165 new COVID cases in Victoria on day one of Melbourne lockdown
Public housing residents in a tower that has at least 53 coronavirus cases will remain in hard lockdown, while residents in the remaining towers will be eased to stage three restrictions. It comes as Victoria recorded 165 new coronavirus cases on day one of strict new rules across the city.
VIC News
Don't miss out on the headlines from VIC News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
This coronavirus article is unlocked and free to read in the interest of community health and safety. Get full digital access to trusted news from the Herald Sun and Leader for just $1 a week for the first 12 weeks.
Residents of a public housing tower at 33 Alfred St, North Melbourne will be confined to lockdown for a further nine days after testing revealed at least 53 confirmed coronavirus cases on Thursday.
After 2515 tower residents were tested in five days, one tower had a substantially high number of cases.
33 Alfred St, North Melbourne has the highest cases of all towers, with at least 53 confirmed cases.
All residents of the affected tower must now isolate for 14 days, while the eight other towers can ease back to Stage Three restrictions.
Towers at 12 Sutton Street, 76 Canning Street, 12 Holland Court, 120 Racecourse Rd, 126 and 130 Racecourse Rd will reopen from 11.59pm on Thursday night.
There were 158 positive cases in the towers, which equals about 11 per cent of residents.
Testing has shown no cases at 9 Pampas St and 159 Melrose St, meaning tenants at those addresses will move to “stay-home” restrictions from 5pm on Thursday.
Premier Daniel Andrews said 33 Alfred St was in some respects akin to an aged care facility and said there would be continued support and continued protection for those residents, given their age and, for many of them. their health status.
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said there would usually be two or three close contacts for every confirmed case.
“We need to recognise that there might be 20, 25 per cent of individuals in that particular tower who end up developing coronavirus and potentially more. So that has, much like an aged care facility, been designated as everyone requiring quarantine.
He said residents who had already completed five days of quarantine would be required to complete another nine days.
“But they need to stay in quarantine until a 14-day period is completed,” Prof Sutton said.
Mr Andrews said positive contacts cases and their close contacts who live in the buildings would be encouraged to take up alternative accommodation offsite for the period of their isolation. A team of community leaders and community nurses would be on hand to provide care door-to-door.
Police Minister Lisa Neville said they would be “knocking on doors and strongly encouraging people to take up the offer to go to hotels. That will be available from midday tomorrow”.
But for residents who did not want to relocate, a single point of contact with daily check-ins and food, medical care and mental health support would also be provided.
Mr Andrews said because of the continued risk at the towers, communal laundries would close and external laundry services would be provided to all residents. A deep clean of every floor would occur every day, with high touchpoints in stairwells and lifts being cleaned at least five times a day.
Authorities expect there will be more cases from the towers as there are still people who will be incubating illness.
“So they haven’t tested positive yet,” Prof Sutton said, “but in the next couple of days they may well develop symptoms, test positive, and will need to continue to isolate them and quarantine their close contacts.”
All quiet at the 32 Alfred St block except for deliveries of supplies. pic.twitter.com/YZBapsFdQM
— Ian Royall ðŸ (@IanRoyall) July 9, 2020
Betty O’Doherty, who lives in a public housing block at 9 Pampas St, North Melbourne, said she was excited to be let out and was planning to do some shopping.
“I’m looking forward to getting up the street and seeing people,” she said.
“I’ll go to the supermarket first, I think.”
Mrs O’Doherty, who has lived in her unit for 21 years, said she was impressed with the supplies of food and other goods and praised the police and other authorities.
“They’re absolutely brilliant. It’s been marvellous.
“I fee very sorry for the people in the high-rise towers.”
She said she had two coronavirus tests during the hard lockdown period but was yet to be told the result of the test she took on Tuesday.
Victoria recorded 165 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, with 18 linked to the outbreak in public housing towers in North Melbourne and Flemington.
More than half of the 932 active cases in Victoria have been acquired through community transmission, with 477 cases believed to have been acquired that way.
Six further cases have been linked to an outbreak at Al-Taqwa College in Truganina, bringing the total to 113 cases.
A new case has been identified at the Catch.com distribution centre in Truganina, and another case linked to an outbreak at a Hugo Boss store on Collins St, taking the total to eight cases.
Two healthcare workers at the Royal Melbourne Hospital have tested positive, as have another two healthcare workers at Sunshine Hospital’s emergency department.
Another staff member at the Northern Hospital in Epping has tested positive, bringing the total number of cases in that cluster to 11.
Six aged care facilities have been locked down after staff members tested positive.
Those facilities include:
- Menarock Life Aged Care in Essendon (two cases);
- BaptCare The Orchards Community in Doncaster (one case who worked while infectious);
- Benetas St George’s in Altona Meadows (one case who worked while infectious);
- BlueCross Ivanhoe (one case who worked while infectious);
- Aurrum Aged Care in Healesville (one case who was not infectious);
- Holmwood Aged Care in Healesville (one case who was not infectious).
Victoria has now tested a record 1.03 million people, with a total coronavirus case tally of 3098.
It comes as testing mix-ups led a staff member from Camberwell Grammar to be incorrectly identified last week as having the coronavirus.
Members of the elite school community have also been frustrated by delays at a pathology laboratory which led to parents, staff and students not receiving notification of negative tests.
A letter to parents from Principal Paul Hicks said teachers and year 11 and 12 students on campus from next Tuesday will wear masks to school, while students from prep to year 10 would resume online classes from Thursday.
SKI SEASON HALTS DUE TO LOCKDOWN
Ski resorts at Mount Hotham and Falls Creek have been shut due to Victoria’s coronavirus lockdown.
Lift operations at the two sites had opened this week after a delayed start to the season.
But all ski-lifting operations were suspended on Thursday for at least six weeks, in line with the stage three restrictions.
Guests and passholders were told they would get a refund.
The company that manages the two sites, Vail Resorts, said they would follow the advice of health authorities to determine if it was feasible to reopen later in the season.
Vail Resorts chief operating officer Peter Brulisauer said in a statement: “We did not make this decision lightly as we know our employees, guests and the communities where we operate have already endured so much hardship this year.”
“We recognise this is incredibly disappointing to our guests and pass holders, including those who have made reservations at Hotham and Falls Creek this season. We thank them for their patience and understanding as we continue to navigate this incredibly challenging time.”
He said reservations for lift tickets, ski and ride lessons and rental bookings would be cancelled and fully refunded.
Perisher will remain open and is unaffected by this decision, operating in accordance with COVID-19 restrictions in NSW.
- Josh Fagan
MASKS RECOMMENDED TO PREVENT COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION
Victorians trapped in the lockdown zone and unable to socially distance have been advised to wear masks.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Nick Coatsworth said mask use was not being recommended for all Australians at all times, just those in areas where community transmission is on the rise.
“In Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire area, surgical masks or cloth masks is recommended if you find yourself in a situation where you cannot socially distance,” Dr Coatsworth said.
“This means if you have to leave your home for any of those reasons for which it is permissible, and you are likely to find yourself in a situation where you cannot maintain 1.5m distance, it is advisable to be covering your face with a mask.
“That, of course, does not change our advice on social distancing.”
Dr Coatsworth insisted maintaining distance from others was still the most important measure people could be taking.
There were 182 new cases of COVID-19 detected across Australia in the 24 hours to noon Thursday.
Of the 45 people in hospital, 10 were in intensive care units.
— Tamsin Rose
SURGE IN CASES PROMPTS FEARS FOR LOCKED DOWN TOWERS
An increase in cases at the nine locked down towers has prompted fears the hard lockdown may be extended beyond the original five days.
On Saturday, Mr Andrews without warning announced more than 3000 people would be forced to remain in the towers as hundreds of police swarmed the precincts.
However, Mr Andrews warned the five-day lock down could change with the order able to be rescinded or extended up to 14 days.
“I just want to explain the order is made for 14 days, that’s a function of the Act,” he said.
“The nine towers that are being locked down will be locked down for at least five days because that is deemed the appropriate period to test everybody – every single resident other than those who’ve already tested positive – across those towers and to have those tests processed by the labs.
“That data will then guide us as to what the next steps should be, but at this stage it is at least that five-day hard lockdown, effective from right now.”
The government has not yet released the latest update on infections, but it is understood an announcement on case numbers and further changes will be made this afternoon.
Schools will enforce mandatory daily temperature checks for any student who attends a campus from next week.
All public school students in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire will have to get their temperature checked each morning and must return a temperature under 37.5 degrees, or they will be sent home.
More than 14,000 infra-red thermometers are being sent to public, independent and Catholic schools along with early childhood education and care services.
Kids who live in the new restricted zones but who attend a school in an unaffected area will also undergo daily temperature checks.
Schools in areas that border the restricted zones would also receive devices.
The new rules had been foreshadowed by Premier Daniel Andrews as an extra measure that could be adopted in a bid to fight the spread of COVID-19.
Education minister James Merlino said the daily checks would “help make sure unwell students stay at home and do not risk spreading coronavirus”
“I understand that this is a stressful time for parents, but we are following the best medical advice and taking every possible precaution to ensure the safety of all Victorians,” he said.
Families of any child who returns a higher than normal temperature will be urged to seek coronavirus testing or health advice.
Changes to term 3 were announced on Tuesday as a second wave of coronavirus spread through the community.
Children who attend a school in metropolitan Melbourne or Mitchell Shire will have an extra week of holidays if they’re in Prep to Year 10.
Those in Year 11 and 12, or Year 10 students who take a VCE subject, and specialist school students will be able to continue attending campuses from Monday.
Private schools are issuing their own plans to parents, with many switching back to remote learning for younger pupils next week.
Those outside of Mitchell Shire or metropolitan Melbourne will not be impacted, and will continue term 3 as usual.
It comes as Melbourne’s CBD resembled a ghost town this morning, with normally busy thoroughfares deserted, while part of the Metro Tunnel construction was halted after two workers tested positive to coronavirus.
Nine public housing blocks in North Melbourne and Flemington are entering into a fifth day of hard lockdown, amid calls to wind back the harsh restrictions after all 3000 residents are tested for the virus.
QUARANTINE EXEMPTION FOR OVERSEAS TRAVELLER
A man travelling to Melbourne from London will not have to undergo 14 days’ quarantine on arrival after being given special exemption to attend a funeral.
The Leader can reveal the man who holds a dual citizenship, will attend his mother’s funeral on Thursday at Springvale Cemetery’s Boyd Chapel at 2pm.
It’s believed the man’s London-bound flight via Singapore, Brisbane and Sydney was scheduled to land at 11am, hours before the funeral.
Emails seen by Leader by the Department of Health and Human Services Quarantine Exemption Team, said the man’s transfer to Victoria had been approved by the deputy commander.
“Temporary leave will be arranged as a priority to facilitate his attendance to his mother’s funeral which is scheduled for tomorrow,” the exemption officer said.
Read the full story here.
METRO TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION HALTED
Construction of the Town Hall train station has been halted after two workers tested positive to coronavirus.
The station, which is part of the Metro Tunnel project, was undergoing a deep clean between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, with no work occurring during that time.
A Metro Tunnel spokesman said two project team members received their positive result in recent days.
They were isolating at home and had mild symptoms, the spokesman said.
“As a precautionary measure, all Town Hall site team members have been offered a COVID-19 test,” he said.
“The health and safety of the community and our team is the number one priority of the Metro Tunnel Project. There are comprehensive health and safety procedures in place for COVID-19.
- Josh Fagan
FINAL DAY OF PUBLIC HOUSING TOWERS HARD LOCKDOWN
A team of 20 workers in hazmat suits gathered outside the 120 Racecourse Rd tower in Flemington this morning as the last move to support the residents in hard lockdown.
Milk, food and other supplies were being taken to each of the 20 floors in an effort co-ordinated by police, MFB and DHHS staff. The food drops were being left outside the door of each flat.
North Melbourne Community Centre on Buncle St has been established as a central co-ordination point for welfare agencies delivering supplies and services.
Thursday marks the last day of the five-day hard lockdown of the towers with tenants awaiting confirmation the order would end.
- Ian Royall
COLES DONATES TO TOWER
Earlier this week supermarket giant Coles donated 2000 boxes of fresh food and non-perishable staples to in-need families. Each box aimed to feed four people over three days.
Coles said it would continue to support the residents until the hard lockdown ends.
“As soon as we were made aware of the situation facing the residents in the towers who were unable to leave their homes, we wanted to ensure they could access fresh food and groceries without stress or worry, including catering to their dietary and cultural needs,” chief operations officer Matt Swindells said.
“Our team is proud to support those in need and we are continuing to work with the Victorian government to provide the manpower required to support those living in the towers for as long as is required.”
“We want to help all Victorians as much as we can through this challenging time.”
Among the items residents received during the hard lockdown, Coles donated a total of 5000 litres of fresh milk (including 1600 litres of lactose free), 2250 loaves of bread, 1280 packs of mince meat (640 kgs), 1000 packets (or 4000 rolls) of toilet paper and 500 packs nappies.
- Kara Irving
ALL RESIDENTS IN LOCKED DOWN PUBLIC HOUSING BLOCKS TESTED
Pressure is mounting on the Victorian Government to remove 3000 residents from “prison-like detention” as soon as possible after COVID-19 testing at the quarantined commission towers was completed overnight.
Victorian Greens MP Ellen Sandell told NCA NewsWire a mother inside the towers and without any access to ventolin for her diabetic daughter had been forced to reuse needles.
Another mother only saw her newborn baby for the first time on Wednesday night since they were separated when hard lockdown measures came into force on Saturday.
“There’s been no thought and no planning to this hard lockdown – people have been treated like prisoners, and there has been no individual care,” Ms Sandell said.
“As residents get test results today, the priority must be clearly and quickly telling people how lockdown will be eased so people can get out of prison-like detention as soon as possible.”
Read the full story here.
QUEENSLAND BANS VICTORIANS
Victorians will be turned away if they try and enter Queensland from lunchtime tomorrow.
They will not be allowed to quarantine in the sunshine state either, with Anastasia Palaszczuk announcing stricter measures on Thursday morning.
“Given the developing situation in Victoria, Queensland is hardening its border,” the Queensland Premier said.
“From noon, July 10, visitors from Victoria will no longer gain access or be able to quarantine in Queensland.
“They will be turned around.”
- Tamsin Rose
SCRAMBLE TO SCREEN JETSTAR PASSENGERS
Details of the last-minute scramble to screen airline passengers from Melbourne before they entered Sydney on Tuesday night have emerged, as one passenger labelled the entire process “ridiculous”.
Jetstar flight JQ520 disembarked 137 passengers about 6.40pm without waiting for NSW Health officials to conduct health screenings.
Authorities scrambled to correct the mistake, but only 89 of those could be stopped before they left the airport – with the other 48 able to roam free in Sydney.
Two of those could not be contacted by NSW Health, and a third refused a screening. All were located at a house in Hurstville and spoken to by police late on Wednesday night.
Read the full story here.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS PREPARE FOR REMOTE LEARNING
Private schools, in a pre-emptive move, will start remote learning from early next week.
It comes as metropolitan Melbourne was placed until tight COVID-19 restrictions beginning Thursday.
Up to half a dozen schools told parents late Wednesday that they would not be having the five-day curriculum days to prepare for a possible move to remote learning.
The schools include Lowther Hall, Melbourne Grammar, Scotch College, Caulfield Grammar, Westbourne Grammar and Penleigh and Essendon Grammar.
Parents at Caulfield Grammar School were told by letter that prep to Year 9 students would be remote learning from next Wednesday to Friday.
The state government has foreshadowed a return to remote learning but is expected to formalise the decision on Thursday or Friday.
It announced that all Year 11 and 12 students studying VCE and VCAL, Year 10s doing a VCE subject and specialist school students will return to onsite learning from Monday.
Read the full story here.
CHECKPOINTS CREATE TRAFFIC HEADACHES FOR MOTORISTS
Earlier, police cracked down on motorists moving around metro areas, and leaving the perimeter of metropolitan Melbourne.
A large-scale roadblock was set up at the corner of Warrigal Rd and South Rd in Heatherton, and police are randomly pulling vehicles over to check if their occupants are complying with lockdown restrictions.
Elsewhere, roadblocks between locked down LGAs and regional areas have slowed traffic on the Hume Hwy in Beveridge, and in Longwarry on the Princes Hwy.
Accidents have also added fuel to the traffic fire on some of Melbourne’s main roads.
A crash on the Monash Fwy heading away from the city in Dandenong North slowed the commute for essential workers this morning.
Another crash on the way into the city on Peninsula Link at Frankston-Dandenong Rd has slowed traffic as well.
- James Mottershead
MELBURNIANS WAKE UP TO A LOCKED DOWN CITY
It comes as Melburnians are waking up to day one of the second round of strict stay-at-home orders.
Restaurants, beauty parlours and gyms are all closed as metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell shire begin the six-week lockdown.
Police are out in force patrolling the perimeter, ensuring those in the quarantine areas are only leaving for one of the four approved essential reasons.
There are checkpoints at seven major arterials this morning.
Motorists can expect lengthy waits if they need to cross the “ring of steel” as part of their commute.
It comes as Mornington Peninsula businesses hit out at being trapped in Melbourne’s lockdown, as regional Victorian businesses get set to breathe a sigh of relief that they can continue trading.
The harsh lockdown across Greater Melbourne comes into effect at 11.59pm Tuesday night — splitting the state in two.
Business owners on the Mornington Peninsula are now demanding to know why they have been forced back into lockdown, despite being at least 70km from Melbourne with no active cases.
By comparison Geelong, which has two active cases and is 79km from the CBD, has avoided the harsh restrictions.
The Green Olive at Red Hill owner Greg O’Donoghue was furious that the ruling forced his business to close again.
SEE THE FULL LIST OF RESTRICTIONS
“We were booked solid until the end of August and we had school holiday programs running and the first of our birthday parties organised,” Mr O’Donoghue said.
“The cool room is full in readiness. It’s crazy that we will have to lock our gate at 5pm tonight.”
Mr O’Donoghue said he could maintain his business — which offers dine-in tapas and wine, accommodation and cooking classes — serving only Mornington Peninsula customers.
“It would make more sense for us to allow the region to continue to operate with social distancing and limited numbers and close it to the rest of Melbourne.”
Business lobby group, the Committee for Mornington Peninsula, agreed that the rules weren’t being applied fairly.
Board member Shannon Smit acknowledged the seriousness of the pandemic but said it was “very confusing to industry” on the peninsula that it was included as metropolitan Melbourne but Geelong was not.
The committee is surveying residents about the issue and early results revealed of the 125 responses, 92 per cent supported a push for the Mornington Peninsula to become regional.
Mornington Peninsula Shire council has also been pushing for the area to be reclassified.
Councillor David Gill said the Green Wedge was being threatened by Melbourne’s suburban planning scheme.
“What suits suburban planning is slowly ruining our much admired coastal and hinterland villages and making it more difficult for farmers to survive on the land,” he said.
Federal Health Minister and Flinders MP Greg Hunt said the classification of the area was a state government responsibility, but that he understood the “deep disappointment and hardship” being suffered.
Premier Daniel Andrews on Tuesday said the government had to draw “a hard border” between the metropolitan and regional areas.
“Again, no one is pleased to be in that predicament, to be having to confront those circumstances, but there is enormous benefit across regional Victoria if we can get that job done,” he said.
“We are doing the hard work to look at options to accelerate opening up in regional Victoria for regional Victorians.
MOVE TO CAP RETURNING TRAVELLERS
A plan to cap the number of Australians flying home from overseas will be considered by the National Cabinet on Friday to ease the burden on the hotel quarantine system.
Scott Morrison also says it would be “completely understandable” if state governments decided to charge returned travellers for their accommodation during the mandatory 14-day quarantine period.
Border restrictions during the pandemic have given federal authorities control over the number of passengers arriving on flights from overseas.
With Australians having had several months to return, the federal government is now considering capping the number of people travelling through the borders, as some states raise concerns about the cost of the hotel quarantine program.
Overseas flights have already been diverted from Melbourne until the middle of next week after a series of outbreaks linked to security guards working in the quarantine system.
Premier Daniel Andrews has asked the Prime Minister to extend that arrangement.
Mr Morrison said on Wednesday “taking on higher numbers is what we’re seeking to avoid”.
“There is a volume that can be accommodated by the states and territories currently, but they certainly wouldn’t want to see that increase,” he said.
In the past month, NSW has welcomed 39,394 overseas arrivals, while 15,374 people landed in Victoria and 10,054 in Queensland.
Asked if overseas travellers should be charged, the Prime Minister said the commonwealth would “have no objection”, given there had “been many opportunities for people to return”.
Universities that had wanted to welcome some international students back will now review their plans after Victoria’s outbreak.
STATE COUNTS THE COST OF LOCKDOWN
HOSPITALITY
The six-week lockdown will cost the Victorian hospitality industry about $1bn, according to the peak industry body.
Restaurant and Catering Industry Association chief executive Wes Lambert said the lost revenue would not be recouped when the lockdown eased after August 19.
“It’s lost revenue that will not be made up. It’s just gone forever,” he said. “That billion is more than many in the industry can bear.
“For those venues that were holding back to open until it was 50 patrons, and were literally holding on to what they believed was July 12, they may close permanently with this extended lockdown.
“The Treasurer has indicated there will be some stimulus for the most-affected industries post the end of September.
“However we’re calling on that to apply to accommodation and food service, and for it to be as strong as possible as this industry is being suppressed by legislation.”
The association has predicted 10 to 20 per cent of the accommodation and food services businesses in Victoria will close for good.
“We’re calling on the government to continue all current stimulus measures for hospitality businesses and to formulate a grant strategy for the hardest-hit,” Mr Lambert said
RETAIL
Clothing, footwear and “discretionary” retailers are posed to be the hardest hit, amid predictions store closures were inevitable.
Australian Retailers’ Association boss Paul Zahra said the impact would be “severe”. “While some sectors have performed strongly — such as food retailers and homewares — this will be a double blow for discretionary retailers such as clothing and footwear stores,” he said.
Mr Zahra said while JobKeeper had been a lifeline for many struggling retailers, it was inevitable there would be more job losses and permanent store closures.
“We expect to see some consolidation in the sector, some mergers or acquisitions and, sadly, we will see closures as a result of the pandemic. There is ultimately no substitute for people making purchases in-store or online. Foot traffic and discretionary spending will be down, and costs will be higher due to COVID requirements. Retailers will have burnt through cash reserves,” Zahra says.
The former David Jones CEO says a lot depends on how the government responds with business support in the coming months.
“There is currently a suppression of store closures due to hibernation and JobKeeper which unfortunately will become more evident after support measures are lifted. Retailers who were struggling before the pandemic are facing significant challenges, while others with a strong digital presence will be well placed for the recovery,” he said.
“Longer term, the transformation taking place is real and it’s largely positive — we will see a decade’s worth of change and transformation out of this and that’s great news for consumers.”
TOURISM
The tourism industry is in a “state of flux” as many businesses in Melbourne close, and those in regional Victoria weigh up options. Victorian Tourism Industry Council chief executive Felicia Mariani said some regional accommodation providers had decided to close because most of their visitors came from the city.
She said many providers had gone to the expense of restocking to reopen, only for those bookings to be cancelled after the new lockdown was announced.
“We had always said that to reopen and to close again was going to have an enormous impost on the industry,” she said. “The rate of cancellations is happening at a far greater pace than the first round of restrictions.”
She said it was also the loss of day trippers from Melbourne that would hurt the sector, with the loss estimated to reach $350m over the six weeks, according to the Accommodation Association of Australia.
“We need regional Victorians to get out there and travel around to the regions, we’ve got attractions, experiences, restaurants right across the state that are going to rely on them to continue to support them,” she said.
UNIVERSITIES
The tertiary education sector has mostly stayed open and reverted to online remote learning during the pandemic — a trend set to continue.
The second university semester is due to start this month or early August as the second lockdown is enforced across Melbourne.
Regional Victorian campuses will also continue online classes for most subjects for the time being.
Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson said most university campuses never closed.
“But as a result of social distancing rules, face-to-face classes have been suspended,” she said.
“Where practical, there has been a limited return to face-to-face tuition, especially for small groups and practical laboratory teaching.
“Universities continue to adhere strictly to guidance from the medical authorities and governments, making sure they react promptly to changes as they develop in Victoria.”
EVENTS
Events companies have been left reeling by bans on mass gatherings that promoted a shutdown across the industry.
Idiom Events’ Brad Taylor said his business seized up almost overnight when restrictions hit in March. Selling corporate entertainment packages to major sporting events accounts for about 85 per cent of his operations.
Mr Taylor said just as he saw a glimmer of hope, he’d been knocked down again.
“There hasn’t been any conceivable road map of how to get to out of this,” he said.
“What you plan for today could easily be scuppered tomorrow. When does the tap turn on? We just don’t know. We went from 100 per cent revenue to nothing.
“Our footy season was looking like the best it would be. I was really excited about 2020.”
Valentina Jovanoska‘s The Valentina Group Agency works on events such as Albert Park’s F1 Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne Fashion Festival, Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, and winter and spring racing carnivals.
She said the impact was huge, but she was fortunate to have been able to pivot her business and to develop back-up plans.
“It will have a long-lasting effect but we will slowly build again,” she said.
“It’s a pivotal time for everyone. I love fashion, music, design and arts and I’ve had time to think and innovate and expand.
“I’m an optimist, I’ve been in the business for 23 years and I think we will evolve and collaborate. It’s forced us all to slow down.”
BANKING
Australia’s banks are being positioned as “shock absorbers” as the economy shakes in the coming weeks and months.
Australian Banking Association chief executive Anna Bligh said local bank branches would continue to operate during lockdown to support Victorian customers.
“Banks have a very important role to play in the economy, especially in times of crisis,” she said. “They will take a hit to their bottom line. But if their customers recover, that’ll be in the long-term interest of the banks.”
Ms Bligh said though many sectors of the economy were in decline, others were experiencing a boom which had kept them afloat.
“Businesses in some sectors have continued to thrive. We’ve seen a number take out loans to innovate and to change the nature of their work, though this is not true of every business,” she said.
Banks were offering a four-month extension to customers experiencing hardship on any loans they had deferred.
CITY BUSINESSES FACE GRIM FALLOUT
About 15 per cent of businesses in the City of Melbourne have indicated they might close down permanently due to the pandemic, according to a council survey.
The municipality has more than 16,800 businesses, but only 45 per cent of food business stayed open during the coronavirus crisis.
Lord Mayor Sally Capp said small and medium businesses were already doing it tough.
“This second lockdown means they will be struggling to stay afloat. The lack of foot traffic in the city is having a devastating impact on businesses,” she said.
“We normally see up to a million people come into the city each day. Our pedestrian sensors showed a 90 per cent drop in foot traffic during the first weeks of restrictions.”
“It’s concerning that around 15 per cent of businesses surveyed before the second lockdown announcement said they would close their business permanently – or they haven’t decided if they will reopen.”
The Lord Mayor said the council had set up a dedicated hotline and had spoken with more than 725 hospitality business owners.”
“We can’t afford to lose the food and cafe culture that’s been built up over the last 30 years.”
“Our restaurant, café and bar scene are key elements that make Melbourne a great city – and the sector is worth $2.5 billion to our economy each year.”
“I’m asking everyone to continue to support their favourite local haunts through takeaway and delivery orders. These businesses represent what we know and love about Melbourne. They need our support more than ever.”
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT EXERCISING DURING LOCKDOWN
DIEHARDS STAY ON COURSE
Last lockdown, the Premier banned golf in a much-criticised move, claiming it posed a deadly risk.
Now happy hackers are enjoying a new lease on life as common sense prevails. Golf courses were ruled out of bounds under initial stage three restrictions but have been allowed to stay open through the new six-week stay-at-home order.
Premier Daniel Andrews said golfers playing in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire would be limited to groups of two.
Earlier in the year he’d taken a heavy-handed stance on course closures, saying “no round of golf is worth someone’s life”.
Asked on Wednesday why it was no longer a danger, Mr Andrews said the sport had been reassessed.
“It’s based on the fact the Chief Health Officer has the certainty now of having looked at those restrictions in the first wave and knowing that it’s a very low public health risk,” he said.
Golfer Richard Belkin said he was relieved the sport was spared from returning to lockdown. But he said he was unimpressed with group sizes being reduced.
Mr Belkin, a member of Lakeside Golf Club in Albert Park, said the restrictions had already posed problems with some cancellations and tee times being pushed back. “I don’t understand why you can only play in pairs not in foursomes,” he said.
“It’s not as if you’re walking down the fairway hand-in-hand or anything like that. You’re not on top of each other. You know, someone’s on the trees on the left someone’s on the right so you’ve got that distance from the people you’re playing in the same group with.”
He said all golfers were taking precautions with steps such as sanitising, not shaking hands and leaving the flag in the hole.
Mr Andrews said even though courses were still open, it was “not an invitation to play 36 holes of golf every day”.
“It’s in the context of daily exercise. Clubhouses are closed so it’s genuinely an outdoor activity.
XAVIER COLLEGE BEACONSFIELD STUDENT CONTRACTS VIRUS
A St Francis Xavier College student from the Beaconsfield campus has tested positive for coronavirus.
In an email sent out to parents on Wednesday, principal Vincent Feeney said the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) was investigating a confirmed case of the virus.
It’s been confirmed the student was infectious while at school on Wednesday, June 24 and Thursday, June 25.
A Diocese of Sale spokeswoman said the school had been closed after the positive case.
“All those deemed to be close contacts of the student will be contacted by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS),” the spokeswoman said.
“The Beaconsfield campus of the college will be closed from today for an environmental clean.”
Read the full story here.
WINERY ESCAPES LOCKDOWN BY MERE METRES
Cheers to escaping strict new lockdowns — a regional winery has been saved from shutdown orders by mere metres.
Avenel winery Fowles Wine falls on the lucky side of the Hume Highway, the border of Mitchell Shire now under restrictions.
“We’re delighted to be free,” owner Matt Fowles said.
The venue, which serves as a meeting point for people between Shepparton, Albury and Melbourne, is open for business thanks to being situated just 100 metres into Strathbogie Shire.
With just two recorded coronavirus cases in their part of the state since the pandemic began, Mr Fowles was relieved the latest restrictions wouldn’t tar all Victorians with the one brush and force everyone into devastating closures.
Read the full story here.
MORE NEWS
TRUGANINA SCHOOL TOPS 100 CASES, CITY TO SHUT DOWN
PETER ALEXANDER, SMIGGLE, JUST JEANS TO CLOSE
LOCKDOWN ‘HARDER’ THE SECOND TIME
Originally published as 165 new COVID cases in Victoria on day one of Melbourne lockdown
‘Angels’: Hero Coles workers save mum’s life
A mother of three has opened up on how her life was saved after she suddenly collapsed while doing a routine supermarket shop.
Wildlife and traffic fears over music festival
Wildlife advocates fear a weekend music festival in central Victoria will endanger native animals including rescued joeys.