Allison Langdon has called out a health expert for arguing Melbourne should wait until 90 per cent of its residents are vaccinated against Covid before ending lockdowns for good.
Victoria recorded 603 new cases of the virus and one death on Tuesday – the highest daily rise in infections in the state since August 1 of last year.
Victoria’s Department of Health said the positive results came from 48,829 tests, as 40,811 vaccine doses were administered overnight.
Burnet Institute modelling shows Victoria’s Covid-19 cases will peak at between 1,400 and 2,900 per day between October 19 and 31.
A University of Melbourne study has claimed a state with the population of Victoria would still need to lockdown for 58 per cent of the year at 80 per cent double dose to keep the annual Covid-19 death rate below 1,000.
Epidemiologist Tony Blakely, the report’s co-author, said lockdowns could only be a thing of the past once 90 per cent of all Australians over the age of five are vaccinated.
The Today show co-host on Tuesday though questioned if such a goal could even be achieved when no country in the world had yet reached a 90 per cent vaccination rate.
‘Can I ask why you’re confident that we will get to 90 per cent when we’ve seen no country anywhere in the world reach that point?’ she asked.
Professor Blakely said countries such as Singapore, which has an 81 per cent double-dose rate, were on their way to reaching that figure.
‘I believe we will get there, but it won’t be overnight,’ he said. ‘It will be slower progress from 80 to 90 per cent than it has been so far.’
The new study claims social distancing rules will still be needed during 2022 to keep case numbers low, including mandatory mask orders, hospitality and office density limits and strict restrictions on the unvaccinated.
Pictured: A vaccination clinic in Broadmeadows, Melbourne on September 15. New modelling has claimed a state with the population of Victoria would still need to lockdown for 58 per cent of the year at 80 per cent double dose to keep the annual death rate below 1,000
However, researchers claim only at a 90 per cent full immunisation rate would the virus’s spread reach an acceptable level – about 190 Covid hospitilisations a year.
‘It’s inevitable in my view we will be vaccinating five-plus-year-olds before year’s end,’ Professor Blakely said.
‘You need as many people vaccinated as possible to try to dampen this virus down.’
Premier Daniel Andrews on Sunday announced Victoria’s roadmap out of lockdowns, before spending most of Monday justifying his planned cautious return to normality as the only way of opening up, while helping to avoid deaths and the risk of overwhelming hospital wards.
‘We have a game plan now,’ he said on Monday.
Epidemiologist Tony Blakely (left) said lockdowns could only be a thing of the past once 90 per cent of all Australians over the age of five are vaccinated – but his argument was questioned by Today show host Allison Langdon (right)
‘So people can find fault with the national plan, they can find fault with the roadmap, and all of that.
‘They’re blessed with not having to deliver all of these balancing acts and I’m happy for them.’
Victorian Pharmacy Guild president Anthony Tassone said 440 pharmacies in the state will receive the Moderna vaccine this week, and another 281 next week.
Pharmacies will now be administering AstraZeneca and Moderna.
Four police stations in outer Melbourne were closed to the public after six officers tested positive to coronavirus.
In the city centre, officers in riot gear had to quell a violent protest led by construction workers outside the CFMEU’s Melbourne headquarters.
Protesters called on the union to shut down the construction industry in defiance of new regulations that mean workers must have proof of their first vaccination by Friday.
But on Monday night the state government announced a shutdown of construction for two weeks from 11.59pm on Monday in metropolitan Melbourne and other Local Government Areas currently in lockdown.
‘We’ve been clear: if you don’t follow the rules, we won’t hesitate to take action – we have seen widespread non-compliance across the industry and that’s why we’re taking necessary steps to protect every single Victorian,’ Industrial Relations Minister Tim Pallas said in a statement.
A protest turned violent outside CFMEU headquarters in Melbourne, prompting the state government to shut down the entire industry
‘We put the industry on notice just a week ago, we have seen appalling behaviour on site and on our streets, and now we’re acting decisively and without hesitation.’
The government said all sites will need to demonstrate compliance with the Chief Health Officer’s directions prior to reopening including the requirement for workers to show evidence of having had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine before they return to work on October 5.
In the 24 hours to Monday, 50,915 tests were processed and 39,939 Victorians received a vaccine dose at state-run hubs.
The state’s roadmap out of lockdown was released on Sunday, detailing small changes to restrictions when 80 per cent of Victorians aged over 16 have received a single vaccine dose.
Melbourne’s lockdown will remain in place until 70 per cent of Victorians are double-vaccinated, which is forecast for October 26.
At that stage, the city’s curfew will be lifted, the travel limit will increase to 25km and hospitality can open outdoors for 50 fully vaccinated people.
A protester is pictured screaming in the face of police officers monitoring the rally on Monday (pictured) as the situation became increasingly heated
Once the 80 per cent double-dose target is met, forecast for November 5, the travel limit is scrapped, retail, gyms and beauty services will reopen for the fully vaccinated and hospitality will resume indoors.
Also under the plan, interstate and international travel can resume once 80 per cent of eligible residents are fully vaccinated.
The opposition and business groups have described it as ‘a roadmap with roadblocks’, saying the plan is too conservative when compared with NSW.
The roadmap is based on Burnet Institute modelling, which shows Victoria’s COVID-19 cases will peak at between 1400 and 2900 per day between October 19 and 31.