Coronavirus: restrictions may be eased, a little

Daniel Andrews has signalled an easing of coronavirus restrictions on Sunday, but has warned that he won’t be ‘throwing the doors open’ until October.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews arrives at his daily Covid brief. Picture: Getty Images

Daniel Andrews has signalled an easing of coronavirus restrictions for Melburnians on Sunday which will go further than the plan set out in his reopening roadmap, but warned that he won’t be “throwing the doors open” until October.

However, the Victorian Premier refused to rule out dumping his controversial 9pm to 5am curfew, ahead of court proceedings on Monday brought by Liberal Party member and Mornington Peninsula business owner ­Michelle Loielo, challenging the measure.

Under the roadmap, Melbourne needed to reach a 14-day daily average of between 30 and 50 new cases of coronavirus by Sunday in order to move to a very slight easing of restrictions which would enable public outdoor gatherings of up to five people from up to two households, the resumption of childcare, and a staged return to the classroom for Prep to Grade Two and VCE students.

Stay-at-home restrictions and the curfew are set to remain in place until October 26, and would only be relaxed under the government’s plan if Melbourne reaches a 14-day daily average of fewer than five cases, with fewer than five cases with an unknown source over the entire fortnight.

As of Friday, Melbourne’s 14-day daily average was down to 25.1, placing the city well ahead of Sunday’s 30-50 case target, ­although 34 unknown source cases in the fortnight to September 22 indicate community transmission could prove an obstacle to the following stage of easing.

Asked whether there was any chance of his curfew or 5km limit on exercise and shopping trips being lifted on Sunday, Mr ­Andrews said: “I can‘t really ­comment on those matters until they’re settled, but I think they would, certainly the 5ks would be more in the significant decision, a decision that is probably beyond the scope of (Sunday) the 28th.”

Asked whether it would be cynical for him to dump the curfew amid the possibility of it being legally quashed next week, Mr Andrews said: “I wouldn’t make that judgment. This is a strategy that’s worked.”