Victoria records 15 new coronavirus cases overnight as pressure mounts on Daniel Andrews to end all restrictions
Victoria has recorded 15 new cases of coronavirus and no deaths overnight as the pressure to end Melbourne's strict lockdown builds.
Victoria's state of emergency and state of disaster were extended by four weeks to 11.59pm on November 8, while Premier Daniel Andrews looks at relaxing restrictions.
Melbourne's crucial coronavirus case average has risen to 9.9, further dampening hopes of lockdown provisions being eased next week.
Monday is the fifth straight day of double-digit infections for Victoria.
Victoria has recorded 15 new cases of coronavirus and no deaths overnight as the pressure to end Melbourne 's strict lockdown builds (pictured, a COVID-19 pop-up clinic set up at Kilmore Soldiers Memorial Hall)
Victoria's state of emergency and state of disaster were extended by four weeks to 11.59pm on November 8, while Premier Daniel Andrews looks at relaxing restrictions
This is a slight increase on the 9.3 average recorded on Sunday after there were 12 new cases and one death.
There were 11 mystery cases in Melbourne from September 26 to October 9 and none in regional Victoria.
Meanwhile, parents across Melbourne are breathing sighs of relief as primary school and VCE students return to classrooms after almost 10 weeks.
Year seven students and special school students will also resume on-site learning on Monday, while year 10 students enrolled in a VCE or VCAL program will be able to attend on-site for those classes.
Authorities had wanted the two-week rolling daily case average to fall to five, with less than five mystery cases, for the city's lockdown to ease in line with regional Victoria.
Mr Andrews again flagged on Sunday that Melbourne won't be ready to take a 'full step' to eased restrictions on October 19, but hinted restrictions on outdoor activities were likely to be relaxed.
Locals are seen shopping for fresh food in the Queen Victoria Market over the weekend in Melboruen
The critical 14-day moving average has now increased to 9.9 in metropolitan Melbourne and 0.4 in regional Victoria (pictured, Melbourne residents enjoy the sun at St Kilda beach)
'It will be the stuff that people are really missing,' he said.
He also indicated businesses in regional Victoria were more likely to see relief than those in Melbourne.
'I think there'll be more economic things that can happen in regional Victoria because the numbers are low,' he said.
'Does that mean we're doubling, tripling, quadrupling the number of people that can go to a pub? No.
'But if we can take some further small and safe steps we will.'
Police patrol the aisles of the Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne over the weekend
His government also announced new quarantine and business safety measures.
Close contacts who refuse a COVID-19 test on day 11 of quarantine will be forced to spend another 10 days in isolation, while regional Victorian businesses will have to take all reasonable steps to ensure patrons are not from Melbourne or face a $9913 fine.
It follows a Melbourne man illegally dining at a Kilmore cafe, sparking a fresh outbreak in Mitchell Shire.
Both rule changes came into effect at 11.59pm on Sunday.
What is the difference between a 'State of Emergency' and a 'State of Disaster'?
State of Emergency
A State of Emergency can be declared when there is a serious risk to public health.
It first came into effect in Victoria on March 16 to give Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton wide-ranging powers to enforce new coronavirus restrictions.
Professor Sutton had the authority to direct health officials to detain people, force entire suburbs and regions into lockdown or search premises without a warrant if he felt it was necessary to protect the health of the public.
The State of Emergency initially allowed the government to enforce social distancing and mandatory quarantine.
State of Disaster
While the State of Emergency grants powers to Professor Sutton, a State of Disaster grants additional powers to police and enforcement agencies.
The State of Disaster came into effect on August 2nd and has faced several one month extensions since then.
To declare a State of Disaster, the premier must be concerned that an emergency 'constitutes or is likely to constitute a significant and widespread danger to life or property in Victoria'.
A pandemic, plague or epidemic falls into this bracket.
The State of Disaster allows the enforcement of curfews and restrictions of movement within a city.