Victorians are being told not to visit family members for the remainder of stage three restrictions but family gatherings are no longer the most likely place for the coronavirus to spread.
Premier Daniel Andrews on Sunday revealed that as much as “80 per cent” of the state’s COVID-19 infections since May have been driven by “transmission in workplaces”.
He said that figure includes the aged care sector.
“Workplace settings, sometimes with very large workforces who have to be in very close proximity, they can amplify the transmission,” Mr Andrews said.
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Victorians have been encouraged to avoid the office if they can. The Premier’s daily briefings include references to the four reasons Melburnians and those from the Mitchell Shire can leave their homes.
Mr Andrews always applies the caveat to the fourth reason — for work.
“Those who can work from home, continue to do so,” he says.
The new information has forced a change of approach from the Premier who previously told Victorians that infections were being driven “by families”.
“The experts tell us that, largely, the numbers are being driven by families — families having big get-togethers and not following the advice around distancing and hygiene,” he said in late June.
“In fact, around half of our cases since the end of April have come from transmission inside someone’s home.
“You can see how this could happen. People feeling relaxed at home. Letting their guard down. Letting old habits creep back. But we are still in a pandemic — and people’s lives are still at risk.”
The spread of COVID-19 in the workplace is partly behind Sunday’s decision to enforce new rules around the wearing of face masks.
Mr Andrews announced that from midnight on Wednesday, Melburnians will be forced to wear a mask when leaving the home.
There are a few exceptions, including that children under 12 are exempt and that masks only need to be carried — not worn — when jogging. But those who fail to follow the rules could be slapped with a $200 fine.
“It’s a relatively simple thing but it’s also about embedding behaviour, which I think is just as important on the other side of this second wave as it is in bringing these case numbers down,” Mr Andrews said.
“We’re going to be wearing masks in Victoria and potentially in other parts of the country for a very long time. There’s no vaccine to this wildly infectious virus and it’s a simple thing, but it’s about changing habits, it’s about becoming a simple part of your routine.”
“Most of us wouldn’t leave home without our keys, we wouldn’t leave our home without our mobile phone. You won’t be able to leave home without your mask and then wear it where it is absolutely essential to stop the spread of this virus.”
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt says Victoria is at the point where masks are now “necessary” in the state and says federal officials “fully and completely support”.
“It is necessary, and we are sorry that it has reached this point for all those who were affected. But this is about saving lives and protecting lives.”
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMioQFodHRwczovL3d3dy5uZXdzLmNvbS5hdS9saWZlc3R5bGUvaGVhbHRoL2hlYWx0aC1wcm9ibGVtcy9jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy1hdXN0cmFsaWEtdmljdG9yaWFuLWNvdmlkMTktY2FzZXMtc3ByZWFkLWF0LXdvcmsvbmV3cy1zdG9yeS8yZjkzMDAxZTI2YTc3ZmY4NTA4ZTljYWZmMDA4MDRmM9IBoQFodHRwczovL2FtcC5uZXdzLmNvbS5hdS9saWZlc3R5bGUvaGVhbHRoL2hlYWx0aC1wcm9ibGVtcy9jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy1hdXN0cmFsaWEtdmljdG9yaWFuLWNvdmlkMTktY2FzZXMtc3ByZWFkLWF0LXdvcmsvbmV3cy1zdG9yeS8yZjkzMDAxZTI2YTc3ZmY4NTA4ZTljYWZmMDA4MDRmMw?oc=5
2020-07-19 20:50:10Z
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