.
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