Thanks for reading today and for your emails and comments. For coverage of the coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday, October 20, click here.
Here's the day's coronavirus news:
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An ugly public spat between the state and federal governments escalated with Premier Daniel Andrews calling federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg's attack on the timetable for easing restrictions the "greatest insult to the people of Victoria".
Mr Frydenberg claimed on Monday morning that it was clear that the Victorian government had a "callous indifference" to small businesses after it announced on Sunday that most shops and indoor dining at restaurants, cafes and pubs would not restart until November 2. It came in the context of another political brawl over 'unexpected' New Zealand arrivals who continued to land in Victoria and other states.
- A number of significant coronavirus restrictions in Victoria were eased at 11.59pm last night, and people are now able to travel within a 25-kilometre radius from their homes, up from five kilometres. Today Melburnians relished being able to visit friends and parks not seen for months. They went to golf courses, tennis courts, skate parks and hairdressers that the state government deemed could reopen. Many also went to the beach to see the ocean for the first time in many months.
- There were four new cases and one death reported in Victoria in the past day. Three cases are linked to the Box Hill cluster, and are members of one household in Melbourne's north. The fourth was a person who had the virus in July. Health authorities believe it could be a false positive.
NSW:
- NSW recorded no new local coronavirus cases in the past 24-hour period, as the state announced it would be pressing on with easing restrictions after this was delayed last week.
- NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said he was "a little confused" by Victoria's reaction to the New Zealand arrivals, as it was revealed 65 Kiwis have flown to Melbourne in a consequence of the travel bubble that local health authorities claim they were not aware of.
WA:
- Another 24 crew members on board the livestock vessel Al Messilah docked at Fremantle Port have tested positive to COVID-19 as WA delays easing restrictions to phase 5 for a fifth time.
Premier Mark McGowan said the new cases were on top of one other who tested positive on Saturday, and accounted for nearly half of the 52 crew on board the ship.
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