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Victoria has recorded just one new case of coronavirus overnight continuing the state’s long run of single digit increases.
The low figures have driven metropolitan Melbourne’s 14-day average down to just 2.4, while in regional Victoria where there are no active cases the average is zero.
No new deaths were recorded.
Victoria has recorded consecutive single digit increases since October 13 including three days of no new cases.
Authorities are now confident Victoria is well placed to further ease restrictions on November 9, with Daniel Andrews expected to confirm the next steps next Sunday.
It will include dropping the 25km travel limit and scrapping the metro-regional border.
After 120 consecutive press conferences the Premier will not front the media today, with Health Minister Martin Foley to take his place.
“I will not see you tomorrow,” Mr Andrews announced at the end of Friday’s hour-long press conference.
“The Minister for Health will conduct the daily briefing and I’m sure you’re all very pleased to hear that news.”
It was July 3 when the Premier first took to the Treasury theatre stage 120 days ago.
Victoria had just recorded 66 new coronavirus infections and Mr Andrews was on the cusp of announcing local lockdowns for 10 Melbourne postcodes.
That would later become the entire city and state, resulting in a gruelling 112-day lockdown that Melburnians are only just emerging from.
“This is the 17th consecutive day of double-digit case growth in Victoria, with a continuing and concerning number of new cases associated with transmission in households and families,” the Department of Health and Services media release ominously said that day.
Also in the media statement on July 3 were the details of three cases linked to the Stamford Plaza outbreak.
“Two close contacts of a known case and one contracted security guard member who was already in quarantine – bringing the total to 35,” it said.
Hotel quarantine has since been credited with sparking Victoria’s deadly second wave and an inquiry into the program is expected to be handed down in December.
It also cost former Health Minister Jenny Mikakos her political career and prompted Department of Premier and Cabinet secretary Chris Eccles to resign.
Saturday will be the new Health Minister’s first time addressing the media regarding coronavirus without the Premier by his side.
Mr Foley took over the portfolio when Jenny Mikakos resigned late last month.
It will remain to be seen whether he adopts the same tactic as the Premier, who often stays at the microphone for up to 1.5 hours to field every question from waiting journalists.
He has also sparred with reporters over hotel quarantine, contact tracing and lockdown restrictions, and his battles with Sky News host Peta Credlin have been particularly heated.
Mr Andrews did not say when he would be back but it is expected to be Sunday.
HOPE GROWS FOR ELIMINATING VIRUS
Victoria is well on track to open up further next weekend and could eliminate coronavirus altogether.
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said eliminating the virus from Victoria was now “absolutely possible”.
“Elimination may happen by virtue of finding everything that is out there,” Prof Sutton said.
“We aren’t hanging our hats on that because there could be hidden cases, chains of transmission that just go on without being detected, as well.
“If we can find each and every case that identifies the chains of transmission and use the isolation and quarantine in that broad contact tracing that has been done to stop it all, fantastic.”
Daniel Andrews said the state was set to be reunited from November 9 with the scrapping of the metro-regional border.
The Premier said he was likely to announce the next easing of restrictions next Sunday.
He refused to say what if any thresholds would force the government to abandon that plan.
Mr Andrews said some restrictions might have to stay in place until a vaccine was available.
“I think there is a broad consensus that they will get there (to a vaccine),” he said.
“There are timelines about how you make it and get it out through the Victorian community. All of that takes time. It is some way off.”
Prof Sutton said a vaccine would be key to certainty and being confident of avoiding a third wave. He said the risk of a third wave was minimal, but not zero.
“I don’t want to say it is zero because it will not be zero for any of us in Australia until there is widespread use of a vaccine that is effective,” he said.
Mr Andrews said the Melbourne Cup weekend would test the determination of Victorians to stay the course.
“We just have to keep vigilant. We just have to keep doing this. We have to be, as a community, as stubborn as this virus,” he said.
“It is not going away. It spreads rapidly and silently. We have come so far and done so much that we just have to safeguard that.”
MORE NEWS
HEALTH CHIEFS CONFIDENT RISK OF THIRD WAVE ‘MINIMAL’
OPPOSITION CALLS FOR FREEZE ON FEES, RATES TO AID RECOVERY
WHY OUR CITY AND STATE COULD BE FOREVER CHANGED
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2020-10-30 21:20:58Z
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