Melbourne Cup, Oaks, Stakes Day to go ahead with crowds as Victoria records 1890 new local Covid cases
Thousands of fully vaccinated punters will be allowed trackside under a plan to get fans back to the Melbourne Cup post-lockdown.
Flemington Racecourse will welcome 10,000 punters on the first Tuesday of November, with the Melbourne Cup given the go-ahead with fans as Victoria reopens.
The Cup will go ahead just days after a concert at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Saturday, October 30, as Victoria nears its 80 per cent double vaccination rate.
The news from Premier Daniel Andrews comes as Victoria has recorded 1890 new locally acquired Covid-19 cases and five more deaths on Sunday.
The health department confirmed the new figures about 8.30am after the state broke the national record for the highest number of new daily cases for the second day in a row the previous day.
Sunday’s figure is a slight dip on Saturday’s 1965 new cases, but is still the state’s second highest day ever.
The new deaths takes the number of lives lost during the outbreak to 85 and the death toll of the entire pandemic in Victoria to 905.
At least 609 positive Covid patients are in hospital in Victoria, with 126 of those in intensive care, including 88 cases on a ventilator.
But despite the record levels of new cases, authorities have maintained the state’s reopening road map remains “on track” with lockdown set to end around October 26 when 70 per cent of Victorians aged 16 and older are fully vaccinated.
Mr Andrews said in addition to Melbourne Cup, Oaks Day and Stakes Day will also be able to welcome up to 10,000 patrons should the 80 per cent milestone be passed, as expected in the first few days of November.
There will be five zones at Flemington with punters required to stay in allocated seats.
Anyone wishing to attend will need to be fully vaccinated, or have a valid exemption, and wear a mask.
“This is about us as a state and economy and community being open and us having done everything we can now to fight against this virus, having stuck together, having looked out for each other, having got vaccinated is the most important part,” Mr Andrews said on Sunday.
“These are just a few announcements today and there will be many more in terms of metropolitan Melbourne (vaccinated economy) trials.
“Whether you’re a racegoer or not, a fan of that sport or not, that’ll be a really important date for every single Victorian and will send a message to the rest of the country, and the world, about the fact that we are open.”
Trade Minister Martin Pakula said he had received a call from a minister in another state last month who had told him “for Gods sake, get the Cup happening. We need it”.
“This whole nation has been through something incredibly profound and unsettling, and whether it is the Melbourne Cup, the Australian Open, great live music events, Formula One next year, all of those things are a very powerful signal that we are bouncing back,” he said.
“Of course there will be people who do not like racing, and that is fine, but I think it is an important signal to send to the nation, and to the world, that Melbourne is opening up.”
The events will follow the first stage of the vaccinated economy trials, which will allow more people to attend venues when all patrons are fully vaccinated.
The trials will begin at 15 venues across six regional Victorian local government areas this coming week.
The participants in the vaccinated economy trial are:
- Bass Coast – North Pier Hotel in Cowes, Churchill Island Cafe
- Buloke – Terminus Hotel in Wycheproof
- East Gippsland – East Gippsland Art Gallery in Bairnsdale, Lakes Squash and Movie Theatre in Lakes Entrance, Wilson Property in Traralgon
- Greater Bendigo – Anglican Church of Australia in Flora Hill, Bendigo Art Gallery, Village Cinemas in Bendigo, Body Fit Training in Bendigo
- Pyrenees – Avoca Hotel
- Warrnambool – Darlings of Beauty, Roberts One Real Estate, Warrnambool Racing Club (race meeting), Warrnambool Art Gallery.
As of Saturday, 85.6 per cent of Victorians aged 16 and over had at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine and 57 per cent were fully vaccinated.
Mr Andrews committed to ending the lockdown as planned when the state reached 70 per cent fully vaccinated.
“We are on track to meet the targets. We may be ahead of schedule but I don’t want any sense of complacency to creep in,” he said last week.
“At this stage, I’ve got no advice that we have to alter anything on the road map.”
The NSW lockdown will end on Monday after the state reached the 70 per cent double dose target last week.
There are 18,342 active coronavirus cases in Victoria.
Department of Health deputy secretary Kate Matson has warned Victoria could reach 3000 daily case by the end of this month.
“At this point in time, we are on track in terms of hospitalisations and new cases,” she said.
“But I will remind you there is a middle line and an upper and lower band, and we are still within that band.”
Victoria has recorded 11,794 in the past week alone.
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