11 new local Covid cases, Victorians to wait another day for lockdown announcement
Health authorities are confident Victoria’s Delta outbreak is under control but remain tight-lipped on plans to ease restrictions. It comes as NSW’s death toll grows.
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Eleven new cases of locally acquired coronavirus were detected in the community in the 24 hours to Monday.
All new locally acquired cases are linked to the current outbreaks, and all were in quarantine throughout their entire infectious period, the Department of Health revealed.
It comes after a day of more than 25,000 tests.
But Victorians will have to wait another day before learning which restrictions will be eased from 11.59pm Tuesday.
Industry and business groups had hoped for a possible decision on Monday morning, giving them time to plan for any changes that may come into effect. But it is understood no announcement will be made.
Senior MPs and public health officials will meet again on Monday to discuss the easing of restrictions, with Premier Daniel Andrews expected to make an announcement on Tuesday.
Health Minister Martin Foley said a decision on restrictions would be revealed closer to Tuesday’s 11.59pm deadline.
“Suffice to say, as we stand here today, nothing has been finalised, but we are mindful of the need, as soon as possible, to share the data,” he said.
Mr Foley said the fact that all 22 cases had been in isolation throughout their infectious period allowed authorities to take some “comfort”.
“What that points to is that we are on the right track,” he said.
The health minister also highlighted the challenges presented by the Delta variant, and said case numbers were still too high.
“Despite the fact we have had 22 cases in the last two days, all of which have been in isolation for the entirety of the infectious period, it is still 22 cases,” Mr Foley said.
Covid commander Jeroen Weimar said authorities were confident the outbreaks were under control, paving the way for restrictions to be lifted this week.
“With over 25,000 tests yesterday, that brings us to a total of 565,000 tests undertaken
since the start of this outbreak to support this increasingly strong confidence we have that we now have our arms around this outbreak,” he said.
“And of course no positive cases in the community in the last 48 hours from the ongoing work.”
He said health authorities would take about 10 days to get on top of the outbreak’s residual effects.
“In fairness to the 20,000-odd people we have had as primary close contacts at various points along this outbreak — it is a lot of people — it is the largest outbreak we’ve had since the second wave last year. This is no small feat,” Mr Weimar said.
Head of contact tracing Kate Matson said a large number of close contacts had reached or were nearing their end of quarantine.
She said people must have received a negative day-13 test result and clearance from a Department of Health official.
Those who refuse to get a day-13 test, or those who test positive late in their quarantine period, must complete another two weeks in isolation.
It comes as reports emerge that a number of contacts — due to be released — had reached day 17 in their isolation period but had still not been contacted by the Department.
The latest infections include two patrons who dined at Ms Frankie restaurant in Cremorne on July 15, with the remainder of cases being household primary contacts linked to the Trinity Grammar, Bacchus Marsh Grammar, AAMI Park, City of Hume and Young and Jackson clusters.
Currently, there are 180 active community cases — five in hospital, one in intensive care, and one on a ventilator.
Meanwhile, NSW announced 145 new cases of Covid on Monday, with 51 of these cases infectious in the community.
Sydney’s lockdown is expected to run until September as the state struggles to bring the number of new Covid cases down.
The NSW government asked for financial modelling for a lockdown of Greater Sydney that extends until mid-September, according to The Australian.
The newspaper reports officials were originally considering September 3 as an end date to the lockdown but are now considering extending it to September 17.
But Premier Gladys Berejiklian played down those reports, saying she would not “jump to conclusions” ahead of an imminent announcement.
‘LOCKDOWN LITE’ MOST LIKELY FOR VICTORIA
A short lockdown extension of up to three days has been considered by public health officials, senior sources have confirmed.
The Herald Sun has been told the extension would have left current settings in place until Friday.
However, government sources say a gradual easing of restrictions is now the most likely source — unless there is a sudden spike of concerning cases on Tuesday.
“The restrictions are going to be onerous for the next few months,” one source said.
“It’s going to not be worthwhile for a lot of restaurants to open if what is being talked about goes ahead,” another source said.
“Not great news for Melbourne.”
But it won’t be a quick return to normal life from Wednesday following the state’s fifth lockdown.
It is understood Victoria will revert to a “lockdown lite”, with health officials hoping to hold some restrictions in place until vaccination rates are vastly improved.
Read the exclusive story here.
PROBE INTO ROGUE REMOVALISTS STALLS
The investigation into the three “rogue” removalists that sparked Victoria’s fifth lockdown is still yet to be handed to police, according to one of the state’s top cops.
Victoria Police assistant commissioner Luke Cornelius told 3AW said the file still sat with the Department of Health.
“We stand ready to receive the file, if and when it comes to us,” he said.
Mr Cornelius said the investigation remains in the hands of Department of Health, adding that a request hadn’t been made for Victoria Police’s assistance.
“They’ve certainly had the opportunity to call on us. That request has not been made,” he added.
It comes after the Herald Sun on Saturday revealed that police were set to close the case without the removalists being penalised – except for potentially one fine for not wearing a mask.
Sources said the removalists are not believed to have breached the terms of their permit to deliver furniture from interstate on July 8.
Footage showed the men all without masks and the removalists did not socially distance as they came into close contact with residents of the complex – infecting four people, which then led to the outbreak that spread across the state.
NERVOUS WAIT AFTER WILD PROTESTS
Victoria’s Covid-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar said it was not yet clear if Saturday’s anti-lockdown protest would become a superspreader event, but it was “a curveball we didn’t need”.
“We may have to sit back and see what results come through in the coming days,” Mr Weimar said. “A small minority having a self-indulgent tantrum is just really frustrating at this very critical point in time.”
Premier Daniel Andrews slammed the protest as dangerous and said those who attended “should be ashamed”.
“It’s illegal, it’s unsafe, it’s selfish and it puts at risk the hard work that millions of other Victorians are doing,” Mr Andrews said.
It comes as Victorians were urged to dob in thousands of Covid protesters in the wake of the rally.
Police, and state and federal leaders slammed the “self-indulgent and selfish” behaviour of 5000-odd people who stormed Melbourne’s CBD to protest the country’s latest lockdowns.
Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius said organisers, many of whom had been warned by police not to attend, could face criminal charges of incitement, and many attendees could expect knocks on the door and fines.
He encouraged Victorians who were outraged by the behaviour of protesters to call Crime Stoppers to report the identities of those in the crowd.
“If you know who those people are, let us know and we will take action,” he said.
Investigators on Sunday began the mammoth task of reviewing hours of CCTV, body-worn police cameras and video footage from the public to track down those at the “freedom” rally.
Assistant Commissioner Cornelius again called out the protesters’ “batshit crazy behaviour”, telling 3AW six people had so far been arrested, with a number of those charged with assault.
“I’ve asked my frontline people to go back and review their body worn camera footage to identify further incidents,” he said.
When asked if he believed fines would stop protesters from acting out again, Assistant Commissioner Cornelius said: “No, I don’t.
“In fact, a number of them have received multiple fines – there was at least one person who was arrested for breach of bail in relation to previous protesting activity.
“We specifically reached out and spoke to 14 organisers – we know that seven of those actually turned up on Saturday notwithstanding that warning.
“Those individuals aren’t going to be getting more fines – we will be charging them and presenting them to court. You can face upwards of $20,000 fine.”
Assistant Commissioner Cornelius said he was aware protesters planned to gather at least once a month.
“I’ve heard a further protest is scheduled for a particular date (but) I’m not going to forward promote that,” he said.
“I don’t want to give these people any more oxygen than they need to breathe and stay alive.”
“Victoria has had over 800 deaths – we don’t want to see anymore and we certainly don’t want to see ourselves continuing to be locked up because a small number of idiots are getting together to put everyone else’s lives at risk.”
Eleven new cases of coronavirus were reported on Sunday. All were linked and had been in isolation for their full infectious period.
Authorities on Sunday night were on alert for testing results from the locked-down Lacrosse apartment block in Docklands, and day-13 tests from people finishing up their quarantine.
FAMILIES GET PICK OF SENIORS’ JAB LEFTOVERS
Families of aged-care residents are being vaccinated with leftover Covid jabs to cut waste.
The federal Health Department said families were able to get the jab as part of its “excess dose policy”.
“Excess doses may be used to vaccinate family members of residents on-site on the day of vaccinations after vaccination of residents and workers,” a spokeswoman said.
Rebecca Nielsen was visiting her grandfather, Maurice Purcell, 85, before the lockdown at Bupa’s Bonbeach home when she got an unexpected offer.
The 41-year-old project manager said she was planning to get her vaccine but was waiting for the rush on bookings “to die down”.
“I just walked in and (a worker) said to me, ‘Would you like the vaccine?” she said.
“And I said, ‘What, now?’ And she said ‘Yes, now’.
“The nurse was there … I filled out a form and I just got it there and then on the spot.
“It was just so super convenient.”
Ms Nielsen – who has had her second Pfizer dose – said it was a huge relief to know she and her grandfather were protected.
“I feel like I’m protecting him,” she said, while encouraging others to get their shot when they can.
“It’s something that I think that we all have to do to keep the community safe and to keep our elderly population, in particular, safe.”
Bupa Villages and Aged Care Australia managing director Suzanne Dvorak said they were “determined to make sure no vaccines went unused”. “So we worked with authorities to offer them to our residents’ relatives,” she said.
“We’re very pleased to have helped Rebecca, and we look forward to seeing her and all our residents’ families back in the care homes once normal visiting resumes.”
The Herald Sun revealed last week only 1.03 per cent of vaccines was being wasted in Australia.
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Originally published as 11 new local Covid cases, Victorians to wait another day for lockdown announcement
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