Dan Andrews rules out easing Victorian coronavirus restrictions before Sunday

Despite five days of zero new cases and a 14-day rolling average below two, Daniel Andrews has ruled out one thing about the easing of restrictions.

Despite five consecutive days of zero coronavirus cases, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has vowed that he won’t be easing any restrictions before Sunday’s announcement.

Fresh from a four-day break of fronting the media, the Premier ventured out to Werribee Open Range Zoo to deliver the daily coronavirus update on Wednesday.

He said it was the first time he had not addressed the public from in front of a purple wall since before the second wave hit in July.

But while there, Mr Andrews said he would not be making any announcements on restrictions before Sunday when asked if the recent figures meant they could be eased earlier.

“I’ll make Sunday’s announcement on Sunday,” he said.

Daniel Andrews said he would not announce any easing of restrictions before Sunday despite five days with zero cases. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Daniel Pockett

“It will all be based on data tomorrow, the day after and we’ve always done this, we’ve always looked at the most contemporary data.”

The Premier said he couldn’t predict what he would be able to announce either other than what had already been outlined last week.

That includes removing the “ring of steel” separating Melbourne and regional Victoria, the 25km travel limit and increasing the indoor limit of hospitality venues to 40.

“I think we’re well on track to be able to do all of those things,” Mr Andrews said.

Crowds flocked to St Kilda Beach on the Melbourne Cup Day public holiday to soak up the sun. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

“If we want to lock that in and then go further again, potentially take several more steps between now and the end of the year in different parts of community life, family life and business life, we all have to play our part.

“Everything from wearing a mask to distancing, washing your hands, coughing into the crook of your arm and never, ever going to work, anyone else’s home, or anywhere other than getting tested if you’ve got symptoms.

“A day of zero, or even five days of zero is not the same as having a vaccine. We all have to remain vigilant, we all have to play our part.”

Victoria has just 30 active cases of coronavirus and has recorded five straight days of zero new cases for the first time since February.

The 14-day rolling average for metropolitan Melbourne is also well below the safe threshold of five, falling from 1.9 to 1.7 overnight.

Mr Andrews is expected to announce the next step in easing the chief health officer’s restrictions on Sunday but he said the requirement to wear masks would remain an important tool in combating the virus.

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