Live Breaking News: Victoria's playground ban can't be justified in another two weeks, expert says

An epidemiologist has put an expiry date on Victoria's most controversial virus measure, saying it won't be long before it can no longer be justified.

Ben Graham and Natalie Brown

less than 2 min read

August 18, 2021 - 6:55PM

New Zealand records four new COVID cases

One of Australia's leading virus experts has put an expiry date on Victoria's controversial decision to close playgrounds, saying the restriction will no longer be justifiable in a fortnight's time.

Appearing on the ABC's Afternoon Briefing, University of Melbourne epidemiologist Tony Blakely said that Premier Daniel Andrews and chief health officer Brett Sutton weren't wrong in shutting playgrounds because they "are acting as a place of transmission".

"We have a choice. We either leave them open and reduce our chance of eliminating again or we close them and do what I call the big swing heave ho for the next few weeks. We go hard and try to eliminate," he said.

"Queensland is opening up to having sporting events. South Australia's got no cases at the moment. If we give it one big heave ho for two weeks, we might have a nice time between October and November. I think it is worth it."

But, if Victoria isn't done to zero cases in two weeks, Professor Blakely said, "I don't think keeping the playgrounds closed will be a good option to be honest".

If he were Professor Sutton, he added, "I don't think I could keep imposing severe restrictions beyond two weeks of now".

Follow our live coverage below. You can read through today's updates from Victoria here.

Updates

On the topic of Victoria – and the government's controversial decisions to reintroduce a curfew and close playgrounds – Professor Blakely says the state has two weeks before the tough measures can no longer be justified.

"The playgrounds are acting as a place of transmission," he said, describing scenes in Melbourne last weekend, where there were "all the parents pushing kids on the swing with their masks off drinking their lattes".

"So we have a choice. We either leave them open and reduce our chance of eliminating again or we close them and do what I call the big swing heave ho for the next few weeks. We go hard and try to eliminate.

"If we haven't eliminated after two weeks I don't think keeping the playgrounds closed will be a good option to be honest."

Prof Blakely added that if he were chief healh officer Brett Sutton, "I don't think I could keep imposing severe restrictions beyond two weeks of now".

Senior police in NSW have issued a strong warning to anyone planning to attend a reported protest in Sydney this weekend, saying they'll face the full force of the law if they show up.

Minister for Police and Emergency Services, David Elliott, said the activities of a few could have long-lasting and detrimental impacts to all Sydneysiders.

"The overwhelming majority of people in NSW are doing their bit to turn the Covid case numbers in the right direction and this proposed protest would undermine all that work," he said.

"We're temporarily living with restrictions that we all want to see lifted, but the mass gathering of a group of idiots could mean that day moves further into the future.

"I have complete confidence in the work police are doing within Operation Stay at Home and the operational plans for the weekend should reassure the wider community that officers are at the ready to take swift action against anyone not complying with the public health orders."

Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon said that "no reasonable person can think that a mass gathering in the current climate is in the best interest of the health and safety of our community – or our goals to get out of lockdown".

"As well as appealing to the sense of responsibility to the rest of the community, I appeal for these people to see common sense and protect their health and that of their loved ones," he added.

"I will state in clearest of terms: any protest activity this weekend is unauthorised. Police have powers under the Crimes Act and the Public Health Act to prevent this type of gathering.

"For those who make the conscious decision to participate in protest activity, you will come into contact with police and significant penalties apply."

Jacinda points outbreak blame at Australia

New Zealand's Delta outbreak has worsened today – and the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has pointed a finger at NSW.

The nation is spending its first day in a harsh three-day lockdown, after a case of Delta was detected in Auckland on Tuesday.

The country’s cluster has since grown to seven, and today Ms Ardern confirmed the outbreak had originated in Australia.

She said they still do not know how the virus got from NSW into the community in Auckland.

"Our case is originated in Australia," she said. "The fact it is linked to the NSW outbreak gives us a lot of leads to chase down."

Ms Ardern said there were several infected people from NSW in managed isolation in New Zealand, though it is not yet apparent how the case got out.

Ridiculous excuse for Covid road trip

By Evin Priest

A man has been fined $1000 after he flew from Queensland to New South Wales and spent 10 days driving around rural areas on back roads because he was “sick of Covid”, police have revealed.

Police said the man came undone when he struck a kangaroo in a rental vehicle during a crash at Mendooran in the state’s central west, which is 348 kilometres west of Sydney and 75 kilometres from Dubbo.

The man’s roadtrip was one fine among a whopping 736 penalty infringement notices handed out by NSW Police across the state on Tuesday.

PM reckons the economy will bounce back

The lockdowns across Australia are taking a huge economic toll, but the Prime Minister reckons it will spring back once this mess is all over.

However, he said this is heavily dependent on Aussies going out and getting vaxxed.

"We get the country to those levels of vaccination, we open up the country, the economy comes back strongly," he said. "And so the sooner we achieve that, the sooner that’s realised.

"I do remain optimistic, I do remain confident in the Australian economy because there is no issue with the Australian economy.

"There is an issue of the impact of Covid-19 and restrictions that are holding that economy back.

"But as soon as we’re able to release those, that’s why the national plan, that’s why getting to 70% and 80% and following through with the national plan and the confidence that national plan giving I think to businesses to look ahead and plan."

One in two Aussies have had a first dose

The Prime Minister says we've likely hit that target today.

"One in two Australians have had their first dose," he said. "That's what we're achieving. 40% over the age of 50 have been fully vaccinated. 273,000 additional doses just yesterday, that's 273,000 rays of light coming in from the end of that tunnel that I talked about yesterday.

"We are going down that tunnel, and every vaccination shines lying for Australians to see, and I want to thank those 273,000 Australians yesterday to create those rays of light, those rays of hope."

'We're never going to give up'

Scott Morrison is speaking in Canberra where he has given a motivational speech to Australians.

He said the rise of 633 cases in NSW today was "difficult news" to take.

"I want to continue to encourage all Australians that we're going to beat this. We're going to get on top of it," he said.

"We're never going to give up against battle in this country. We've had so many successes, compared to so many countries around the world, by persevering and pushing through.

"After hearing that news in New South Wales today, I know that once again your hearts would have sunk for a moment and perhaps longer but let's lift them up because we will get through this and beat this."

Australia Post calls in security

By Ellen Ransley

Australia Post stores in some northern NSW towns are now being manned by security guards after an alarming number of customers failed to comply with Covid-19 protocols.

At least a third of customers are estimated to have refused to wear masks, use hand sanitiser or check in to the Mullumbimby and Byron Bay stores before the drastic measure despite the region being included in the statewide lockdown.

PM speaking at 11.15am

We'll bring you the key details here.

ACT records 22 new cases

Canberra has recorded 22 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the outbreak to 67 cases.

Three more schools were added to ACT’s growing list of exposure sites overnight, taking the total number of Canberra schools hit by Covid-19 to five.

Live Breaking News: Victoria's playground ban can't be justified in another two weeks, expert says

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