Coronavirus Australia live news: Victoria’s plan for hotel quarantine, Christmas
Daniel Andrews details the road map for the last weeks of 2020, as a host of restrictions are wound back with just four active cases in the state.
- Victoria’s Christmas plan to be unveiled
- Quarantine in time for Christmas: Andrews
- Victoria’s eased restrictions unveiled
- US sets record for third straight day
- Lockdowns continue in Europe
Daniel Andrews is aiming for international travellers to be able to quarantine in the state in time for Christmas, as he announced the 25km limit and ‘ring of steel’ will be lifted and a host of restrictions are removed, with Victoria recording its ninth virus-free day.
Damon Johnston 4pm: Current restrictions in Queensland, Tasmania, NT
QUEENSLAND
BORDER RESTRICTIONS
• Open to all states bar Victoria and Greater Sydney – decision due by November 30
PUBLIC GATHERINGS
• Up to 50 in public spaces
HOME GATHERINGS
• Up to 50
SPECIAL EVENTS
• 1500 at outdoor events with COVID Safe Checklist
MASKS
• Not compulsory
TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
• From hot spots in Greater Sydney and Victoria
AGED CARE VISITS
• Allowed
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
• Seated capacity of 75 per cent at stadiums and outdoor amphitheatres
TASMANIA
HOME GATHERINGS
• Provision for family gatherings of 40 guests in addition to those who live at the premise. (was blanket 20 max home gathering earlier)
BORDER RESTRICTIONS
• Borders open to all jurisdictions except Victoria.
• Victorians to join the quarantine-free access once that state has achieved less than five unexplained COVID-19 cases in the past 28 days.
PUBLIC GATHERINGS
• Maximum density limit is one person per 2 square metres
• Maximums of 250 people for an undivided space in an indoor premises and 1,000 people in the outdoor space of a premise.
HOME GATHERINGS
• Currently limited to 20 but government considering lifting this in time for Christmas
SPECIAL EVENTS
• From December 1, up to 10,000 people, depending on nature of event and space in which conducted. Approval required.
MASKS
• Not required unless you are directly caring for someone who is suspected or known to have COVID-19.
TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
• No intrastate restrictions.
AGED CARE VISITS
• Allowed but no more than two visitors per resident at any one time.
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
• From December 1, up to 10,000 people, depending on nature of event and space in which conducted. Approval required.
NORTHERN TERRITORY
BORDER RESTRICTIONS
• Open to domestic travellers except travellers from CHO declared hot spots, who will require 14 days mandatory quarantine upon arrival
PUBLIC GATHERINGS
• Social distancing, hand hygiene and staying home if you’re sick recommended
HOME GATHERINGS
• Social distancing, hand hygiene and staying home if you’re sick recommended
SPECIAL EVENTS
• Events with between 100-500 attendees are required to submit an event plan, while events over 500 pax need to have a CHO approved COVID-19 safety plan
MASKS
• Recommended to have at home as a precaution if needed
TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
• Territorians can travel freely within Australia but if travelling in an area that becomes a declared hotspot may be required to undertake 14 days mandatory supervised quarantine upon their return
AGED CARE VISITS
• As per arrangements with private providers, currently all offer visits with some criteria (max 2 visitors at a time, current influenza vaccinations, COVID-19 symptom free, adhere to social distancing)
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
• As per venue / establishment CHO approved COVID-19 safety plan, largely open.
READ MORE: Regional tourism cure for cabin fever
Damon Johnston 3.30pm: Current restrictions in WA, SA
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
BORDER RESTRICTIONS
• On November 14 WA’s hard border is scheduled to switch to a controlled border, allowing people from all states and territories except NSW and Victoria to travel to WA without quarantining on arrival. Arrivals must still complete a health declaration and undergo a temperature test on arrival. They must also submit to a COVID test in some circumstances.
• People from NSW and Victoria will be able to come to WA from November 14 if they agree to self-quarantine in a suitable premises for 14 days. This will change by Christmas, and people from NSW and Victoria will be able to come to WA without quarantining, if those states record no cases of coronavirus in the community for 28 days in a row.
• WA has no plans to end mandatory hotel quarantine for Australian citizens and permanent residents from overseas.
• Most of WA’s more than 200 remote Aboriginal communities remain closed to visitors, except a few that have successfully applied to the government to take advantage of the state’s domestic tourism boom.
PUBLIC GATHERINGS
• There are no limits on public gatherings but a rule of one person per 2 sqm applies to all venues
AGED CARE VISITS
• No restrictions enforced by the WA government, but facilities maintain their own COVID measures including temperature tests for staff and for visitors.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
BORDER RESTRICTIONS
• Open to low transmission zones States (everywhere except Vic) with no quarantine required.
• Require the Cross-Border Travel Registration if travelling to SA.
• People can apply for essential traveller or compassionate exemptions if coming from Vic.
• Part of NZ travel bubble (no quarantine required)
• All international arrivals require 14 day quarantine in medi-hotel, paid for by the individual
PUBLIC GATHERINGS
• Weddings 150 people max
• Funerals 150 people max
• Events or gatherings over 1000 people require approved COVID Management Plan and may require COVID Marshall.
HOME GATHERINGS
• Gatherings at private residences may have up to 50 people per gathering.
• Gatherings at a private place (other than a private residence) are restricted to no more than 150 people (ie private function in licenced venue)
SPECIAL EVENTS
• Limits of 1 person per 2 square metres with COVID-Safe plans and COVID Marshals required for events attracting more than 1000 people.
MASKS
• Not generally required or recommended in South Australia, however some people (certain categories of essential travellers from Victoria, etc) required.
TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
• None except overseas travel advice as stipulated by Commonwealth
AGED CARE VISITS
• No restrictions
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
• Limits of 1 person per 2 square metres at concerts, cinema, sporting events, ten pin bowling, casino, museums, galleries. COVID-Safe plans and COVID Marshals required for events attracting more than 1000 people.
• Drinking now allowed while standing up in hotels and restaurants.
READ MORE: New hope for stranded Aussies
Damon Johnston 2.40pm: Current restrictions in NSW, ACT and Victoria
Where do we stand with the various COVID-19 restrictions across the nation? Read the state of play for NSW, ACT and Victoria below. We’ll focus on the rest of the nation shortly.
NSW
BORDER RESTRICTIONS
• Travel to New South Wales will be open to all states and territories come Christmas, following an announcement made by Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirming New South Wales’s border with Victoria will reopen at 12.01am on November 23.
PUBLIC GATHERINGS
• Bookings of up to 30 people are allowed at hospitality venues, subject to the four square metre rule. The limit on the number of attendees allowed at outdoor public gatherings is 30, subject to the two square metre rule.
• The cap on the number of people permitted to attend services at places of worship is 300.
HOME GATHERINGS
• Up to 20 people at any one time can visit another household, including adults and children.
SPECIAL EVENTS
• From December 1, the number of people who can attend a wedding will increase from 150 guests to 300, provided the four square metre rule indoors and the two square metre rule outdoors are followed.
• Funerals, memorial services and wakes must not be attended by more than 100 guests, subject to the four square metre rule.
MASKS
• Face masks in New South Wales are not mandatory, but they are recommended in certain situations that have been outlined by NSW Health.
• Wearing a face mask is strongly advised in circumstances where maintaining a 1.5 metre distance from others is difficult, in high-risk areas like public transport networks, rideshare, taxis, supermarkets, places of worship and entertainment venues, and working in indoor hospitality venues.
• People visiting residents in aged care facilities, or that are dealing with the elderly, are encouraged to wear face masks.
TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
• Residents living in regional New South Wales will be able to enter Queensland from November 3, but will still need to apply for a border pass to enter the sunshine state. Greater Sydney is still considered a coronavirus hotspot, meaning Sydneysiders are banned from entering Queensland.
AGED CARE VISITS
• Visitors are banned from entering an aged care facility if they have returned from overseas in the last 14 days, been in contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus in the past two weeks, are experiencing symptoms of a fever and have not been vaccinated against influenza.
• Under the state’s COVID-19 public health order, visits are limited to a maximum of two people for a short period of time.
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
• Music performances and rehearsals can be held outdoors with a maximum of 500 people provided the event’s organiser follows a COVID-19 safety plan and the contact details of all participants are recorded.
• Entertainment facilities, including theatres, cinemas, concert halls and dance halls, must have a COVID-safe plan and can sell tickets for seated events at 50 per cent capacity, subject to the four square metre rule.
• All major recreation facilities, including stadiums and showgrounds, must complete a COVID-safety plan. Caps on attendance for seated ticketed events also apply.
ACT
BORDER RESTRICTIONS
• Travel to the ACT is permitted for all Australians except people from Victoria who must apply for an exemption and, if granted, quarantine on arrival. This restriction is due to end from November 23 depending on case numbers in Victoria.
• The requirement for overseas arrivals to go to hotel quarantine will remain.
PUBLIC GATHERINGS
• From November 13, the maximum number of people permitted at gatherings in ACT is due to increase from 200 to 500 people and more with an exemption.
• From November 13 people will no longer be required to remain seated while eating and drinking in outdoor areas of restaurants and bars in the ACT.
AGED CARE VISITS
• Residents of aged care facilities in the ACT can have up to two visitors at once except by people who have been in Victoria or some local government areas in greater Sydney in the past 14 days.
VICTORIA
BORDER RESTRICTION
• The ring of steel separating Melbourne from regional Victoria will be removed on Sunday night.
• The 25km travel limit will also end on Sunday night.
• From November 23, NSW will open its border to Victorians.
PUBLIC GATHERINGS
• From November 22 Victorians can have up to 10 visitors at their home at one time and up to 50 people can meet in public (infants up to 12 months are not included in the count)
• From November 22 the cap on the number of people allowed at any venue with an outside area is due to rise to 100 inside and 200 outside. The 4 sqm rule will remain. Gyms and indoor pools will be allowed to open up as well as cinemas, public libraries, play centres, indoor skate parks and museums.
• The requirement for people to wear masks in public is due to ease in some circumstances from November 22.
AGED CARE VISITS
• From November 22, family and friends will be able to visit their loved ones in nursing homes and other care homes. Up to five people from two households can visit a resident at once. There will be no time limit on the visits and children will be allowed to attend. Residents will also be allowed outings.
READ MORE: Man’s airport surprise for girlfriend
Imogen Reid 2.12pm: Health alert for Sydney’s Hills district
NSW Health has issued a public health alert to people in Sydney’s north-west after traces of COVID-19 was detected in the sewage.
“NSW Health is calling on people in the Rouse Hill area to get tested if they have even the mildest COVID-19 symptoms after the state’s sewage surveillance program detected traces of the virus in the area,” the health body said in a statement.
“The catchment takes sewage from approximately 120,000 people.”
NSW Health said fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 have been detected in samples taken on Thursday 5 November from the sewerage system that drains parts of Quakers Hill, Castle Hill, Annangrove, Kellyville, Box Hill, Kenthurst, Glenhaven, The Ponds, Rouse Hill, North Kellyville, Kellyville Ridge, Beaumont Hills, Stanhope Gardens, Baulkham Hills, Glenwood, Bella Vista, Parklea, Acacia Gardens and Norwest.
“The positive sewage result can be due to shedding of the virus by someone who may have previously had the illness, with the virus ‘shedding’ through their system for up to six to eight weeks later,” NSW Health said.
READ MORE: NSW records zero local virus cases
Remy Varga 1.11pm: Victoria launches tourism ad blitz
The Victorian government has launched a multimillion-dollar ad blitz encouraging Victorians to travel within the state this holiday season.
The ‘Stay Close, Go Further’ campaign will promote intrastate tourism across television, print, radio, digital and social.
The announcement comes ahead of the barrier between metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria lifting at midnight tonight.
Victorian Tourism Minister Martin Pakula said holiday-makers who chose Victoria as their destination would be helping the state’s economy recover after the pandemic as well as the last bushfire season.
“Victoria boasts amazing produce, places and people and we want all Victorians, if they can, to get out and explore our own beautiful backyard,” he said.
READ MORE: Major milestone for Victoria
Remy Varga 12.24pm: Victoria’s Christmas plan to be unveiled on November 22
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he’ll be able to unveil more definitive plans of what Christmas would like on November 22.
“A COVID normal Christmas, we’re going to be able to deliver it, we’re going to be able to enjoy it,” he said.
“What is still a little bit uncertain is what is the difference between a COVID normal Christmas and a normal Christmas.
“There will be some differences but we’re trying to get those as small (and) minimal as they possibly can be.”
READ MORE: Major changes to restrictions in Victoria
Remy Varga 12.08pm: Andrews congratulates Biden
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has congratulated Joe Biden on his election victory, saying Victoria would be thrilled to welcome the newly elected US President as well as his deputy Kamala Harris.
Mr Andrews said he had previously met then Vice-President Joe Biden as part of his work on the project Cancer Moonshot, which aimed to increase access to treatment and care to patients.
“I know him, he’s a person of outstanding character and just pure decency, I want to congratulate him and Vice President-elect Harris,” he said.
“We’d be thrilled to have either President-elect Biden or Vice President-elect Harris come back to Melbourne, that would be just fantastic.”
READ MORE: ‘Time to unite’: Biden to address nation
Remy Varga 11.55am: International quarantine in time for Christmas: Andrews
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is aiming for international travellers to be able to quarantine in the state in time for Christmas.
Mr Andrews told reporters on Sunday the state government was still working on its response to the Coate inquiry recommendations, saying any resumption of the program would need national cabinet approval as well.
“We have to have other first ministers, national cabinet confident in the arrangements as well,” he said.
“Our aim is to have people back by Christmas.”
Mr Andrews said he had not finished reading the interim report, which made a suite of recommendations including allowing travellers to quarantine at home with electronic monitoring.
READ MORE: Major milestone in Vic virus battle
Adrian McMurray 11.13am: No new local cases in NSW
While the focus this morning is quite understandably in Victoria (and a little further afield), there’s also some positive news for NSW, with the state recording no new locally transmitted cases of COVID-19. There were however three cases reported in overseas travellers in hotel quarantine.
NSW has reported no new cases of locally transmitted COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) November 8, 2020
Three cases were reported in overseas travellers in hotel quarantine, bringing the total number of cases in NSW to 4,273. pic.twitter.com/5Ln5e1Kw47
READ MORE: Property poised for rebound
11.01am: In-depth look at changes in Victoria
There’s a lot to take in with Victoria’s next stage of eased restrictions. DHHS has released a comprehensive list of changes, which you can read below (or here).
Remy Varga 10.40am: Breaches issued, four active cases in Victoria
Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley said 36 businesses were fined on Saturday for public health breaches with 14 warnings issued.
He said 47 matters would be followed up today and that inspectors had visited 784 businesses on Saturday to check compliance.
Mr Foley said compliance breaches related largely to a lack of signage, density breaches and inadequate hygiene provisions.
There are now only four active cases of the coronavirus in Victoria.
READ MORE: Editorial: Bordering on ridiculous
Remy Varga 10.37am: More guests in homes, religious gatherings boosted
Households will be able to host up to 10 guests in their home from different addresses, Mr Andrews said.
From midnight tonight, attendee limits for funerals and religious gatherings will increase to 20 indoors and 50 outdoors.
The state of emergency order will be extended until December 6 to enforce the Chief Health Officer’s directions.
Statement from the Premier on aligning restrictions in metro Melbourne and regional Victoria:https://t.co/3p0l7oupXI pic.twitter.com/NzDhu0jnDS
— Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) November 7, 2020
Mr Andrews said Victoria’s victory against the coronavirus should be a point of pride but urged people to stay the course until a vaccine was found.
“No one can assume that because we want it to be over it’s over and because we have nine days of zero it’s gone,” he said.
READ MORE: Melbourne gym’s midnight plans
Remy Varga 10.23am: Victoria’s eased restrictions unveiled
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has confirmed that from 11.59pm Sunday night, the 25km limit as well as the “ring of steel” between regional and metropolitan Melbourne will be lifted.
Limits on hospitality patronage will increase to 40 customers indoor with 70 seated outside.
Industry limited on meat and industry will be lifted as well.
Indoor exercise limits will be increased to 20-people per venue.
There have been updates to restrictions that come into effect from 11:59pm today, 8 November.
— VicGovDHHS (@VicGovDHHS) November 7, 2020
Please read the Premier’s statement: https://t.co/Ev5zXhoiRq#COVID19Vic pic.twitter.com/UFkaDXeoZ8
Mr Andrews said Victorians would need to continue working from home as well as wearing masks when in public.
“The time for that to change is not now,” he said.
Ten-person limits on outdoor gatherings and weddings will also remain.
From the 22nd of November, hospitality venues will be able to have 100 people indoors with up to 200 outdoors.
Cinemas, theatres and community groups will be able to host up to 100-people in groups of 20.
For hair and beauty services, face masks can be removed for some services including facials, beard trimming and piercings.
For real estate, auctions can be attended by up to 50 people outside.
READ MORE: Victoria’s ninth straight virus-free day
Remy Varga 9.21am: Andrews to speak at 10.15am
Daniel Andrews will speak at 10.15am AEDT, with the Victorian Premier expected to announce a further easing of restrictions.
Erin Lyons 9am: Victoria records another zero, restrictions set to ease
Victoria has recorded a ninth day of zero new cases or deaths, as restrictions are expected to be wound back further across the state later today.
Yesterday there were 0 new cases & no lost lives reported. The 14 day average is 0.4, there are 2 cases with unknown source. As we head to COVID normal, there will soon be changes to the data reported in this tweet.
— VicGovDHHS (@VicGovDHHS) November 7, 2020
More: https://t.co/pcll7yB2RZ#COVID19VicData pic.twitter.com/AL7oImjiQq
Almost three weeks ago, Mr Andrews outlined the first steps out of the state’s harsh lockdown while highlighting some of the restrictions that could be eased as part of the second and third steps.
If the next step on the road map goes ahead, from 11.59pm Sunday, Melbourne’s “ring of steel” – which has been up since July 9 and separates the city from regional Victoria – will be scrapped.
People will be free to come and go from their homes as often as they please and indoor gyms will reopen for the first time since July.
But there will be a cap on the number of people allowed in, with 10 per class or space and up to 20 for each venue.
The controversial 25km travel restriction will also be dropped.
Capacity in pubs, cafes and restaurants will be increased from 20 to 40 indoors and up to 70 outdoors, and bookings of up to 10 will be allowed.
But venues must adhere to the one person per four-squared-metres rule.
Outdoor gatherings will be limited to groups of 10.
However there’s expected to be no change to the number of people who can enter your household, which is currently two people (and dependants) from the same residential address.
The Andrews Government has remained conservative when it comes to allowing people into your home amid fears it could be a breeding ground for COVID-19.
“We must understand, all of us — the most dangerous environment for the spread of this virus is in your home,” the Premier previously said.
READ MORE: Victoria’s ninth straight virus-free day
8am: US records record for third consecutive day
The United States reported record new coronavirus cases for the third day in a row, as new president-elect Joe Biden vowed to act against the pandemic on “day one” in the world’s worst-hit nation.
Global infections have surged past 49 million and Europe has become the new pandemic epicentre in recent weeks with more than 300,000 deaths — nearly a quarter of the global total.
More than 127,000 new infections were reported in the US on Friday, the third straight daily record.
As Biden finally emerged as the winner of Tuesday’s US presidential election, he promised he would not waste time in addressing the pandemic.
“I want everyone, everyone to know on day one we’re going to put our plan to control this virus into action,” said the Democrat president-elect who won’t take office until January.
AFP
READ MORE: ‘Time to unite’: Biden to address nation
7.30am: Lockdowns continue in Europe as second wave spreads
Across the Atlantic, Greece became the latest European nation to enter lockdown Saturday with the continent reeling from a second, relentless coronavirus wave.
Under the measures, which came into force before daybreak, Greeks can only leave home if they receive authorisation to a mobile phone request. Essential shops can stay open, including supermarkets and pharmacies.
The capital’s main shopping thoroughfare Ermou street was quiet. But hairdressers have been allowed to stay open for two more days and they were booked out.
“I want to have my hair done so that what I see in the mirror every morning during lockdown won’t cause me sadness,” said Petrina, ahead of her Sunday appointment.
The measures follow the imposition of restrictions in Italy, France, Ireland and Britain, while Switzerland is also being hit hard by the virus.
Poland was also imposing fresh measures Saturday, closing most shopping centres. The government in Warsaw is also shutting cinemas, theatres, galleries and other cultural institutions and making hotels available only for business travellers.
Germany reported record daily figures on Saturday with 23,399 new cases and 130 deaths.
Demonstrators, few of whom were wearing face-masks, protested in the eastern German city of Leipzig against the restrictions imposed to rein in the pandemic.
Organisers put the turnout at 20,000 while police said some attacked them after being told to disperse.
Clashes
With populations growing increasingly weary of lockdowns, demonstrators and the police have also clashed in parts of Italy and the Czech Republic in recent weeks.
The Italian government announced new measures early Saturday to help businesses and families cope with the latest restrictions, which include a national night curfew and lockdown in four regions.
The latest aid package would total $4 billion (€2.5 billion), media reported Saturday.
Giorgio Gori, the mayor of Bergamo — the epicentre of Italy’s coronavirus crisis earlier this year — said “there is more tiredness and more distrust around” than during the first lockdown, after people protested outside his home.
In the southern Italian region of Calabria, the top health official has been fired after giving journalists evasive and imprecise answers to questions on the virus.
Saverio Cotticelli appeared not even to know that it was his job to prepare an operational plan to fight the pandemic.
The record US infection figures came as Donald Trump, who survived a bout of COVID-19 in October and has been widely criticised over his handling of the crisis, refused to accept the election victory of his Democratic challenger Biden.
US cases are fast approaching 10 million, with more than 236,000 deaths, and the pandemic has hammered the world’s biggest economy, leaving millions jobless.
Trump has been a vocal opponent of lockdown measures, citing their impact on the economy and repeatedly clashing with his own government’s experts over coronavirus policy.
Unlike Biden, Trump held massive campaign rallies ahead of the November 3 vote, insisting the US was “rounding the turn” despite the virus surges.
Senior members of his administration have contracted the virus recently with Trump’s chief of staff Mark Meadows the latest to test positive, media said late Friday.
The pandemic has been cited as one of the factors for the delay in US election results, with state authorities deluged with millions of ballots mailed by citizens not willing to risk infection by voting in person.
Governments are also exploring mass testing as a way to curb the pandemic. In England, Liverpool on Friday began the country’s first citywide coronavirus testing program. All 500,000 residents will be offered repeat tests, even if asymptomatic, under a pilot scheme that could be rolled out nationwide if successful.
Britain on Saturday banned entry to all nonresident foreigners coming from Denmark after a mutated version of the coronavirus linked to mink farms was found in humans.
Real Madrid stars catch virus
Once again the sporting world was also hit, with Spanish giants Real Madrid announcing that two of their star players — Belgian forward Eden Hazard and Brazilian teammate Casemiro — have tested positive for coronavirus
AFP
READ MORE: New hope for stranded Aussies
Free market path to lift Indigenous
Labor has handed its new tsar for Aboriginal business extraordinary powers that could make remote-community residents the owners of defence infrastructure and the funders of energy projects.
Call for origin labels on imported timber
About a quarter of timber tested in Australia last year had incorrect species or origin labels. The industry wants new laws to prevent it happening and to support Australian producers.