Coronavirus Australia live: Nervous wait as 1135 tests negative in northern Melbourne - NEWS.com.au

Victoria has passed the magic number five for the 14-day average of new COVID-19 cases, but restrictions aren’t lifting yet.

An emerging cluster has prompted fears the average will go back up above five on Monday. As a result, Mr Andrews delayed announcing any new easing of restrictions for Melbourne and is instead expected to provide an update on the lockdown conditions on Tuesday.

“We had hoped today to be able to announce that metropolitan Melbourne would take significant steps, not from today but from mid week, around retail, hospitality and a whole range of other, important next steps,” Mr Andrews said on Sunday.

However he said the city was “not in a position” to proceed with those plans because there were “at least 1000 test results from that northern metropolitan outbreak that are in the labs”.

It comes as Victoria recorded seven new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, with no new deaths.

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Last week Melbourne residents believed they would be waking up to a further easing of restrictions today, instead a fresh outbreak has kept the city's harsh lockdown measures in place.

Despite Victoria smashing its 14 day rolling average target, Premier Daniel Andrews announced yesterday that he would be hitting "pause" on reopening plans.

We had hoped today to be able to announce that metropolitan Melbourne would take significant steps, not from today but from mid week, round retail, hospitality and a whole range of other, important next steps," he said.

However he said the city was "not in a position" to do that because there were "at least 1000 test results from that northern metropolitan outbreak that are in the labs".

"This is not anything other than a cautious pause, to wait to get that important information, to get the results of those tests, just to rule out whether there are, whether there is more virus there than we think."

Mr Andrews copped swift backlash following the announcement, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison labelling the decision a "profound disappointment".

“Of course, Victorians do not want to face another lockdown and of course they don’t want all of this to have been for nothing. That is why ensuring the state government’s capability to deal with outbreaks through their public health response is so essential," Mr Morrison said in a joint statement with Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Health Minister Greg Hunt.

“At some point, you have to move forward and put your public health systems to work in a bid to reclaim the jobs that have been lost."

The Prime Minister said the continued lockdown suggested the state government was not confident its health system was capable of suppressing transmission of the virus.

The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services received more than 1000 test results on Sunday evening, with no new cases linked to the northern Melbourne outbreak as yet.

More than 1135 results were returned to the Department.

In excess of 13,000 people have been tested in Banyule, Darebin, Hume, Moreland and Nillumbik since Tuesday.

1400 tests from today are in the labs and testing will continue overnight.

39 cases are currently linked to the outbreak.

“This testing enables us to get a very clear picture of how many cases there are and ensure there is a plan in place for everyone who tests positive along with the close contacts," Victoria’s Commander of Testing and Community Engagement Jeroen Weimar said.
“There will at times no doubt be delays as more people come forward, but we are so appreciative of everyone making the effort, particularly during these colder spring days.”

DHHS is still tracing links between the outbreak and other positive cases within the area.

Mr Weimar said the community’s actions "showed a real willingness to do whatever was necessary to get on top of the virus and assist in managing its transmission".

Victorians were disappointed on Sunday by the news there would be a "pause" on the lifting of restrictions as the state waited for results of a testing blitz in response to the outbreak in northern Melbourne, even though the 14-day average of new cases dropped below five.

Additionally, there are nine cases that have not been traced to a known source yet, and there needs to be less than five in the past 14 days.