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Melbourne restrictions will be eased as planned this weekend despite a coronavirus outbreak in the city’s north.
Despite the concerning new cluster in Preston and surrounding suburbs, Daniel Andrews said announcements would still go ahead to give Melburnians more freedoms.
“There is a power of work going on in the northern suburbs,” the Premier said.
“These is a very significant number of people that are very well contained at the moment. That means we should get low case numbers back.”
With just five new infections — all linked to known outbreaks — reported on Thursday, the state’s active case numbers dropped to 105.
Authorities are monitoring mystery case numbers, which continue to drop, as they consider which restrictions to ease.
Opposition spokeswoman Georgie Crozier said making Victorians wait until the weekend announcement meant “uncertainty” for businesses.
“We want to be let out on Sunday,” Ms Crozier said.
“Daniel Andrews keeps promising but there is still some uncertainty for businesses about the decision he will make on Sunday.”
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt supported the move to open up as early as possible.
“We think that the Victorian situation is such that it’s well below the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer’s 10-case standard,” he said.
“The Preston case, I think, is an example, there will be outbreaks, it could be in any state or territory. But if we have strong systems, we can take care of it.”
Big business also backed the move, with Richard Vincent, the chief executive of API which operates Priceline, saying it had been frustrating to see some sectors allowed to reopen as others remained shuttered.
“I can’t predict the way the Premier will act, but what I must say is that we must come out of lockdown immediately, for the wellness of Victorians and for retail,” Vincent said.
“It’s very frustrating when people can go and get a haircut – or spend plenty of time in a grocery store – when a lot of our treatments are in and out (performed quickly).”
BATTLING A NEW KIND OF PROHIBITION
The irony of owning a prohibition-theme bar during a time of pandemic restrictions is not lost on Gorge Camorra.
His 18th Amendment venue in central Geelong harks back to the days of speakeasy bars from the 1920s.
The name of the cocktail bar refers to the US constitutional amendment that aimed to limit alcoholic consumption.
Now Mr Camorra is facing prohibition, 100 years on. And like many hospitality owners he’s frustrated by restrictions on his trade, especially with such low infection rates in Geelong for months.
Only 10 people are allowed in the upstairs bar on Little Malop Street. Forty are allowed in an indoor venue but only 10 per room, a sticking point for Mr Camorra.
“It’s crippling us financially. I’m happy to keep opening up for now but I don’t know long term,’’ he said.
Mr Camorra also runs the nearby Manhattan bar as well as another in Ballarat.
In recent weeks he has taken over the Cartel Roasters cafe for Friday and Saturday evening to try to give staff work and customers somewhere to go.
“We really feel for our brothers and sisters in Melbourne. We’re open and we’re grateful but it could have been better,” Mr Camorra said.
The 18th Amendment has been voted the best regional bar in Australia and just received the emerging business top prize in the 2020 Geelong Business Excellence Awards.
“It’s strange that the prohibition era was all about people getting around the law. But we won’t do that. We just want certainty on what we can do,’’ Mr Camorra said.
CABS TO AID IN CONTACT TRACING
Contact tracing capabilities have been rolled out to thousands of taxis across Victoria in a bid to assist authorities clamp down on outbreaks.
Passengers in as many as 3000 13CABS vehicles will now be asked to scan a unique code on their phones that allows the company to log their name and number.
The details will be stored on a secure server and made available to public health authorities when needed to track the movement of a person infected with the coronavirus.
13CABS Melbourne general manager Greg Hardeman said the details would be used only if requested by health officials.
“This process is designed to make contact tracing easier should a passenger or driver be exposed to COVID-19,” Mr Hardeman said.
“Safety is big part of the 13CABS service offering. We see this as a natural step we need to take to ensure people who use our service are kept as safe as possible.”
All 13CABS cars are also provided with regular cleaning services to cut the risk of outbreaks. In July, the state government unveiled a $22m package to support the taxi, hire car and ridesharing industry.
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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiiwFodHRwczovL3d3dy5oZXJhbGRzdW4uY29tLmF1L2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzL3JvbGxpbmctaG9wZS1mb3ItbW9yZS1mcmVlZG9tLWluLXNwaXRlLW9mLW5ldy1vdXRicmVhay9uZXdzLXN0b3J5LzY5M2VmYzIwMjMzYjFiM2ZjZjNmYjIzM2M2ZGQ5Mjg40gGLAWh0dHBzOi8vYW1wLmhlcmFsZHN1bi5jb20uYXUvY29yb25hdmlydXMvcm9sbGluZy1ob3BlLWZvci1tb3JlLWZyZWVkb20taW4tc3BpdGUtb2YtbmV3LW91dGJyZWFrL25ld3Mtc3RvcnkvNjkzZWZjMjAyMzNiMWIzZmNmM2ZiMjMzYzZkZDkyODg?oc=5
2020-10-22 20:50:55Z
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