Despite a significant uptick in new COVID-19 cases in Victoria, federal health authorities expect most states and territories to stay the course in easing coronavirus restrictions.
Key points:
- Victoria is reimposing some coronavirus restrictions after a surge in new cases
- Federal health authorities say other states are unlikely to reconsider plans to ease restrictions
- Australia today recorded 25 new coronavirus cases
Over the past week, Victoria has recorded 116 new cases of COVID-19, compared to 35 cases in the previous week.
The surge has been linked in part to a number of families meeting in private homes, with transmissions occurring between households.
The growth in fresh cases yesterday prompted Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to announce that some restrictions would be reimposed, while the easing of others would be deferred for several weeks.
But today, federal Deputy Chief Medical Officer Nick Coatsworth said that would not necessarily jeopardise easing restrictions in other states and territories.
"It would be unreasonable for WA or the Northern Territory or, indeed, Queensland at the moment to be making decisions on their restrictions … with a close eye on what's going on in Victoria, because the epidemiology is different."
Dr Coatsworth said the easing of restrictions had always been modelled on the presumption that there would be localised outbreaks to be managed.
"This is a good example of how things are going to work into the future, and it's an important example because it will show how a state can get on top of outbreaks of this nature … and then move forward," he said.
Authorities say 25 new cases have been recorded in Australia today, 19 of which were in Victoria.
Families the source of some spread
Mr Andrews yesterday said the jump of cases in his state left him with no option but to tighten restrictions, barring Victorians from hosting more than five visitors in their homes.
"It is pretty clear that behind closed doors when one family comes together in large numbers … they are not practising social distancing," he said.
Further relaxation of restrictions, which would have allowed people to gather in greater numbers in public settings including restaurants and pubs, was put off for four weeks.
Today Victoria announced a further 19 cases had been recorded, 10 of which had been acquired on Australian soil.
Dr Coatsworth said it was only natural that people, frustrated by distancing restrictions, would gather in ways that could spread the virus.
But he said that only reinforced the need to change people's day-to-day behaviours.
"I think what is going on and what is going on around the world is that there is a certain amount of time that we can cope with these restrictions on our lives and people in general," he said.
"Whether it is getting out and going to a Black Lives Matter protest or going to visit your friends or relatives, these are things we want to do as human beings.
"The message has to be abundantly clear that we don't want people stop living their lives, but we want them to do so in a way that is safe and stops the virus from spreading."
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMibmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTA2LTIxL2F1c3RyYWxpYS10by1zdGF5LXRoZS1jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy1jb3Vyc2UtZGVzcGl0ZS11cHRpY2staW4tdmljLzEyMzc4MTE00gEnaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAuYWJjLm5ldC5hdS9hcnRpY2xlLzEyMzc4MTE0?oc=5
2020-06-21 06:37:36Z
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