MELBOURNE, Australia When Australian officials announced last week that the country was unlikely to fully reopen its borders until mid-2022 because of the coronavirus, the backlash. It now feels as though it is going to define parts of my life trajectory where I was hoping it wouldnt, she says. Pictured: Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton. The affected LGAs areWoollahra, Waverley, Randwick, and the City of Sydney, including the CBD. National cabinet encourages wearing masks to combat COVID-19. 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. 'Think of Christmas Day when you're going to see elderly relatives, and wear a mask it's pretty simple.'. Residents attending major events with more than 30,000 spectators will also have to wear a face mask. The jump in cases in NSW - which is nearly 2,000 more than the 3,763 infections reported on Wednesday - comes after a major backflip on restrictions in the state with millions once again required to check into venues via QR codes. Test yourself with this Cockney Rhyming Slang quiz. Premier Daniel Andrews on Thursday defended the restrictions and current isolation rules, saying it was saving many thousands of people from ending up in hospital. Are we set to have a third lockdown for 2021. Here we are in early January 2022 and it's a wet day today (Sunday) in Melbourne, even though it's summer. 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. The ship is later linked to up to 900 infections, Cinemas, entertainment venues, casinos, and nightclubs, Restaurants and cafs except for takeaway and/or home delivery, Melbourne distiller Gypsy Hub is the first (that we know of). Victorians are less interested in finding restaurants or cafes to enjoy than they are in finding a rapid antigen test (RAT), for example. It just feels like theres no plan and younger people are bearing the brunt of it.. COVID-19 Victoria 2022: The mood in Melbourne in another COVID winter National Victoria Coronavirus pandemic This was published 3 months ago Measuring Melbourne's mood as the city weathers another COVID winter Neil McMahon July 16, 2022 7.52pm Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry's acting chief executive Scott Veenker said customer numbers were dwindling across hospitality and events sectors, and the surge in infections was also putting pressure on staffing. The ship is later linked to up to 900 infections of Covid-19. 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. NSW on Thursdayrecorded 5,715 new Covid-19 cases - a daily record - and one death just two days before Christmas. It has fully vaccinated over 92% of those aged 12 and above at the time of writing. The three new cases are all believed to be linked to the apartment building where the removalists worked without face coverings. 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 lockdown covers only Melbourne and an area to the north called the Mitchell Shire. postcodes 3038, 3064, 3047, 3060, 3012, 3032, 3055, 3042, 3021 and 3046 will go back into lockdown from July 2. The best beach in Britain that you've never heard of: Seaside town is braced for tourism boom after Kate Garraway reveals Derek's heartbreaking words when they thought he had just minutes left to live. ABC host Patricia Karvelas said Melbourne residents were "on high alert again". The Department of Health in Victoria has revealed "two unexpected detections of COVID-19 viral fragments" in wastewater around Geelong. A further two cases were family members of Ariele apartments residents and one case was believed to have been infected at Coles in Craigieburn where a family returning from a red zone were not isolating. The Premier said it isn't "fair" to compare the two. Lockdown orders end for Sydney's northern beaches. Victorias latest Covid rules have been labelled a shadow lockdown by the opposition which claims isolation rules, density limits and restrictions have smashed Melbourne businesses. Restrictions were the same as Melbourne, but . Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can also call the Victorian Aboriginal COVID Information Line on 1800 312 911. There were three initial cases earlier this week, that leaked in from NSW. 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. 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. Decisions had to be made quickly, often with only limited and uncertain evidence, and most importantly, without the all-knowing benefit of hindsight. Its all just exhausting., Karen McVean, a Melbourne-based remedial massage therapist, has chosen a different approach. More than 10,000 Australians have now died of Covid-19. Victoria indisputably went through the toughest ordeal of any state in the country. But of course we are not living in normal times, everything, including the flu, is now politicised. All times AEDT (GMT +11). Four of the new cases were recorded on level three of Ariele apartments in Maribyrnong where the removalists stopped. Ms Berejiklian said the impact of some of the more recent changes wouldn't be known for at least a few more days. Dr Chant said it was imperative that everyone takes the current restrictions seriously. This from tonight's CHO report in Victoria: Wastewater detections in Geelong BEFORE the Sydney removalists crossed the border. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. But before we do this, its vital we look back and learn every lesson we can so next time we are faced with such a crisis and there will be a next time we can do better. Deakin University provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU. As the Covid years continue we are losing our magical thinking it will go away and not be a changing burden to our life, she says. Professor Cowie said in light of that, it was time to recognise that positive rapid antigen tests had "the same authority as a PCR test". Victorians are furious at the way Covid was spread from Sydney to Melbourne and are anxious about the prospect of a fresh lockdown as new cases emerge tonight. 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. Despite enduring one of the longest aggregate periods of strict lockdown in the world, the Victorian community by and large hung in there. While session tickets were capped at 50 per cent last week, the opening day saw 25,206 attendees on Monday. Im double vaxxed and feeling like, what was the point? The government and health authorities failed to control infections among returned travellers spreading to hotel quarantine workers and beyond. The state's health systems are under growing pressure, as the wave of infections sends staff into isolation at the same time COVID-19 patients are growing. decided it didn't want to go into . The comments below have not been moderated. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. 'People have come forward to get tested in record numbers, which is important to help keep people and the community safe, but we need to make sure our testing clinics are there for people who really need it,' Mr Perrottet said. There are a number of issues we won't know until we have further data," she said. The Australian government has since ordered $62m worth of rapid antigen tests. Whats the price that we are willing to pay in order for people to be able to go and have brunch? Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! An announcement is reportedly expected as early as tomorrow. In case you missed it, the Sydney removalists who carried the virus to an apartment block in the Melbourne suburb of Maribyrnong have not been as forthcoming as authorities would like regarding the details of their trip. 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. This is more than simply a language issue. "The reason why we want to provide that 2-week period at least is so that parents who are teaching children or supervising children from home know that unfortunately for an additional two weeks at least their children will need to learn from home.". This is an additional 14 days on the previous directions. The Sydney suburb of Avalon records an outbreak of Covid-19, after NSW had gone 12 days with zero community transmission. August 5, 2021 Victoria. Hospitality venues are recommended to switch to a seated-only service. Woollahra, Waverley, Randwick, and the City of Sydney, including the CBD. . Register, Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout. Personally, I feel better with accepting that Covid is an ongoing issue. 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. "In the past, you could say it's OK, it's the government, it's the policy, but that's not what we have right now. But on Wednesday night, a teacher at Bacchus Marsh Grammar tested positive and there are reports of an additional two cases which would bring the daily total to 10. But as the initial challenges with the vaccine rollout highlighted, theres still more work to do. This is how the news unfolded on Wednesday. Its relentless. I do not want to get Covid.. The outbreaks that devastated the aged-care sector during the second wave in Victoria were desperately sad. 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. Which in normal times would mean nothing as Covid is not really any different from the flu. The above numbers came from the same article here. Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews has issued an ominous warning as the southern state prepares to come out of lockdown. 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' Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. I cannot stress this enough that everyone needs to take it seriously as hard lockdown," she said. Sydneysiders who live alone are permitted to establish a 'single's bubble' with a friend. Here's how likely you are to get it more than once, Charting the COVID-19 spread: Australia passes 10,000 coronavirus deaths, Self-help author Marianne Williamson launches primary challenge against Joe Biden for 2024 Democratic nomination, Chinese migrants walked a gruelling 500km to Victoria's goldfields in the 19th century. Some wouldn't survive. "In regards to the balancing of economic, social, mental health, cultural and just family reasons, that was the appropriate decision," he said. Hard to see how Vic doesnt end up in Lockdown no. Up to five visitors to a household at any one time. The areas of concern are Fairfield local government area, Roselands, Rosebury, Canterbury, Belmore, Sutherland shire, the St George area, Windsor, St Ives, Penrith and Bayside local government area," she said. Will the UK go into another lockdown in 2022? 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. In the early part of the pandemic, the amount of effort needed to reach these groups was underestimated. Its been revealed when Australia will experience the next Covid surge, but one state is expected to reach its peak much sooner than the rest. Life is about to get very difficult for the unvaccinated, Active Cases: serious or critical: 269 (0.1%). "Were very keen to make sure we get a very firm grip of this as soon as we possibly can.". Whether the period spent in lockdown and the desire to do anything it took to avoid more of the same was a motivating factor, or whether there were other reasons for this, does not really matter. Despite the efforts of the Victorian Aged Care Response Centre, a new unit specifically formed to bring these outbreaks under control, hundreds of elderly people died unnecessarily. COVID in Victoria: 262 days in lockdown, 3 stunning successes and 4 avoidable failures Published: December 16, 2021 2.11pm EST Hassan Vally Associate Professor, Deakin University Catherine. Victoria will not be sent back into lockdown despite a surge in cases linked to the hyper-contagious Omicron Covid strain, the state's deputy premier has vowed. Couples who don't live together are permitted to visit in Victoria. Are you willing to justify risking the health of vulnerable people for that privilege?. My husband is working overtime, heaps of chefs and [front-of-house staff are] unwell or close contacts, and there is no support. Melbourne 12:10pm Jun 8, 2022 Shanghai neighbourhoods return to lockdown Multiple neighbourhoods in Shanghai were placed back under lockdown only a day after city-wide restrictions were lifted, as China's stringent zero COVID-19 strategy continues to haunt the financial hub. Melbourne spent more time in lockdown than any other city on Earth. 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. There will be another pandemic and potentially this will occur sooner than we all would like. 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. 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 Up to 20 people at an indoor funeral or 30 for an outdoor funeral; and, Attend places of worship and attend a funeral with up to 49 others; and. For me the risk is too high, she says. Asked if the removalists had been deliberately evasive, Mr Weimar said: "They're not being deliberately forthcoming, let me put it that way.". The deputy premier said the changes were 'modest measures' that would protect the state's health system from the recent surge in infections. It may be a new year but the lies and the fight against them goes on! Victoria goes into lockdown for the sixth time. Public transport usage in the city centre has fallen to 73 per cent below the baseline. "We're still doing things like we're going to the park, we're going to the beach on hot days, you can see that very clearly," he said. Its a nightmare, she says. 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". Sign notifying customers that rapid antigen test (RAT) kits are sold out. Density limits will be reintroduced in Victoria from 11:59pm and it will become mandatory to reportpositive rapid antigen test results to the health department, in response to the state's surging Omicron outbreak. Two years of mostly home schooling has given his youngest child, who started kindergarten in 2020, social anxiety, and his older child had a panic attack at the prospect of returning to face-to-face learning. Two had travelled to Wuhan, China, and the third was a close contact of the two travellers. Here's how likely you are to get it more than once, Charting the COVID-19 spread: Australia passes 10,000 coronavirus deaths, Self-help author Marianne Williamson launches primary challenge against Joe Biden for 2024 Democratic nomination, Chinese migrants walked a gruelling 500km to Victoria's goldfields in the 19th century. 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. Time Out rebrands as Time In worldwide to bring our readers ways to connect with their cities and support urban culture without leaving home. On Thursday the NSW premier will announce the policy reversal following Covid crisis talks with fellow state leaders and Prime Minister Scott Morrison. She was appointed as an independent advisor on the AstraZeneca covid vaccine advisory group, Australia. Many like Cooper have gone into self-isolation to protect themselves or a vulnerable loved one. The public servant, 25, contracted Covid along with 16 others at a house party late last month. "Clearly, what were saying is particularly in greater Sydney, I have said openly that if you have had your AstraZeneca shots, over four weeks ago, contact your GP and talk about bringing the second dose forward from the 12 week mark to around 6- eight weeks," she said. A controversial media star and politician says there is no point in maintaining his political ambitions. Of today's cases, 24 were in the community during their infectious period. Theres still high chances of new variants. Cafs and restaurants to seat up to ten people at any one time; and. 'Wear a mask in an indoor setting. There are confirmed positive cases on board at the time, and 130 people test positive within a week. I know and understand that this is challenging and there is no family that has not been touched by that over the last few years and certainly many touched by that over the last few weeks and months, he said. On 26 September at 11:59pm, the 7 day Geelong and Surf Coast lockdowns ended as scheduled, but Mitchell Shire's lockdown was extended with no end date set. Mr Byrne said mobility at the moment was roughly equivalent to the 2020 period before Melbourne moved from stage threeto stage fourlockdown. "And they're going to disagree whether that's employers or family members or friends when you go to cancel a social engagementbecause you don't want to go out and catch Omicron. Check your spam folder for our confirmation email! 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. Here's everything we've learned from Melbourne's polarising e-scooter trials. The Herald Sun reports the state government is holding high-level meetings this afternoon to weigh up whether to reimpose restrictions across Melbourne, with venue limits and caps on home visitors among the options being considered. Four of the new cases were recorded on level three of Ariele apartments in Maribyrnong where the removalists stopped. The Department of Transport's figures show public transport usage steadily rose through December to hit 83 per cent of February 2020 levels before crashing to 32 per cent. "Going to be so mad if we get sent into our fifth lockdown because of a Sydney removalist who wasn't wearing a mask," Choice journalist Jarni Blakkarly tweeted. Cooper says she felt significantly safer when Melbourne was in lockdown and finds the argument that people should get over their concern about a global pandemic incredibly invalidating. This article was originally written on July 4, 2022 and has since been updated and fact-checked. Face masks are mandatory in all indoor settings in Victoria, except private homes,for anyone aged eight or over. The new BA.5 variant is considered to be even more transmissible than previous Omicron variants. 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. Crises expose weaknesses, and theres no doubt the pandemic revealed a number of issues in Victoria. That would be very challenging not just for Covid patients but for everybody else who needs a hospital bed.. Premier Gladys Berejiklain said its "very difficult" to compare the current situation in Sydney to the situation experienced by Melbourne last year. So which ones are best? The 78-year-old man had been a passenger aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship and was the first WA resident to test positive for the disease. Until today I had not thought that that was a serious option, now Im reconsidering. Of the new cases, 60 were isolation throughout their infectious period, seven cases were in isolation for part of their infectious period and 24 were infectious in the community. There are confirmed positive cases on board at the time, and 130 people test positive within a week. Oct. 22, 2021. There are many venues who have given feedback that they are not at 100 per-cent capacity and havent been for quite some time, he said. Context is important and needs to be factored into any critique. It's hard to believe that while Australia was so focused on the bushfires that raged in the early part of 2020, another threat was already on our shores one that would change the way we live and work for years. Catch up on the latestCOVID-19 news here. 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. We need to get that down to is close to zero as possible," she said. 'Because Victorians went out and got vaccinated in record numbers, it means that we are not considering going into lockdown and this is the commitment that we gave to the people of Victoria,' he said. A Victorian-based consultant told Guardian Australia they were still receiving commercial rent relief until this week. He owns a series of ecotourism huts in the New South Wales Blue Mountains and lost the 2020 summer holidays to bushfires and 2021 to coronavirus. Callers will speak with Aboriginal staff who can . 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. To access medical care or provide caregiving. 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. Victoria's fifth lockdown ends, but less than a week later, the stateis plunged back into another long lockdown. "I think they are a 2020/2021 iteration," he said. Daily case numbers remain at tens of thousands in NSW and Victoria. We hit the streets of Sydney and find the normally bustling metropolis completely empty. The 'winter shot': Everything you need to know about getting your next COVID-19 booster, If you catch COVID again, will your symptoms be worse? Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has announced a lockdown of metropolitan Melbourne as the state records its largest daily increase in COVID-19 cases since t. Almost everyone who spoke to Guardian Australia said they would feel more comfortable moving around if they had access to free, readily available rapid antigen tests. 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. Victorian Covid-19 testing head Jeroen Weimar said four of the new cases on Wednesday were linked to the Ariele apartment complex. 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. Deputy Premier James Merlino urged hospitality venues to switch to a seated-only service to reduce transmission. And our society will be all the worse for it. More than 90 per cent of those who had a positive RAT result, ended up with a positive PCR test, he said. And please, do not leave your home unless it is absolutely essential.". 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. 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. 5 https://t.co/RbnwQRfFF0, In Melbs we are on high alert again. All times AEDT (GMT +11). 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Public health orders enforced by strict and punitive laws have been replaced by a mantra of personal responsibility. Many lessons have been learned about engaging the diverse communities of Victoria. Australia's PCR testing sites have been overwhelmed by travellers trying to get tested before going on holiday. 2022 was supposed to be different, but It feels exactly like there is a lockdown. There are more women with the virus who are having babies, but unlike 2021 they are not gasping for breath, she says. log in. Mr Morrison told day that with the arrival of Omicron, and Australia's high vaccination numbers, the government's approach had "shifted gears". A new 'veloway' is welcome news for Melbourne's cyclists. Australia's two largest states have kicked off 2022 with record COVID cases - while others have opted to change restrictions. They just want an indication from governments both state and federal that they will be supported and able to easily access tests and healthcare as the outbreak, and any new variants to come, rolls on.