Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley said the decision to restrict density limits further was due to the majority of cases about 40 per cent being recorded in people in their 20s, whomake up the majority of hospitality workers. This is how the news unfolded on Wednesday. "If you're fully vaccinated then your life will be back to normal, you'll be able to enjoy all of the things that you have yearned for and miss and desperately worked so hard for," Mr Andrews said as the state arrived at its 90 per cent vaccination target. On 28 September, the Latrobe Valley went into lockdown for 7 days. "Were very keen to make sure we get a very firm grip of this as soon as we possibly can.". worldwide to bring our readers ways to connect with their cities and support urban culture without leaving home. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. Australian government frontbencher Simon Birmingham told the ABC on Friday that demand for testing, from both PCR and rapid tests, had been far in excess of what has been modelled in Australia and all around the world. Victoria's health minister hasn't ruled out mask mandates or work-from-home rules after the state's pandemic powers were extended for another three months. For most, the threat posed by Covid has eased 92.4% of Australians over the age of 16 are fully vaccinated, and 18% have also had a booster shot. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. Thomas Barbera says his friend groups have done the same, and it has caused some uncomfortable conversations. Despite enduring one of the longest aggregate periods of strict lockdown in the world, the Victorian community by and large hung in there. Follow our Covid live blog for the latest updates, a disease is less devastating if most of its victims are people who have pre-existing conditions, since ordered $62m worth of rapid antigen tests. For me the risk is too high, she says. The lockdown covers only Melbourne and an area to the north called the Mitchell Shire. Density limits will be reintroduced in Victoria from 11:59pm and it will become mandatory to reportpositive rapid antigen test results to the health department, in response to the state's surging Omicron outbreak. 24 people were infectious in the community. By 9News Staff 9:31am Jan 3, 2022 Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said the days of lockdown are gone, even as daily COVID-19 case numbers continue to escalate across the country. Victoria announces tough new lockdown measures, including the 5km rule and an overnight curfew. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. A Victorian-based consultant told Guardian Australia they were still receiving commercial rent relief until this week. The comments below have not been moderated. The federal government announces these measures, to be implemented by state governments: Australia closes its borders to everyone who is not a resident or citizen. And on Friday, they emerged from it with cheers, and a . Woollahra, Waverley, Randwick, and the City of Sydney, including the CBD. Chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant called out a number of suburbs of concern, highlighting the need for high rates of testing. Took a while for the anxiety to die down to get to this point but now I dont want to do anything else., Richard Chigwin is experiencing his third summer without customers. Also invalidating is the implication, from some public health messaging and public responses to death announcements, that a disease is less devastating if most of its victims are people who have pre-existing conditions. The thought of lockdown again is what is giving me a lot of anxiety and a lot of dread it scares me, says Melbourne man James Burke. Timelines of Melbourne's lockdown - Since the pandemic began The timeline This basic timeline provides start and end dates along with COVID-19 cases for each of the six lockdowns Melburnians have faced since the pandemic began Lockdown One: 43 days BEGAN: March 30, 11:59pm ENDED: May 12, 11:59pm Mr Byrne said that trend extended to Melbourne's outer suburbs, where lower socio-economic communities had been among the first to go into lockdown this time around. pic.twitter.com/YfNptxyua5. The Victorian Premier has spoken out after Queensland moved to make major changes to its drug laws. "These relatively mild restrictions are about making sure that activity can continue but in a less congregated and less active space.". In doing this, the objective is not to blame. But will it be safer for women? The 'winter shot': Everything you need to know about getting your next COVID-19 booster, If you catch COVID again, will your symptoms be worse? Key points: From Friday, Victorians must register their positive at-home RAT results on a government portal Health Minister Martin Foley said about one in 50 Victorians currently had COVID-19 Mr Foley said there was no plan to introduce a lockdown and that Victorians had to "coexist" with the virus Cooper says she felt significantly safer when Melbourne was in lockdown and finds the argument that people should get over their concern about a global pandemic incredibly invalidating. Victoria goes into lockdown for the third time. Residents attending major events with more than 30,000 spectators will also have to wear a face mask. The fragments were detected as early as July 4 in the Geelong suburbs of Breakwater, Clifton Springs, Curlewis, Leopold, Drysdale, East Geelong, Moolap, Newcomb, South Geelong, Thomson and Whittington. "Please note that we have always taken the position in New South Wales they will keep the community safe but also make sure that we keep livelihoods going.". So we need to all play our part in taking this incredibly seriously. Many lessons have been learned about engaging the diverse communities of Victoria. But the state as a whole has been sealed off from neighbouring New South Wales and South Australia. Lotus lifestyle EV division to go public . "The reason why we want to provide that 2-week period at least is so that parents who are teaching children or supervising children from home know that unfortunately for an additional two weeks at least their children will need to learn from home.". Victorian Acting Chief Health Officer Ben Cowie said it would be likely that come January 10, Victoria's testing system would have diagnosed "more people than it did for all of 2021". Worried. Switching to rapid antigen would slash these numbers and stop testing sites being overwhelmed by the 'worried well' and delay testing for those who are feeling sick. I know and understand that this is challenging and there is no family that has not been touched by that over the last few years and certainly many touched by that over the last few weeks and months, he said. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. Victoria will not be sent back into lockdown despite a surge in cases linked to the hyper-contagious OmicronCovid strain, the state's deputy premier has vowed. "This is systematic, mass, stay-at-home behaviour, the likes of which we usually see during deep, organised stage four-style lockdowns," he said. This brings the total number of infections in NSW to 864. On Thursday the NSW premier will announce the policy reversal following Covid crisis talks with fellow state leaders and Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Authorities confirmed seven cases were linked, Covid rule that was an atrocious mistake. Melbourne extends sixth virus lockdown Almost seven million people in Melbourne and surrounding Victoria state were scheduled to exit a four-week lockdown on Thursday, but state premier Dan Andrews said it would no longer be possible with case numbers rising by 92 overnight. Victoria adds 'outdoor recreation' to the reasons to leave home, allowing picnics for the first time since July. A fortnight ago on December 23, Victoria reported 2,005 new cases. Far fewer know their real story. Here we are in early January 2022 and its a wet day today (Sunday) in Melbourne, even though its summer. @newscomauHQ pic.twitter.com/Bq8oMG9FID. Are you willing to justify risking the health of vulnerable people for that privilege?. , to be implemented by state governments: a ban on non-essential indoor gatherings of 100 or more people (including staff); a ban on outdoor gatherings of 500 or more people to continue in place; people only consider travel when it is essential; strict visitation rules for aged care facilities including a limit of two visitors a day and preferably no children under 16 years of age; social distancing measures of 1.5 metres; and. SBS reporter asked Ms Berejiklian if she was seeking advice from the Victorian government given they are the only other state that have dealt with an outbreak of this size, which they supressed with hard lockdown rules. National Cabinet agrees that the states will close: Melbourne distiller Gypsy Hub is the first (that we know of) to pivot to making hand sanitiser. This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. But will it be safer for women? For the most vulnerable people, the only way to manage this risk is to retreat. Prince Harry shares struggles to be his 'authentic true self' growing up, saying he felt pressures to 'come As Prince Harry says he felt like the film 'the boy in the bubble' before having therapy, who was Hollywood's love affair with the new non-binary Brit Pack: After MeToo sex scandals, Tinseltown is desperate Five unexpected signs in your 20s and 30s you're at risk of developing heart disease later in life. Deakin University provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU. Victoria on Thursday confirmed another 2,005 new infections and ten deaths - up from the 1,503 cases recorded on Wednesday. His wife was the second. It was no surprise for those of us familiar with the Victorian health department that at times it struggled to cope during the pandemic. But Deputy Premier James Merlino said the state government was not considering adding to the world-record 262 days Melbourne has spent in lockdown since the pandemic began. Sydneysidersare restricted to 5km of home. I have adjusted to living a more sheltered life and enjoy being in my house, running the same route, cycling the same loop, doing the Wordle, going to bed on time, she says. A controversial media star and politician says there is no point in maintaining his political ambitions. The lockdown will be in place until 11.59pm on June 3, with the following restrictions also coming into effect: People must remain within a 5km radius of their home when shopping or. "Going to be so mad if we get sent into our fifth lockdown because of a Sydney removalist who wasn't wearing a mask," Choice journalist Jarni Blakkarly tweeted. Up to five visitors to a household at any one time. Many like Cooper have gone into self-isolation to protect themselves or a vulnerable loved one. Revealed: The top 10 fastest-growing destinations for UK pensioners retiring overseas. The Australian government has since ordered $62m worth of rapid antigen tests.