There's no Victorian COVID-19 lockdown, but Melburnians are choosing to stay home anyway By Joseph Dunstan Posted Tue 18 Jan 2022 at 11:16am, updated Tue 18 Jan 2022 at 4:38pm Even though lockdowns have officially ended, central Melbourne remains quiet as Omicron cases surge. Four of the new cases were recorded on level three of Ariele apartments in Maribyrnong where the removalists stopped. This is kicking off very quickly. Premier Peter Gutwein said with a highly vaccinated population Tasmania would not be heading into lockdown or closing its borders because of the climbing case numbers. lifting work restrictions on 20,000 student nurses so they can be engaged to help respond to the pandemic. While he said part of it would be due to Omicron hitting essential workers and those on lower incomes harder, it also spoke to that community's hard-learnt appreciation of the "perils of this virus". But on Wednesday night, a further case emerged from a school in Bacchus Marsh as well as reports of two additional cases that would bring today's number to 10. Victorians are anxiously waiting to see if they will be plunged into yet another lockdown, as the state government weighs fresh restrictions amid a worrying rise in Covid-19 cases brought in from NSW. The first Covid-19 case was detected in Australia on January 25, 2020. Asked if the removalists had been deliberately evasive, Victoria's Covid-19 Commander Jeroen Weimar said: "They're not being deliberately forthcoming, let me put it that way.". The messy family drama behind one of the world's biggest K-pop empires, as the wave of infections sends staff into isolation at the same time COVID-19 patients are growing, Victorian hospitalisations surge to 631 as state records nearly 22,000 new infections, Timely reminder: How to respond if you test positive to COVID-19. Many like Cooper have gone into self-isolation to protect themselves or a vulnerable loved one. The chamber is calling on federal and state governments to offer free RATs to small and medium-sized businesses, and suggestinga one-off payment equivalent to three weeks of support under the joint business packages released during previous lockdowns. Guardian Australia journalist Melissa Davey said there was "no way (the Victorian government) will delay any restrictions they think are needed given the way Delta is spreading in NSW". "These relatively mild restrictions are about making sure that activity can continue but in a less congregated and less active space.". Friday will finally see the entire state of Victoria exit lockdown after. Premier Gladys Berejiklain said its "very difficult" to compare the current situation in Sydney to the situation experienced by Melbourne last year. There are 398 Victorians receiving care in hospital with 72 in intensive care, a small increase from 394 in hospital and 70 in ICU on Wednesday. The three new cases are all believed to be linked to the apartment building where the removalists worked without face coverings. Its relentless. The lockdown covers only Melbourne and an area to the north called the Mitchell Shire. Omicron variant of coronavirus led to huge spike in cases over New Year but has since subsided, prompting Boris Johnson to drop social restrictions . We currently have mask restrictions and in the Northern Territory there is an even more draconian lockdown than we had in Victoria. Melbourne extends sixth virus lockdown Almost seven million people in Melbourne and surrounding Victoria state were scheduled to exit a four-week lockdown on Thursday, but state premier Dan Andrews said it would no longer be possible with case numbers rising by 92 overnight. "I need to find any cases that are out there to get them under control, and obviously we need to continue to work very closely with our red zone arrivals to make sure that these flying embers don't catch light again," Victoria's Covid-19 Commander Jeroen Weimar told reporters earlier on Wednesday. But as a wave of Omicron infections wreaks havoc across workplaces and the healthcare system, data suggests Victorians are voting with their feet and staying close to home. Kakadu National Park rangers in war against feral animals as populations boom, Shoe polish stands begin to vanish, lose their shine, A Nazi-hunting nun, an accused murderer, a theatre legend: This Australian actor plays them all, Macron says no 'double standards' between Ukraine and Africa as Congo leader urges France to back sanctions against Rwanda, They can be cheeky, nippy, and playful but these camels are also helping put a business on the map, Neurodivergent children are three times more likely to drown than their peers this class is working to change that, Mooney's Aussies humbled in Gujarat loss in WPL opener, A sea of colour as WorldPride takes over Sydney Harbour Bridge. Pictured: Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews with his wife Catherine. How did it come to this? The lockdown will be in place until 11.59pm on June 3, with the following restrictions also coming into effect: People must remain within a 5km radius of their home when shopping or. Around one third of businesses in Melbournes Chapel Street precinct have had to shut or reduce hours in recent weeks due to Covid-induced staff shortages. People do not want to feel that you are judging them or saying that what they are doing is unsafe and it is not inherently unsafe, they just have different risk tolerance and different priorities than you, he says. But of course we are not living in normal times, everything, including the flu, is now politicised. Victorian Liberal deputy leader David Southwick said the restrictions had placed increased pressure on businesses. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), abc.net.au/news/victoria-melbourne-covid-shadow-lockdown-cbd-mobility/100753496, Help keep family & friends informed by sharing this article. The Australian government has since ordered $62m worth of rapid antigen tests. The government chose not to bring in those changes at the time, arguing their introduction could hurt businesses and potentially undermine public confidence in the government's pandemic response. With that in mind, lets look at what went right, and wrong, in Victoria amid the pandemic so far. Sydneyannounces lockdown measuresfor suburbs across the cityas the Bondi outbreak grows. Multicultural groups are more reliant on different channels to get their health advice and may have different attitudes towards government and health officials. The Ukraine war may be a battle for the global order but whose rules are we fighting for? Now that has ended too. I cannot stress this enough that everyone needs to take it seriously as hard lockdown," she said. Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! The health department had been depleted over many years by both sides of politics and it clearly entered the pandemic under-resourced. . Hannah*, a vision-impaired support worker in Melbourne, says the 2021 lockdowns left her feeling emptied out. This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. Also invalidating is the implication, from some public health messaging and public responses to death announcements, that a disease is less devastating if most of its victims are people who have pre-existing conditions. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. No wonder local councils and businesses are stepping in, initial challenges with the vaccine rollout, Associate Lecturer, Creative Writing and Literature, Lecturer / Senior Lecturer, Emerging Technologies, Committee Member - MNF Research Advisory Committee. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can also call the Victorian Aboriginal COVID Information Line on 1800 312 911. It is very strange to watch the rest of the world say we will go out and it will be fine and we will get sick and it will be fine. Thats no-ones fault, it is the nature of this virus and people are making their own choices, to not go out as much as they might have., To join the conversation, please Callers will speak with Aboriginal staff who can . "That is the number, the 24 number is what we need to get down to is close to zero as possible," she said. Dr Chant said it was imperative that everyone takes the current restrictions seriously. Mr Southwick called for the government to extend the Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme for a further three months, to help thousands of small businesses avoid rent increases. "If you're fully vaccinated then your life will be back to normal, you'll be able to enjoy all of the things that you have yearned for and miss and desperately worked so hard for," Mr Andrews said as the state arrived at its 90 per cent vaccination target. We hit the streets of Sydney and find the normally bustling metropolis completely empty. Australia's two largest states have kicked off 2022 with record COVID cases - while others have opted to change restrictions. Panic buying leaves supermarket shelves bare, leading the prime minister to urge calm and compassion at the shops:There is no issue with food supply in Australia, but there is an issue with the behaviour of Australians in supermarkets.". The state government put Melbourne into its second lockdown in early July after cases exceeded 100 cases per day. These key charts will show if thats happening, NSW Covid update: health officials increasingly confident cases will plateau next week, Unions say exemption to allow Covid-positive people to work at SA meatworks sets dangerous precedent, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Australia's PCR testing sites have been overwhelmed by travellers trying to get tested before going on holiday. This is clearly a very rapidly moving situation," Victoria's Covid-19 Commander Jeroen Weimar said. It's quieter on our roads, butthe timing of an Omicron wave during the state's summer holidays can make the picture complicated. The deputy premier said the changes were 'modest measures' that would protect the state's health system from the recent surge in infections. The WORST care homes in England: Interactive map reveals the lowest-rated 2,530 residences - so is there one Do YOU know your Adam and Eve from your Ruby Murray? This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. The government has also announced a raft of "strong recommendations": that people take a RAT before visiting aged care facilities and hospitals, and work from home until late January. To go on holiday, particularly interstate, people have been required to get tested. All times AEDT (GMT +11). Victorian Acting Chief Health Officer Ben Cowie said it would be likely that come January 10, Victoria's testing system would have diagnosed "more people than it did for all of 2021". The fragments were detected as early as July 4 in the Geelong suburbs of Breakwater, Clifton Springs, Curlewis, Leopold, Drysdale, East Geelong, Moolap, Newcomb, South Geelong, Thomson and Whittington. It just feels like theres no plan and younger people are bearing the brunt of it.. But for the 40 people Guardian Australia spoke to, it doesnt feel like its over. Consequently, there is an urgent need to reflect on the journey and to address issues that have been raised so we can be on the front foot and do even better next time. Are you willing to justify risking the health of vulnerable people for that privilege?. Regardless of your political stripes, or whether you felt all of the calls Victorian health authorities made were always the right ones, no one can doubt the commitment of the government and health authorities to get Victoria through the pandemic, and to communicate with Victorians. The NSW government cancels all major events of more than 500 people. 2022 was supposed to be different, but It feels exactly like there is a lockdown. Victoria indisputably went through the toughest ordeal of any state in the country. Nonetheless, Friday's Google mobility data, which compares activity to a pre-pandemic baseline of several weeks over January and February in 2020, showed retail and recreation activity in the City of Melbourne falling62 per cent below the baseline. When I have been asked for my opinion I have said that we will be free to have summer and then we will go back into lockdown in March. "We really are all in this together and the data proves it.". They may also have more extensive family and community networks that arent in the minds of health officials when laying down a one-size-fits-all set of rules. Thanks for subscribing! The government and health authorities failed to control infections among returned travellers spreading to hotel quarantine workers and beyond. Victoria enters lockdown for the fourth time. Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the number NSW health officials are concerned about is how many people are spending time in the community while infectious. As of this date, the city was expected to be locked down until "late October". The affected LGAs areWoollahra, Waverley, Randwick, and the City of Sydney, including the CBD. Under the testing change, those who test positive on a RAT will be considered "probable" cases and must isolate immediately for seven days and notify their contacts. You can find Marks Subscribestar here. Australia recorded more cases in the first two weeks of 2022 than in the previous two years combined. For me the risk is too high, she says. Crises expose weaknesses, and theres no doubt the pandemic revealed a number of issues in Victoria. Published: 01:28 GMT, 23 December 2021 | Updated: 03:32 GMT, 23 December 2021. Were very keen to make sure we get a very firm grip of this as soon as we possibly can, Mr Weimar said. Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews has issued an ominous warning as the southern state prepares to come out of lockdown. Kakadu National Park rangers in war against feral animals as populations boom, Shoe polish stands begin to vanish, lose their shine, A Nazi-hunting nun, an accused murderer, a theatre legend: This Australian actor plays them all, Macron says no 'double standards' between Ukraine and Africa as Congo leader urges France to back sanctions against Rwanda, They can be cheeky, nippy, and playful but these camels are also helping put a business on the map, Neurodivergent children are three times more likely to drown than their peers this class is working to change that, Mooney's Aussies humbled in Gujarat loss in WPL opener, A sea of colour as WorldPride takes over Sydney Harbour Bridge. To access medical care or provide caregiving. More than 90 per cent of those who had a positive RAT result, ended up with a positive PCR test, he said. "We will know at the end of two weeks to what extent we need to extend the lockdown, whether there is any chance of face-to-face schooling. Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news, events, offers and partner promotions. NSW cases rise to 20,794 and Victoria jumps to 8,577 but PM vows Australia will NEVER go back into lockdown because infection numbers 'DON'T matter and Omicron can be managed like the flu' On the same day. Mr Morrison told day that with the arrival of Omicron, and Australia's high vaccination numbers, the government's approach had "shifted gears". Mr Byrne said that trend extended to Melbourne's outer suburbs, where lower socio-economic communities had been among the first to go into lockdown this time around. Premier Daniel Andrews has announced Victoria will enter a five-day state-wide lockdown from midnight on Thursday night until 11:59pm on the following Tuesday night. Theres still high chances of new variants. The streets of Melbourneare eerily quiet as people stay at home. The NSW government announces that from May 15, the following will be allowed: The Victorian government announces an easing of restrictions, allowing: Time Out announces the winners of the Time In Awards, supporting businesses and organisations that pivoted tonew initiatives during lockdowns. Ashleigh Cooper has spent the new year indoors. There will be another pandemic and potentially this will occur sooner than we all would like. We reflect on what we've learnt after 100 days of lockdown in Melbourne. Covid-19 case numbers are on the increase across the state with 2,005 new infections and ten deaths reported on Thursday. Guardian Australia spoke to more than 40 people about how they were feeling at the start of the third year of the pandemic. Try another? Here's everything we've learned from Melbourne's polarising e-scooter trials. All times AEDT (GMT +11). But the Victoria government waited far longer than we did to go into the lockdown situation," Ms Berejiklian said. People queue at a walk-in Covid testing site in Melbourne. The comments below have not been moderated. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. In the early part of the pandemic, the amount of effort needed to reach these groups was underestimated. Any one of these things could have led to the increase in numbers, together they are leading to big numbers. But Deputy Premier James Merlino said the state government was not considering adding to the world-record 262 days Melbourne has spent in lockdown since the pandemic began. Mr Merlino said Victorians should also now work from home if they can and urged hospitality venues to switch to a seated-only service to reduce transmission. But to the credit of the authorities, efforts were boosted in the second part of 2020 and beyond, building resources that were language and culturally appropriate and partnering with community leaders to design local public health interventions and disseminate messages. Despite the Government trumpeting no more lockdowns once vaccine targets were met, isolation requirements, coupled with density limits and further restrictions have left Victoria in a shadow lockdown, he said. Deputy Premier James Merlino urged hospitality venues to switch to a seated-only service to reduce transmission. Melbourne has endured the world's longest cumulative time in lockdown, . While resources were poured into the department to cope with the unprecedented demands during the pandemic and some structural changes were made most notably the creation of local public health units more work undoubtedly needs to be done. In a way, the statement still holds. Four of the new cases were recorded on level three of Ariele apartments in Maribyrnong where the removalists stopped. Up to five visitors to a household at any one time. for coronavirus. We should absolutely acknowledge that [lockdown] was bad and a lot of people suffered, but a lot of people are also alive now because of it, she says. Victorians are anxiously waiting to see if they will be plunged into yet another lockdown, as the state government weighs fresh restrictions amid a worrying rise in Covid-19 cases brought in from NSW. How did it come to this? The Ukraine war may be a battle for the global order but whose rules are we fighting for? Are we set to have a third lockdown for 2021. ABC host Patricia Karvelas said Melbourne residents were "on high alert again". Of today's cases, 24 were in the community during their infectious period. Two had travelled to Wuhan, China, and the third was a close contact of the two travellers. Ms Berejiklian said authorities will know by the end of this two week extension whether the lockdown will need to be even longer. A man who had flown from Guandong, China, to Melbourne on January 19, 2020, tests positive for Covid-19, becoming Australias first confirmed case. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), abc.net.au/news/covid-restrictions-tighten-in-victoria-to-slow-spread-of-omicron/100741342. It comes after NSW extended the Greater Sydney lockdown by at least another two weeks until the end of July, with another 97 cases on Wednesday bringing the total outbreak to 864. A Victorian-based consultant told Guardian Australia they were still receiving commercial rent relief until this week. He said while there were rules and density limits in place for businesses, it was likely the public had changed its behaviour during the current outbreak. SBS reporter asked Ms Berejiklian if she was seeking advice from the Victorian government given they are the only other state that have dealt with an outbreak of this size, which they supressed with hard lockdown rules. And please, do not leave your home unless it is absolutely essential.". (ABC News: Peter Drought) Retail shops like Bunnings are closed for the first time. The Department of Health in Victoria has revealed "two unexpected detections of COVID-19 viral fragments" in wastewater around Geelong. A crew of infectious removalists from Sydney transited through Victoria last Thursday, visiting households in Craigieburn and Maribyrnong, and coming into contact with two families of four. Melbourne spent more time in lockdown than any other city on Earth. It's usual to see a lull in public transport use over the summer holidays, and network and road upgrades have caused disruption to some services. Pictured are Melbourne Demons fans during the AFL Grand Final in Perth on September 25. Business groups have been sounding growing alarm about the trend for weeks, warning the unofficial "shadow lockdown"is dealing significant damage to the bottom line, but this time without significant government support. It is up to individuals to determine and manage their own risk. We already have this email. For most, the threat posed by Covid has eased 92.4% of Australians over the age of 16 are fully vaccinated, and 18% have also had a booster shot. Premier Daniel Andrews has himself said there is no need to lockdown the Victorian capital for a seventh time once more than 90 per cent of the state's population has received both Covid vaccine doses. A man who had flown from Guandong, China, to Melbourne on January 19, 2020, tests positive for Covid-19, becoming Australias first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus. Ms Berejiklian said the impact of some of the more recent changes wouldn't be known for at least a few more days. Victoria recorded eight new cases on Wednesday, seven of them linked to a returned family and a crew of removalists, who both came into the state from NSW. . Welcome to the Coronation! Victorians displayed enough collective adhesion to the strict public health orders that were in place to make those orders effective. Victoria closes its borders with NSW. With the lockdowns extending into the 2022 financial year, we will no doubt be assisting with working from home tax deductions in the 2022 financial as well. The pandemic has highlighted the vital role public health plays in keeping the community safe and healthy, so it needs adequate resources in future. Two months ago, Premier Daniel Andrews said Victorians could expect a summer filled with the "normality we've all craved" due to the state's strong vaccination coverage. The public servant, 25, contracted Covid along with 16 others at a house party late last month. No wonder local councils and businesses are stepping in. Mr Byrne said a "shadow lockdown" was a fair description for the situation. It has fully vaccinated over 92% of those aged 12 and above at the time of writing. Over at worldometers we find some different numbers: The question is what has changed in the past few weeks to have led to this large increase in cases? The Premier said it isn't "fair" to compare the two.
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