Coronavirus: Victoria not ready to open schools, relax hardline restrictions

Victoria is resisting interstate pressure to wind back its hardline but successful approach to managing the coronavirus.

A replica of New York’s Fearless Girl looks over a completely deserted Federation Square in Melbourne’s CBD. Picture: Josie Hayden

Victoria is resisting interstate pressure to wind back its hardline but successful approach to managing the coronavirus.

The government said today there were no immediate plans to encourage all children back to school or to follow the Queensland model of slowly opening up the state.

Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said Victoria would not relax measures in rural areas where there had been no confirmed cases of the viruses.

Victorian Liberal leader Michael O’Brien has called for schools to be reopened on the basis that there was no scientific reason not to do so.

Ms Mikakos warned that it was premature to allow complacency to creep into the Victorian response.

Victorian Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos.

“It’s not all over yet,’’ she said.

“It only takes one cluster.’’

Victorian chief health officer Professor Brett Sutton said there was no template that suggested how to deal with the schools issue, however, his advice to the government had not changed.

Dr Sutton said he would be looking at the situation on a daily basis.

On schools, he said: `”There is a mix of evidence.’’

May 11 is looming as a crucial decision day for Victoria on what to relax and when to relax it.

Mr O’Brien said Victoria was ignoring the scientific advice, which is that children are much less prone to serious infection.

“This cannot continue indefinitely. Remote learning is not the same as face to face learning,’’ he said.

“It is such a struggle and such a juggle.’’