Coronavirus: Beleaguered Melbourne takes an outdoor break after two weeks of lockdown
Sunny weather has brought many of Melbourne’s people out after two weeks of virus shutdown.
Melburnians left home in droves on Saturday to take advantage of sunny weather despite stage-four coronavirus restrictions across the city after almost two weeks of a scheduled six weeks of lockdown.
The Premier, meanwhile, wondered aloud if rain better suited the situation.
Cyclists, runners and walkers were a common sight on footpaths and bike tracks across Melbourne.
While most wore mandatory masks, some runners and riders were spotted with uncovered faces, despite the inability to social distance.
Many exercised shoulder-to-shoulder, mixing with other pairs on the footpath in the process.
In the eastern suburb of Brighton, sunbathers could be seen sitting on the sand at the beach, despite strict rules on exercise.
Victorians also flocked to local shopping strips and supermarkets, taking time to socialise in the warm weather — being a Melbourne winter, in the mid-teens — before forecast showers return for the next week.
Many in Melbourne’s west were seen attending crowded farmers’ markets on Saturday, mingling in large groups.
Earlier Premier Daniel Andrews quipped about Saturday’s sunny weather at his 11am press conference, saying: “I had hoped it was going to rain a lot.”
“For any interstate viewers tuning in today, the irony of us complaining about the weather … that it’s too good, I mean,” he said.
“I think people know and understand as frustrating as this is, and yes, it’s a beautiful morning, but we have got people this morning planning funerals of their loved ones, so let’s all keep the perspective that we have to keep.
“It’s not over. The signs are encouraging, but it’s not over.”
Victoria had recorded 303 new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours, according to new figures on Saturday. Another four people have died from the virus, the state Department of Health and Human Services said on Saturday morning.
Two of the latest deaths are connected to aged-care outbreaks.
A coronavirus outbreak has been reported at a supported residential service in suburban Albert Park.
The DHHS confirmed five residents and one staff member at Hambleton House have tested positive to the virus.
“All are currently self-isolating,” a DHHS spokesperson said in a statement.
Hambleton House is a private supported residential service, that provides accommodation for vulnerable community members.
Medical staff wearing full PPE, including gowns and face shields, were witnessed coming and going from the residential service property.
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said he was cautiously optimistic that Victoria’s restrictions were now being reflected in the daily figures.
“People should have hope and confidence that the things that we know work are now manifesting,” he said.
“Our new outbreaks every day are in single figures now. At one point, there were 20 or 30 new outbreaks every day. We are at four or five now each day, which is another positive sign.
“The number of active cases in aged care is beginning to stabilise. It’s still far, far, far too much at 2000.
“The number of active cases amongst health care workers is stabilising. It is also far, far too much.”
But Professor Sutton urged against complacency and encouraged Victorians to continue following the rules.
He said most infected people did not go on to reinfect anyone, but warned of “super spreaders” and settings that could amplify the risk of infection.
“The reality is most people don’t infect anyone. But there is a small percentage, maybe 20 or 30 per cent who might infect dozens of people,” Professor Sutton said.
“That’s what cruise ships did, the restaurants in NSW had 100-plus cases. We know from our meatworks you can get hundreds of cases.’’
With Sharon McGowan, Tom Minear and Kieran Rooney.
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