Omicron variant of coronavirus led to huge spike in cases over New Year but has since subsided, prompting Boris Johnson to drop social restrictions . Join the conversation, you are commenting as. You can find Tuesday's blog here. Despite promising not to re-impose stay-at-home orders, Mr Andrews' second-in-command on Thursday ordered Victorians to wear face masks in all indoor public spaces as part of major changes to the state's social distancing measures. "There's going to be friction between people, because different people are going be to making a decision on the basis of their own risk profiles," he said. 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? COVID in Victoria: 262 days in lockdown, 3 stunning successes and 4 avoidable failures Published: December 16, 2021 2.11pm EST Hassan Vally Associate Professor, Deakin University Catherine. There will be another pandemic and potentially this will occur sooner than we all would like. These were exposed in all their awfulness during the pandemic. Are we set to have a third lockdown for 2021. 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 Dj vu! Crises expose weaknesses, and theres no doubt the pandemic revealed a number of issues in Victoria. But of course we are not living in normal times, everything, including the flu, is now politicised. There are growing calls for Greater Sydney to be placed into a hard lockdown similar to the one imposed in Melbourne last year, but chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant insists NSW is already under "hard" restrictions. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. Daily case numbers remain at tens of thousands in NSW and Victoria. Theres still high chances of new variants. Up to 20 people at an indoor funeral or 30 for an outdoor funeral; and, Attend places of worship and attend a funeral with up to 49 others; and. On 28 September, the Latrobe Valley went into lockdown for 7 days. Melbourne spent more time in lockdown than any other city on Earth. While session tickets were capped at 50 per cent last week, the opening day saw 25,206 attendees on Monday. 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. worldwide to bring our readers ways to connect with their cities and support urban culture without leaving home. His deputy leader said the state government is not considering adding to the world-record 262 days Melbourne has spent in lockdown since the Covid pandemic began, 'The promise was if you go and get vaccinated, you can enjoy Christmasand New Year with your families and loved ones and that's exactly what will happen.'. Retail shops like Bunnings are closed for the first time. 2022 was supposed to be different, but It feels exactly like there is a lockdown. And our society will be all the worse for it. "I am highlighting that the risk is ever present and remember, what I'm reading you today is what has happened overnight so tomorrow, there might be different sites," Dr Chant said. 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". The risk is too high: Ashleigh Cooper, who is disabled and immunocompromised, went into self-isolation two weeks ago. Victoria announces tough new lockdown measures, including the 5km rule and an overnight curfew. Density limits of one person per 2 square metres will be introduced indoors at hospitality venues and entertainment venues. Public health orders enforced by strict and punitive laws have been replaced by a mantra of personal responsibility. Ms Berejiklian said authorities will know by the end of this two week extension whether the lockdown will need to be even longer. In doing this, the objective is not to blame. Sign notifying customers that rapid antigen test (RAT) kits are sold out. Victoria recorded eight new cases on Wednesday, including seven linked to the removalists and a family from a red zone who should have been isolating for 14 days. But for the 40 people Guardian Australia spoke to, it doesnt feel like its over. 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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. Ms Berejiklian said the impact of some of the more recent changes wouldn't be known for at least a few more days. COVID 19 11:26am Jun 4, 2022 Of the 2200 businesses on the strip, around 30 per cent have had to temporarily close, shorten their trading hours or their number of trading days. Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the number NSW health officials are concerned about is how many people are spending time in the community while infectious. The three new cases are all believed to be linked to the apartment building where the removalists worked without face coverings. South Australia has enforced a hard border with residents of Greater Melbourne, as authorities reveal the man at the centre of Melbourne's Covid-19 outbreak likely caught it through aerosol Covid-19: South Australia border closes to Greater Melbourne, report into hotel leak released But will it be safer for women? They are also furious that the virus was spread to Melbourne by removalists who failed to follow the rules of their workers' permit, did not wear masks and have not been cooperating with authorities. Despite enduring one of the longest aggregate periods of strict lockdown in the world, the Victorian community by and large hung in there. He said the lockdown, which had "sort of emerged organically", would also bring with it different levels of anxiety, uncertainty and confusion for some people. Here's how likely you are to get it more than once, Charting the COVID-19 spread: Australia passes 10,000 coronavirus deaths, Self-help author Marianne Williamson launches primary challenge against Joe Biden for 2024 Democratic nomination, Chinese migrants walked a gruelling 500km to Victoria's goldfields in the 19th century. Its been revealed when Australia will experience the next Covid surge, but one state is expected to reach its peak much sooner than the rest. Like many who spoke to Guardian Australia, she focused on the vaccine rollout when everyone who was eligible was double-vaccinated it would be OK. Then Omicron happened, the inevitable consequence of a lack of global vaccine equity, and the promise of a return to normal life has been pushed back once more. What does is Victorians got vaccinated at a rate that surpassed all expectations. Highpoint shopping centre has also emerged as an exposure site, with anyone who attended between on Friday night between 10am and 2pm urged to get tested. And the Omicron variant, which has ripped through the country since December, appears to result in a less severe illness, in most cases, than previous variants of Covid-19. 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. Many lessons have been learned about engaging the diverse communities of Victoria. Far fewer know their real story. When I have been asked for my opinion I have said that we will be free to have summer and then we will go back into lockdown in March. But maybe Im wrong. "And that trend is something that we're seeing all across the city.". Victorians are less interested in finding restaurants or cafes to enjoy than they are in finding a rapid antigen test (RAT), for example. All of which makes me wonder if we are heading towards a summer lockdown. 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. Are you willing to justify risking the health of vulnerable people for that privilege?. In the past fortnight none of my patients have gone to ICU. NSW cases rise to 20,794 and Victoria jumps to 8,577 but PM vows Australia will NEVER go back into lockdown because infection numbers 'DON'T matter and Omicron can be managed like the flu' The above numbers came from the same article here. Australia has one of the most powerful passports in the world. Thanks for subscribing! NSW on Thursdayrecorded 5,715 new Covid-19 cases - a daily record - and one death just two days before Christmas. 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. It would have been so easy to lose hope and stop complying with the tough restrictions en masse, especially as Victorians navigated their way through lockdown six, arguably the toughest to endure. The only thing different now and previous lockdowns is Daniel Andrews has left small businesses to fend for themselves by not provided the support needed at this crucial time, he said. Consequently, there is an urgent need to reflect on the journey and to address issues that have been raised so we can be on the front foot and do even better next time. @newscomauHQ pic.twitter.com/Bq8oMG9FID. But to the credit of the authorities, efforts were boosted in the second part of 2020 and beyond, building resources that were language and culturally appropriate and partnering with community leaders to design local public health interventions and disseminate messages. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can also call the Victorian Aboriginal COVID Information Line on 1800 312 911. The messy family drama behind one of the world's biggest K-pop empires, as the state arrived at its 90 per cent vaccination target, Timely reminder: How to respond if you test positive to COVID-19. Victoria recorded seven new cases early on Wednesday. The jump in cases in NSW - which is nearly 2,000 more than the 3,763 infections reported on Wednesday - comes after a major backflip on restrictions in the state with millions once again required to check into venues via QR codes. We already have this email. A Victorian-based consultant told Guardian Australia they were still receiving commercial rent relief until this week. The government chose not to bring in those changes at the time, arguing their introduction could hurt businesses and potentially undermine public confidence in the government's pandemic response. You don't need to be forced to do it,' he said. Victoria enters lockdown for the fourth time. Around one third of businesses in Melbournes Chapel Street precinct have had to shut or reduce hours in recent weeks due to Covid-induced staff shortages. "Feeling tense. But most importantly it kept the community focused on what was needed to bring the virus under control. Victoria goes into lockdown for the sixth time. "We really are all in this together and the data proves it.". He said that was a breach of the conditions of their permit. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has announced a lockdown of metropolitan Melbourne as the state records its largest daily increase in COVID-19 cases since t. You can find Marks Subscribestar here. Mr Andrews did not appear at Thursday's Covid press conference but did briefly interrupt his holiday to attend Wednesday's national cabinet meeting. Mr Southwick called for the government to extend the Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme for a further three months, to help thousands of small businesses avoid rent increases. These key charts will show if thats happening, NSW Covid update: health officials increasingly confident cases will plateau next week, Unions say exemption to allow Covid-positive people to work at SA meatworks sets dangerous precedent, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. 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. Victorian premier Dan Andrews announces that only two people may gather outside unless they are members of a household, as well as the only four reasons people are permitted to leave home: NSW health minister Brad Hazzard announces that there are 16 reasons to leave home in NSW. Chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said this advice is particularly aimed at those in Greater Sydney. With that in mind, lets look at what went right, and wrong, in Victoria amid the pandemic so far. There are a number of issues we won't know until we have further data," she said. More than 90 per cent of those who had a positive RAT result, ended up with a positive PCR test, he said. ABC host Patricia Karvelas said Melbourne residents were "on high alert again". Up to five visitors to a household at any one time. We uncover the best of the city and put it all in an email for you. Sydneyis released from lockdown on 'freedom day'. "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. "We are will have to vaccinate again against Covid and will have further advice about boosters but in the context of an outbreak, what we want to do is give people the advice so that they are protected.". The NSW government announces that from May 15, the following will be allowed: The Victorian government announces an easing of restrictions, allowing: Time Out announces the winners of the Time In Awards, supporting businesses and organisations that pivoted tonew initiatives during lockdowns. There are confirmed positive cases on board at the time, and 130 people test positive within a week. It's relentless," she tweeted. Almost everyone who spoke to Guardian Australia said they would feel more comfortable moving around if they had access to free, readily available rapid antigen tests. We hit the streets of Sydney and find the normally bustling metropolis completely empty. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) for the 6th January 2022, the most recent data available, Australia has the following statistics: So according to these figures, more than 10% of all cases in the past two years were found in one day! Worried. Lydia Napoli also works in hospitality in NSW. The chamber is calling on federal and state governments to offer free RATs to small and medium-sized businesses, and suggestinga one-off payment equivalent to three weeks of support under the joint business packages released during previous lockdowns. A fortnight ago on December 23, Victoria reported 2,005 new cases. Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Everyone is trying (and failing) to make sourdough. Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox. Asked if the removalists had been deliberately evasive, Mr Weimar said: "They're not being deliberately forthcoming, let me put it that way.". In the midst of the ongoing pandemic, some individuals in Australia have still managed to avoid contracting Covid-19. Here's everything we've learned from Melbourne's polarising e-scooter trials. The first Covid-19 vaccine doses are administered in Australia. Dr Chant said it was imperative that everyone takes the current restrictions seriously. Callers will speak with Aboriginal staff who can . Restrictions were the same as Melbourne, but . 'Providing rapid-antigen testing kits for those who want to do the right thing will help take the pressure of our testing clinics, while giving people confidence to get on with their lives.'. How a 21yo man with the code name 'Svyat' smuggled residents past Putin's private army, Anna called police to report an assault, but they took out a family violence order against her. She went into self-isolation two weeks ago. Despite the Government trumpeting no more lockdowns once vaccine targets were met, isolation requirements, coupled with density limits and further restrictions have left Victoria in a shadow lockdown, he said. Until today I had not thought that that was a serious option, now Im reconsidering. Victorias latest Covid rules have been labelled a shadow lockdown by the opposition which claims isolation rules, density limits and restrictions have smashed Melbourne businesses. The bigger question of course will be whether we ever need to rely on hotel quarantine again or whether we have learned the more important lesson about how unsuitable hotels are for containing infectious diseases. The Herald Sun reports the state government is holding high-level meetings this afternoon to weigh up whether to reimpose restrictions across Melbourne, with an announcement expected as early as Thursday. Residents attending major events with more than 30,000 spectators will also have to wear a face mask. To access the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Victoria, visit the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Victoria website or call the 24-hour Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398. Welcome to the Coronation! The Department of Health in Victoria has revealed "two unexpected detections of COVID-19 viral fragments" in wastewater around Geelong. All times AEDT (GMT +11). Regardless of your political stripes, or whether you felt all of the calls Victorian health authorities made were always the right ones, no one can doubt the commitment of the government and health authorities to get Victoria through the pandemic, and to communicate with Victorians. The NSW government cancels all major events of more than 500 people. A crew of infectious removalists from Sydney transited through Victoria last Thursday, visiting households in Craigieburn and Maribyrnong, and coming into contact with two families of four. NSW recorded 97 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. Daniel Andrews must end this shadow lockdown and stop imposing 2020 style restrictions on family run cafes, retailers, restaurants and businesses and must immediately provide the support needed for their survival.. Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews has issued an ominous warning as the southern state prepares to come out of lockdown. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. The first Covid-19 case was detected in Australia on January 25, 2020. People do not want to feel that you are judging them or saying that what they are doing is unsafe and it is not inherently unsafe, they just have different risk tolerance and different priorities than you, he says. A new test, the rapid Antigen test which can be done at home has become available. The World Health Organisation declares the novel coronavirus to be a pandemic. "Were very keen to make sure we get a very firm grip of this as soon as we possibly can.". No wonder local councils and businesses are stepping in, initial challenges with the vaccine rollout, Associate Lecturer, Creative Writing and Literature, Lecturer / Senior Lecturer, Emerging Technologies, Committee Member - MNF Research Advisory Committee. Local lockdown orders are reinstated in the northern beaches. Sydneysiders who live alone are permitted to establish a 'single's bubble' with a friend. Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Most people who spoke to Guardian Australia are still recovering from the impact of long lockdowns and do not want a return to restrictions. Its a story repeated in every Australian state, except Western Australia. Phoebe says her social circle has split in two: those who have had Covid and are now feeling invulnerable for 30 days despite warnings that earlier reinfection is possible and those who are curbing social activities to try to avoid it. Help keep family & friends informed by sharing this article, How a 21yo man with the code name 'Svyat' smuggled residents past Putin's private army, Anna called police to report an assault, but they took out a family violence order against her. The health department had been depleted over many years by both sides of politics and it clearly entered the pandemic under-resourced. They just want an indication from governments both state and federal that they will be supported and able to easily access tests and healthcare as the outbreak, and any new variants to come, rolls on. Victoria goes into lockdown for the sixth time, are permitted to establish a 'single's bubble, More than 10,000 Australians have now died of Covid-19. Premier Dominic Perrottet had last week scrapped the QR check-ins for 'low risk' venues such as retail and kept them in place for 'high risk' settings like gyms and pubs. NSW records extraordinary 5,715 new cases two days before Queensland Covid cases double AGAIN to 369 as Annastacia Isabel Oakeshott receives 'menacing' message from Matt Hancock, Insane moment river of rocks falls onto Malibu Canyon in CA, Pavement where disabled woman gestured at cyclist before fatal crash, Incredible footage of Ukrainian soldiers fighting Russians in Bakhmut, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' For me the risk is too high, she says. National cabinet encourages wearing masks to combat COVID-19. There are many venues who have given feedback that they are not at 100 per-cent capacity and havent been for quite some time, he said. Premier Daniel Andrews has himself said there is no need to lockdown the Victorian capital for a seventh time once more than 90 per cent of the state's population has received both Covid vaccine doses. The Premier on Thursday said he was listening to struggling sectors and didnt rule out providing future support. But will it be safer for women? [The] big difference is I have no energy for or interest in working, just want to read books and chill. 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. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. Here we are in early January 2022 and its a wet day today (Sunday) in Melbourne, even though its summer. Worried. I cannot stress this enough that everyone needs to take it seriously as hard lockdown," she said. Premier Peter Gutwein said with a highly vaccinated population Tasmania would not be heading into lockdown or closing its borders because of the climbing case numbers. log in. While resources were poured into the department to cope with the unprecedented demands during the pandemic and some structural changes were made most notably the creation of local public health units more work undoubtedly needs to be done. There are confirmed positive cases on board at the time, and 130 people test positive within a week. And they lost control in just two weeks.. Whats the price that we are willing to pay in order for people to be able to go and have brunch? Couples who don't live together are permitted to visit in Victoria. So it's going to be in some ways [it will be]more stressful for a lot of people.". The state recently reintroduced low-level restrictions in the wake of Omicron, including mask wearing indoors, density limits on hospitality and the banning of indoor dance floors. When will the Beast from the East be at YOUR door? Victorians should work from home if they can. Covid-19 was first detected in Australia on January 25, 2020. Life is about to get very difficult for the unvaccinated, Active Cases: serious or critical: 269 (0.1%). 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. On the same day. The government has also announced a raft of "strong recommendations": that people take a RAT before visiting aged care facilities and hospitals, and work from home until late January. How did it come to this? The Sydney suburb of Avalon records an outbreak of Covid-19, after NSW had gone 12 days with zero community transmission. For the most vulnerable people, the only way to manage this risk is to retreat. I'm a vet, and here are five dog breeds most prone to cancer - including Golden Retrievers and Rottweilers, Prince Andrew chuckles as he encounters female jogger on way to his weekly Windsor horse-riding trip. "In the past, you could say it's OK, it's the government, it's the policy, but that's not what we have right now. Mr Weimar revealed on Wednesday that the removalists were in Melbourne on a workers' permit but that they did not wear masks inside the apartment building. We must invest in these community partnerships to ensure all communities are more resilient and protected. He also feels the loss of the sense of collective action which, for some, underscored the long lockdowns of 2020 and 2021. But perhaps most frustrating was the news that the crew have not been cooperating with contact tracers who only today found out there were two trucks involved. On Thursday the NSW premier will announce the policy reversal following Covid crisis talks with fellow state leaders and Prime Minister Scott Morrison. 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. 'We are not considering going into lockdown and this is the commitment that we gave to the people of Victoria,' Deputy Premier James Merlino said, Beachgoers in St Kilda in Melbourne.