Victoria has recorded 867 new Covid-19 cases and four deaths as Melbourne‘s gruelling lockdown is slightly eased with 80 per cent of residents now having received their first jab.
Tuesday’s numbers are the state’s highest daily figure since the start of the pandemic, surpassing the previous record of 847 cases recorded on Saturday.
Victoria’s daily numbers are also now surpassing that of New South Wales’ which recorded 788 new infections on Monday. The last time Victorian numbers were higher was on June 21.
Premier Daniel Andrews revealed some restrictions would be lifted once the 80 per cent milestone was hit including extending the travel limit in Melbourne from 10km to 15km.
The changes to those living in lockdown will come into effect from 11.59pm on Tuesday with residents also now able to take part in ‘contactless’ recreational activity such as golf, tennis or fishing.
Personal trainers can train five fully vaccinated people at a time while restrictions on playgrounds will also be lifted.
For those in regional parts of the state, up to 30 people can dine outdoors at restaurants and cafes.
Some restrictions in Melbourne will be eased as of midnight on Tuesday after the state reached 80 per cent of first vaccinations (pictured in St Kilda)
The travel radius will now be extended from 10km to 15km for long suffering Melburnians (pictured, two women walking in St Kilda in Melbourne)
Tuesday’s numbers are the state’s highest daily figure since the start of the pandemic, surpassing the previous record of 847 cases recorded on Saturday
Mr Andrews was questioned on his more cautious approach to opening up his state once 70 per cent are double jabbed on Tuesday morning, compared to the road map set out by NSW.
In Victoria once that milestone is reached, pubs will welcome back 50 fully vaccinated patrons outdoors and beauty services will allow five customers at a time.
No home visits will be allowed, whereas NSW will allow five guests at a home.
‘We’re taking an approach that’s based on public health advice,’ he told ABC News Breakfast on Tuesday.
‘It’s a very precious thing, our health system, and we need to be careful to manage those additional patients. I’m not going to give to our nurses a fight they can’t win. It will be very tough for them in the weeks and months ahead.
Premier Daniel Andrews said on Monday he he has no plans to reopen his state to unvaccinated residents like NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian intends to do in December
‘I’m not here to apologise for doing this cautiously and following the science. I’m here to encourage people to get vaccinated.
‘I will leave the comparisons with other states to others. We’ll get this done and we’ll get it done properly. I’m very positive and optimistic about the future because we can see past this now.’
On Monday Mr Andrews announced he has no plans to reopen his state to unvaccinated residents like NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian intends to do in December.
She intends to further ease restrictions for the double-jabbed when the state hits its 80 per cent vaccination target by the end of October, then expand the freedoms to all residents – regardless of vaccination status – on December 1.
Mr Andrews said he believed the month-long window would dissuade residents from getting the vaccine and hinder efforts to reach the vaccination milestone.
‘There is every reason to get vaccinated now. I would not give anyone a reason to wait five or six weeks,’ he said.
The Victorian premier is now hoping the cases in his state start to drop once half the population are double vaccinated, which was seen when NSW hit that milestone.
Data on the state’s recent outbreak revealed that significantly less Covid patients were ending up in hospital than last year due to the vaccine, easing fears the health system would be overrun with cases.
The Victorian premier is now hoping the cases in his state start to drop once half the population are double vaccinated, which was seen when NSW hit that milestone
Two dozen new exposure sites have been listed overnight around the state including an early childhood learning centre.
The Goodstart Early Learning at Keilor Village, in Melbourne’s north west, was exposed on Tuesday, September 21 between 9am and 5.30pm, and again on Wednesday, September 22 between 9am and 11.30am.
Those who attended the centre during those times must isolate for two weeks regardless of test results.
The same instructions apply to the Community Kids Bayswater Early Education Centre for Tuesday, September 21 between 8.30am and 5.30pm and Thursday, September 23 between 6.30am and 7.30am.
The Ultrasound Clinic for Women in Geelong has also been listed a tier 1 exposure site on September 23 between 9.10am and 10.15am.