Victoria lockdown ends after no new coronavirus cases emerge

Victoria’s “short, sharp circuit-breaker” lockdown is over — but some restrictions will stay in place to combat the potential spread of COVID-19.

Victoria’s snap five-day lockdown ended at midnight after the state recorded no new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours — but some restrictions will stay in place.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the “short, sharp circuit-breaker” lockdown was “exactly what we said we needed” and he was “very pleased” with that the COVID-19 outbreak had been contained.

He said the stay-at-home order and five-kilometre limit on travel were ending, but some restrictions would stay in place.

“Masks, however, will be required indoors and outdoors when you cannot physically distance, when you cannot socially distance that 1.5 metres.”

He said there was an element of discretion to this, but masks were “an ongoing insurance policy”.

Two women walk across Princes Bridge on Melbourne’s last day of a five-day lockdown. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

Victorians will be allowed just five visitors to their homes, rather than the previous 15-person limit, until next Friday, February 26 — the balance of the 14-day incubation period.

“We’re very well placed, this circuit breaker has worked but the issue is not over and the virus is not gone, therefore it is appropriate on advice to maintain some of these settings.”

Schools reopen today, and retail and hospitality will reopen with the same density limits as last week. Religious gatherings be able to resume with the same density limits and funerals and weddings can go ahead with limits of numbers in accordance with the venue’s density limits.

Up to 20 people from any number of households will be allowed at public gatherings and workplaces will return to up to 50 per cent capacity. Capacity will be lifted to the previously planned 75 per cent capacity “when it is safe to do so” after February 26.

Visits to hospitals and care facilities will be limited to one household visit per day, with some exemptions for palliative care. “The last thing we want is for someone to be visiting a sick relative and in fact making other people sick,” he said.

Sport, recreation and entertainment can resume with density quotes in place. Public events will have caps on numbers depending on the setting.

Mr Andrews said there would be a “process” to examine each event on a case-by-case basis using a framework for COVID-safe planning.

The Department of Health and Human Services tweeted earlier that there had been no cases in the state in the past 24 hours until midnight.

It comes after Mr Andrews yesterday said Victoria was “well-placed to make changes” to restrictions.

Victoria has not recorded any mystery coronavirus cases since the lockdown began on Friday night and experts told news.com.au yesterday the state would likely to loosen restrictions if no concerning new cases emerged today.

Deakin University Chair in Epidemiology, Professor Catherine Bennett said coming out of a “circuit breaker” lockdown would be different to when Victoria came out of lockdown following the second wave.

“It’s a different scenario, we are not waiting to see how long we need to have zero cases before relaxing restrictions,” she said.

This is because a circuit breaker lockdown is mainly designed to give authorities time to make sure they had got ahead of the virus and can track the spread through contacts.

“They are chasing the virus through a (particular) source,” Prof Bennett said.

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Victoria’s lockdown looks set to be lifted on Wednesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

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Prof Bennett said the latest focus would have been on the private dining event in Coburg and so far none of the attendees had passed the virus on to their close contacts.

“If the virus didn’t get through those contacts then it’s very unlikely the virus would have been transmitted to even more casual contacts,” Prof Bennett said.

“If the infection is not strong enough to infect primary contacts then it’s less likely to jump that group. That risk drops away from an outbreak control perspective.”

She said that by Wednesday, two average incubation periods had passed since the Coburg dinner on February 6.

Most people generally become infected and begin to show symptoms within five to six days, she said.

“We have not seen any cases beyond those exposed 11 days ago,” she said, adding: “I think the risk is very small.”

“Masks were still in place indoors anyway (prior to lockdown).”

Prof Bennett said that limits on big events “might be unfortunate for the tennis”.

She said the new rules could be confusing so “going back to a level people are familiar with (could be appropriate).”

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