Victoria records just six new cases of coronavirus overnight and two deaths but lockdown is STILL likely to be extended
Victoria has recorded only six additional cases of COVID-19 overnight and two more deaths from the virus - but the figures may still not be low enough to justify a further easing of restrictions in Melbourne.
The 14-day rolling average in metropolitan Melbourne decreased to 9.9 from 10.6 on Wednesday, while the number of cases with an unknown source fell from 13 to 12.
The Andrews government has set an ambitious target of a rolling two-week average of just five cases a day if lockdown is to be eased by October 19.
Premier Daniel Andrews said there had been a 'significant outbreak' in Chadstone in Melbourne's east which has grown to 31 infections.
He added however testing numbers remained strong - with 16,429 residents being tested for COVID-19 in Victoria on Tuesday alone.
There are 16 Victorians in hospital with the virus, two of whom are in intensive care - while the state's coronavirus death toll has risen to 809.
A woman is seen exercising on The Tan in Melbourne on Saturday. The 14-day rolling average in metropolitan Melbourne decreased to 9.9 on Wednesday - but that figure will likely not be low enough to justify a further easing of restrictions in the city
Wednesday's number of active cases in aged care - 58 - is also fewer than on Tuesday.
Mr Andrews said health officials may consider opening up Melbourne if the rolling 14-day average is slightly higher than five, but they would look at the context of the cases.
'In broad terms, it is possible we get a number that is higher than our target number but we have certainty and a degree of comfort about the story that sits behind those cases,' he said.
'If you were tracking along quite nicely and in the last three days of the 14-day period you got eight, 10, 12 cases but they were in aged care we would consider .'
Despite falling case numbers, Mr Andrews emphasised the importance of Victorians getting tested if they experience symptoms of coronavirus - given the relatively low rates of flu transmission in the community.
'There's so little cold and flu symptoms around across the Victorian community at the moment,' he said.
'If you've got those symptoms, there's every chance that you've got this, and there's an absolute certainty that if you go into a workplace environment, almost any workplace environment, with symptoms, you will spread it.'
Under stage-three restriction easing, Melbourne's five million residents would be allowed to leave the home without restraint and gather outdoors in groups of up to 10 people.
Up to 10 people can also eat together at restaurants and cafes - both of which are only allowed to serve takeaway and delivery under the current rules.
Friends are seen sunbaking in their COVIDSafe circles at St Kilda Beach on Saturday. The Andrews government has said Melbourne needs a rolling two-week average of just five cases a day if lockdown is to be eased
The state's Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton said on Monday easing restrictions too soon would risk Victoria losing control over 'mystery cases'.
Regional Victoria has already moved from the second to the third step of removing restrictions on September 15 but Melbourne can only do so if the targets are met.
Former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett this week launched an extraordinary attack on Mr Andrews, demanding he resign over his handling of COVID-19 and accusing him of not 'giving a damn about democracy'.
A heavy police presence is pictured in Melbourne on Saturday as they awaited a potential protest against lockdown rules. Under stage-three restriction easing, Melbourne residents could gather outdoors in groups of up to 10 people
Kennett appeared on Sam Newman's You Cannot Be Serious podcast, where the pair blasted Mr Andrews over his Stage Four restrictions and bungled hotel quarantine program.
'It is his hubris, his sense of total authority that has brought the state to its knees. This is a man totally out of control because he believes he is totally in control,' Mr Kennett said.
'Imagine if I was responsible for one death, let alone 800, I would have been run out of town. Given his performance to date, he doesn't give a damn about the administration and the delivery of democracy under the Westminster system.'
Former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett claimed Daniel Andrews 'doesn't give a damn about democracy'
Kennett, who served as Victorian Premier from 1992 to 1999, said Mr Andrews' only objective is a 'medical solution', even though there will be no vaccine for 'a long time'.
'There's businesses out there that have folded, businesses that have got no hope, lives that have been lost - they don't care,' he said.
'The premier has got to realise that he has caused immeasurable harm psychologically, commercially, and actually contributed sadly to 800 deaths.'
Kennett said the public 'has had a gutful' and predicted Melbourne residents would increasingly ignore restrictions if they aren't eased as planned on October 19.
Kennett said Mr Andrews' only objective is a 'medical solution', even though there will be no vaccine for 'a long time'. Mr Andrews is pictured addressing a press conference on Tuesday
Melbourne's 14-day average, which is crucial to easing lockdown restrictions, has dropped to 10.6.
The average must be below five for restrictions to ease on October 19.
'As we go into summer, hot weather, people have been cooped up for nine months and they want to get out and they will get out,' he said.
'There is an anger building up. People have gone along with this, as they should have. But that is being replaced by an anger.
Kennett, who served as Victorian Premier from 1992 to 1999, said the public 'has had a gutful' and predicted that Melbourne residents would increasingly ignore restrictions if they aren't eased as planned on October 19
'It's like a pressure cooker - if the premier doesn't let off some steam pretty quickly to enable us to get back to living our lives, I tell you what, there is a very real chance that this pressure cooker will explode.
'People need to get out, they need to move. If the premier thinks he's going to stop Victorians starting to exercise their rights to get out of theses shut-down environments, then he's wrong.'
Kennett, who now works as a media commentator, said he believed the Andrews Government should be held accountable for COVID-19 deaths due to bungled hotel quarantine.
'It is my view that this government - because they so dramatically failed in the administration of the hotel quarantine system.. could be held to account in the same way that any person in the private sector could,' he said.
Kennett appeared on former footballer Sam Newman's You Cannot Be Serious podcast, where the pair slammed the current premier
Kennett also told the podcast the inquiry into the hotel quarantine fiasco was a 'sham'.
'They have played the inquiry off a break, and the inquiry was a sham anyway. It was just a talkfest and so many obvious questions were not pursued with ministers and of the public servants,' he said.
'Forget the inquiry, its a waste of time. It was a third class act.'
Victoria recorded 15 new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday and one more death, taking the national toll to 895.
MELBOURNE'S ROADMAP OUT OF COVID-19 LOCKDOWN - WHAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DO AND WHEN:
Step one: Came into effect on September 14
Step two: Came into effect on September 28
Step three: When there is a daily statewide average of five new cases over the past 14 days. The original aim was for October 26 but that has been brought forward to October 19 after the 14-day average of new cases fell below initial expectations
Step four: The move to step four will come when there have been no new COVID-19 cases in the past 14 days. The aim is for this to come into place on November 23
COVID Normal: After 28 days of no new COVID-19 cases, things will return to normal.
FREEDOMS YOU GET AT EACH STEP OF EASING
Step one - came into effect September 14
- Curfew has been eased to 9pm-5am
- People can still only leave home for the four reasons (shopping, exercise, work and care or medical attention)
- Public gatherings increased to two people, or a household, for a maximum of two hours
- Singles can have one nominated person to their home as part of the 'singles social bubble'
- Childcare and early educators to remain closed
- Schools will continue to learn remotely unless they have exemptions
- Adult education to continue to be done remotely, unless they have exemption
- Only go to work if you are in a permitted industry
- Cafes and restaurants will continue with take away only
- Retail businesses will remain open for essential shopping, with others only operating with click and collect
- Only one person per household can do the essential shopping
Step two - came into effect September 28
- Melbourne's curfew lifted
- Public gatherings increase again to five people from a maximum of two households
- Childcare and early educators can re-open
- Schools to continue with remote learning, but Prep to Grade Two and Year 11 and Year 12 students will gradually return to class in Term 4
- There will be an increase to permitted workplaces
Step three - originally expected October 26, brought forward to October 19
- There are no restrictions on leaving home
- Public gatherings increase to 10 people together outdoors
- A 'household bubble' will be introduced, so five people from one house can visit another
- Remote learning to continue, but Grades 3 to Year 11 can gradually return to class
- Adult education to continue to be done remotely, but hands on classes will see a phased return to onsite
- Work from home is encouraged
- Up to 10 people can eat together at restaurants and cafes, with the majority of tables outdoor
- Retail shops to reopen, with hairdresses operating under safety measures but beauty stores to remain closed
- Real estate agents can conduct private inspections by appointment
- The one person per household limit on shopping is to be revoked
Step four - expected in November, dependent on new case numbers:
- Public gatherings to increase to 50 people outdoors
- Up to 20 visitors can attend a home at any one time
- All adult education will return to onsite with safety measures in place
- Groups limited to 20 indoors and a maximum of 50 patrons per venue
- All retail stores to reopen, while real estate agents can operate with safety measures and by keeping a record of attendants
Step five - COVID normal:
- Public gatherings have no restriction
- There will also be no restriction on visitors to homes
- Phased return to onsite work for work from home workers
- Schools to reopen as normal
- Restrictions on hospitality removed, but venues to continue keeping records