Latest updates
Open space thrown open for hospitality, but operators not rejoicing
By Clay Lucas
A pledge by the Andrews government to unlock footpaths and parks for more outdoor dining and drinking space has been welcomed by restaurant and bar owners but the need to comply with council by-laws could render the promise unworkable.
The government has removed planning approvals in a bid to help the hospitality industry use adjoining land to accommodate more patrons outside.
But restaurant and bar owners say plans will still fall back to local councils to oversee, meaning there could be little difference to the end result.
Feast of Merit owner Jason Stepsys. Credit:Justin McManus
Planning Minister Richard Wynne on Wednesday changed laws so that pubs, restaurants, cafes and bars could now “use existing outdoor spaces, as well as nearby parks and public land to accommodate and serve patrons without the need for a planning permit”.
The planning exemptions will apply for 12 months after Victoria ceases to be in a state of emergency. They only apply to businesses with existing licences to trade outdoors.
Mr Wynne told ABC radio venues won't need a planning permit to make any changes – including building structures – but they would need to "consult" with local government before they go ahead and assume more space.
Public health alert for south Sydney pokie venue, real estate office and cafe
Cases are going down, but alerts seem to be going up. NSW Health issued an alert last night for the Bathurst area, after remnants of the virus was found in raw sewage after the Bathurst 1000.
Several other venues have been identified as places of possible exposure.
The Souths' Juniors Club at Kingsford confirmed that a person who was positive with COVID-19 was in their poker machine area between September 26 and October 2.
NSW Health also said that anyone who attended Century 21 Dixon Real Estate in Kingsford between Saturday September 26 and Friday October 9, or the Shed Café at Royal Randwick Shopping Centre on Saturday October 3 between 3pm and 5pm, should be aware of any symptoms of illness, and immediately isolate and get tested should even the mildest of symptoms have occurred in the last few weeks.
Police to monitor Melburnians with drones on AFL grand final weekend
By Rachel Eddie
Victoria Police will be monitoring Melburnians this long weekend using drones as Richmond and Geelong head into the AFL grand final.
Residents in metropolitan Melbourne are allowed to gather in parks in groups of up to 10 from two households, but home visits are still banned.
"It is important that no matter how you’re choosing to celebrate, you must continue to adhere to the directions," a police spokesman said.
"As always, we maintain a very strong capacity to respond to any anti-social or criminal behaviour, as well as any potential breaches of the Chief Health Officer directions at any point in time.
"This is because the Chief Health Officer has made it very clear that at this stage, to do anything different, would jeopardise how far Victoria has come and would risk further spread of the virus."
Police can fine Melburnians $4957 for breaching the lockdown restrictions.
"Anyone found to be deliberately or blatantly breaching the restrictions can expect to receive a fine," police said.
Mounted police, highway patrol, AirWing, the Public Order Response Team, transit police and PSOs will also be monitoring the public.
"We will have a dedicated, strong and visible presence right from Geelong to Richmond, as well as other popular public locations such as parks and gardens to ensure it is a safe day for everyone," the spokesman said.
"We will also have a significant public order focus, both in Geelong where pubs and restaurants are open at a limited capacity to people."
Golfer Adam Scott tests positive to COVID-19
By Adam Pengilly
Former world No.1 Adam Scott has withdrawn from a USPGA Tour event after testing positive to COVID-19.
The 40-year-old's diagnosis has thrown his preparations for the US Masters into disarray after the PGA Tour announced the Australian had withdrawn from this week's Zozo Championship in California.
Scott, who is the only Australian to don the famous green jacket, was fine-tuning for a return to Augusta, where he was crowned champion in 2013. The rescheduled Masters is due to start on November 12.
Adam Scott has tested positive to COVID-19.Credit:Getty Images
"While it’s difficult news to receive – as I really looked forward to playing this week – my focus now is on recovery for the final stretch of the fall," Scott said.
Scott, ranked 15th in the world, has played only a limited schedule during the global pandemic and predominantly stayed in Australia in the opening half of the year.
He even livestreamed a round on the Sunshine Coast while playing with a mate and taking questions from social media followers.
His last competitive appearance was in last month's US Open and Winged Foot in New York where he finished tied-38th behind Bryson DeChambeau.
Tiger Woods will make his first start since the US Open at the Zozo Championship.
Europe's hospitals under major stress as coronavirus cases surge
Europe's hospital systems are at risk of buckling under the strain of soaring numbers of COVID-19 infections that have put the continent once again at the centre of the global pandemic.
With case numbers that were brought largely under control by the unprecedented lockdowns in March and April now resurging relentlessly, authorities in countries from Poland to Portugal have expressed mounting alarm at the renewed crisis confronting their health infrastructure.
A nurse looks after a COVID-19 patient in the intensive care unit of a hospital in Essen, Germany this week.Credit:Getty Images
Belgium, struggling with what its health minister called a "tsunami" of infections, is postponing all non-essential hospital procedures, and similar measures are looming in other countries where case numbers have been rising relentlessly.
"If the rhythm of the past week continues, rescheduling and suspending some non-priority activities will become unavoidable," said Julio Pascual, medical director at Barcelona's Hospital del Mar.
To complicate the situation, widespread coronavirus fatigue and the frightening economic impact of the crisis have eroded broad public support for the lockdowns ordered earlier in the year to stop health services from being overwhelmed.
Unwilling to shut down their countries again, governments have sought less drastic measures to limit public gatherings and balance the need to keep their economies turning with holding back the pandemic.
According to data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Europe has registered more than 5 million cases and 200,000 deaths, with new cases beginning to spike sharply from the end of September. Reuters
'It has hit us with a vengeance': Coronavirus surges again across the United States
As the coronavirus races across the United States, it has reached every corner of a nursing home in Kansas, infecting all 62 residents inside. There are so few hospital beds available in North Dakota that patients sick with the virus are being ferried by ambulance to facilities 160 kilometres away. And in Ohio, more people are hospitalised with the virus than at any other time during the pandemic.
After weeks of warnings that cases were again on the rise, a third surge of coronavirus infection has firmly taken hold in the United States. The nation is averaging 59,000 new cases a day, the most since the beginning of August, and the country is on pace to record the most new daily cases of the entire pandemic in the coming days.
A medical staff member performs a Covid-19 test outside the Family Healthcare building in downtown Fargo, North Dakota.Credit:Bloomberg
But if earlier surges were defined by acute and concentrated outbreaks – in the Northeast this spring, and in the South during the summer – the virus is now simmering at a worrisome level across nearly the entire country. Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming each set seven-day case records on Tuesday. Even New Jersey, once a model for bringing the virus under control, has seen cases double over the past month.
"It is a really dangerous time," said Dr Tom Inglesby, an infectious-disease expert at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
"The majority of states are on the rise," he said. And at the same time, "there are very few places where things are stable and going down."
The latest wave threatens to be the worst of the pandemic yet, coming as cooler weather is forcing people indoors and as many Americans report feeling exhausted by months of restrictions. Unlike earlier waves, which were met with shutdown orders and mask mandates, the country has shown little appetite for widespread new restrictions. The New York Times
Alerts for Bathurst 1000 after virus found in raw sewage
By Mary Ward
NSW Health is also warning Bathurst residents to be vigilant after remnants of the COVID-19 virus was found in raw sewage.
Attendees of the Bathurst 1000 race or locals who live in the area are being urged to monitor for symptoms and get tested as soon as possible after remnants of the COVID-19 virus were detected in raw sewage in the area on Wednesday.
A general view of the Bathurst 1000 event on Sunday, October 18.Credit:Getty Images
"The sample comprises wastewater from over the past weekend, and could indicate current or a previous infection in someone who attended or worked at the Bathurst 1000 motor race, a visitor to Bathurst, or even a local resident," a statement from the department read.
Two Melbourne schools closed as social housing residents self-isolate
By Rachel Eddie
Residents across some of Melbourne's northern suburbs, including Dallas, Roxburgh Park, Broadmeadows, Preston and West Heidelberg, have been urged to get tested for COVID-19 after two schools were closed for cleaning yesterday.
One student at East Preston Islamic College tested positive to coronavirus and a close contact was identified at Dallas Brooks Primary School.
The outbreak has also been linked to cases at a social housing block in Broadmeadows, where 120 residents have been asked to self-isolate for 48 hours, monitor symptoms and get tested.
"This timeframe allows for the department to ensure the community is aware of the situation and for residents to get tested and get their results back before determining what the next steps are," Victoria’s commander of testing and community engagement, Jeroen Weimar, said.
"We’re asking all these residents to come forward for asymptomatic testing at the dedicated testing station on site."
The East Preston Islamic College has been closed for deep cleaning after it was revealed a student who was supposed to be self-isolating as they were a close contact of a positive case had attended school due to a misunderstanding.
"The college has taken positive steps to manage this situation and is working closely with us. It has been closed for deep cleaning," Mr Weimar said.
"We need everyone working together to tackle this virus, and that’s exactly what the school community is doing. Staff and students who are close contacts – and their households – have been identified and are quarantining for 14 days.
"Extensive contact tracing is underway and we expect that as part of this work, additional cases will be detected."
The Dallas Brooks Primary School has also been closed for deep cleaning.
A text message was sent to residents in the northern suburbs, urging them to get tested if they experienced any symptoms.
Pop-up testing sites and a community outreach program will be launched today.
Banyule Community Health and Himilo Community Connect will doorknock the area on Thursday to alert residents to the outbreak and provide information about testing and supports like financial assistance for missing work.
"We’re asking everyone who lives in this area or who has loved ones linked to these suburbs to please get tested if they have symptoms and to share this information within their families and broader community," Mr Weimar said.
Good morning!
Good morning and welcome to our rolling coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.
It's the last day of the working week for Melburnians, who will belatedly celebrate the AFL grand final public holiday tomorrow with quiet streets and empty pubs.
It's just a usual Friday for the rest of Australia, however "normal" looks for you these days.
You can get in touch with me via email hanna.turbet@theage.com.au, on Twitter or leave a comment here.
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2020-10-21 20:18:00Z
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