AAP reports that a change to mask rules and increased social gathering caps are expected to be announced for Victoria on Sunday.
Chief health officer Brett Sutton has indicated it will be safe for the Australian state to move to a ‘Covid normal’ level of restrictions. Victoria has been free of locally transmitted coronavirus cases for more than a month and with no active cases, has effectively eradicated the virus.
Under the government’s original roadmap out of lockdown, ‘Covid normal’ signifies a final easing of attendance restrictions on community sport, hospitality venues, gatherings and visitors to the home. Prof Sutton said authorities were still working through details ahead of premier Daniel Andrew’s Sunday press conference but confirmed advice around masks, which currently must be worn in indoor settings, will change.
Chief Health ?fficer, Victoria
(@VictorianCHO)I’m confident there’s not active transmission in Victoria but we have to maintain alertness. Not fear, but a precautionary approach and readiness to respond. With 600,000 new cases globally each day, the risk is always there. We must – and will – strengthen quarantine.
We will move to a phase where there is an even more limited use of masks in public,” he told the parliament’s public accounts and estimates committee on Friday. “But the recommendation for mask-wearing still exists around Australia, even in places where it hasn’t been mandated at all.”
Hospitality and entertainment venues are expected to continue record-keeping of patrons, as will the real estate industry, as part of what the government often also calls a ‘Covid safe summer’.
Wedding, funerals and religious gatherings will be allowed to go ahead with bigger attendances. It is unclear what the various attendance caps will be, if any.
Victoria recorded its 36th consecutive day on Saturday of no new virus cases. The impressive zero-case run is about to be put to the test as international arrivals, initially capped at 160 per day, resume.
Five international flights from Colombo, Doha, Hong Kong and Singapore are scheduled to arrive at Melbourne Airport on Monday, marking the start of the state’s revamped hotel quarantine program.
International flights were diverted from Victoria in June after security guards at two quarantine hotels contracted Covid-19. The outbreaks sparked the state’s second wave, which resulted in more than 18,000 infections and 800 deaths.
The government announced on Friday it will introduce legislation to charge for the mandatory 14-day quarantine. The fees will be set at $3,000 per adult, $1,000 for each additional adult in a room and $500 for children aged between three and 18 years. There will be no charge for children under three.
The government has said the payments put Victoria in line with other states and territories but that there will also be hardship considerations including fee waivers, reductions and payment plan options.
There will be no security guards involved in the new-look program, with all staff employed or directly contracted by the government with the exception of cleaning staff, who are on fixed-term contracts with Alfred Health. Hundreds of Victoria police officers will act as security as well as undertake floor monitoring in “health hotels”, which will house those travellers who test positive to Covid-19.
Australian Defence Force personnel will support Victoria police by helping guests on entry and exit, as well as registering staff movements and conducting temperature checks. Some ADF members have arrived at their post already, with more to come next week.
