Epidemiologists are now predicting Victoria’s 14-day average will dip below five cases a day within a fortnight – opening a window of opportunity for Melbourne to be reopened.
The state is currently operating under a strict road map that doesn’t suggest the city will be freed until October 26, with a caveat on new case numbers.
However, Premier Andrews suggested for the first time yesterday that this is no longer set in stone.
“We will always be guided by those three things: the evidence and the science, the data and what is deemed safe,” the Premier said. “We are on schedule. We may even be a bit ahead of schedule, but we’ve got to keep going.”
Now it is understood the government could abandon the October 26 date if the cases target is met and it is deemed safe to do so.
It would mean public gatherings of up to 10 people would be allowed, shops would be able to reopen, restaurants could offer outdoor dining and the curfew would come to an end.
Yesterday, Victoria recorded just 14 new cases — the lowest number in three months — with the 14-day average dropping to just 38.4.
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A major scramble to find taxi passengers is under way in Sydney today after it was revealed an infectious cabby worked nine shifts.
NSW Health confirmed today the 13 Cabs driver had driven around locations across the city's south-west on September 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18.
He is known to have travelled around the suburbs of Moorebank, Bankstown, Chipping Norton, Liverpool, Lidcombe, Warwick Farm and Milperra.
He also visited Mama Wok's Yum Cha in Macarthur Square at Campbelltown and Campbelltown Golb Club on September 16.
Public health alerts have been issued for the Milton Ulladulla Ex-Servicemen's Club and Carlo's Italian Restaurant after it was revealed the man had taken a trip to the NSW South Coast on September 12.
Another alert has been handed out for Bannister's Rooftop Bar and Grill at Mollymook for September 13.
Anyone who may have been at those locations on those days for at least an hour have been urged to immediately be tested and self-isolate for a fortnight.
Yesterday, NSW recorded two new coronavirus cases.
Of the new cases, one is a returned overseas traveller in hotel quarantine and the other believed to be the taxi driver.
One more person also died of the virus, a man aged in his 70s linked to the Sydney CBD cluster, taking NSW's toll to 55.
Melburnians are waking up today with the prospect of having to endure just a couple more weeks of lockdown as the state's cases continue to plummet.
Epidemiologists are now predicting Victoria’s 14-day average will dip below five cases a day within a fortnight – opening a window of opportunity for Melbourne to be reopened.
The state is currently operating under a strict road map that doesn't suggest the city will be freed until October 26, with a caveat on new case numbers.
However, Premier Andrews suggested for the first time yesterday that this is no longer set in stone.
“We will always be guided by those three things: the evidence and the science, the data and what is deemed safe,” the Premier said. “We are on schedule. We may even be a bit ahead of schedule, but we’ve got to keep going.”
Graph showing daily case numbers and the 14-day average (in purple) in Victoria from covid19data.com.au
Now it is understood the government could abandon the October 26 date if the cases target is met and it is deemed safe to do so.
It would mean public gatherings of up to 10 people would be allowed, shops would be able to reopen, restaurants could offer outdoor dining and the curfew would come to an end.
Yesterday, Victoria recorded just 14 new cases — the lowest number in three months — with the 14-day average dropping to just 38.4.
Epidemiologist Tony Blakely of Melbourne University, told the Herald Sun the state was tracking well ahead of schedule. He said daily cases could fall to 10 and the two-week average to 20 by September 28.
“If we are aiming for tight suppression, which I am led to believe we are, and it is consistent with opening up borders and a hot spot strategy, then there is a case for considering opening up to step three earlier than October 26,” he said.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is hopeful that there will be "significant announcements" on September 27.
Melbourne is scheduled to move to step two of the road map out of restrictions next week, with the latest coronavirus numbers prompting excitement from locked-down residents.
But Mr Andrews has cautioned against opening up things too quickly, saying Victoria needs to "get this health issue dealt with first" before rebooting the economy.
On Sunday Victoria recorded just 14 new coronavirus cases, the lowest daily number in three months.
Mr Andrews told reporters the number was "cause for great optimism and positivity".
“We are on schedule. We may even be a bit ahead of schedule,” he said.
“But we’ve got to keep going and that’s why I am so proud and grateful of every single Victorian who is doing the right thing.”
Senior federal politicians have urged the Victorian government to open the state back up after it saw only 14 new coronavirus cases recorded yesterday.
Premier Daniel Andrews said the low numbers were “cause for great optimism” but that the focus should remain on the “health side” rather than rebooting the economy for now.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has told The Australian that “the sooner the Victorian economy is opened up, the better” so that life can return to normal for the state.
Assistant treasurer Michael Sukkar echoed this, telling the newspaper: “Now is the time to significantly ease restrictions before even more irreparable damage is done to Victoria.’’
Victoria’s tally was its lowest daily count in three months and it recorded a death toll of five people.
The last time the state announced fewer cases was on June 19, when 13 new cases were diagnosed.
https://news.google.com/__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?oc=5
2020-09-20 20:55:48Z
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