Victorians are likely to suffer many more weeks of gruelling coronavirus restrictions which threaten to decimate hospitality and small businesses.
The Victorian government is set to make a decision on whether to extend the state’s fifth gruelling Covid lockdown tonight, with policymakers and health officials waiting until the last minute to make the call.
But sources say that many restaurants will see no point opening under the new rules being discussed, including a possible return to a maximum of 50 customers inside.
Stay-at-home orders, brought in on July 16, are on track to end at 11.59pm on Tuesday as scheduled, but Premier Daniel Andrews has warned that a range of restrictions will need to remain in place.
Cabinet is still considering extending the lockdown for an extra three days but at this stage it appears the government will opt for what’s being called ‘lockdown lite’.
The Victorian government is set to make a decision on whether to extend the state’s fifth gruelling Covid lockdown tonight. Pictured: Protesters are seen marching in Saturday’s anti-lockdown demonstration in Melbourne
Policymakers and health officials waiting until the last minute to make the call on whether to extend lockdown. Pictured: A woman in pink wheels her bike past a large number of police at Melbourne’s anti lockdown protest on Saturday
‘The restrictions are going to be onerous for the next few months,’ a source told the Herald Sun.
‘It’s going to not be worthwhile for a lot of restaurants to open if what is being talked about goes ahead,’ another source said.
‘Not great news for Melbourne.’
While Victoria had 11 further infections on Monday, bringing the total active number of cases in the state to 190, all of the new transmissions were isolating and had not been in the community.
All 11 were also linked to known cases.
These vital statistics have put the Garden State firmly on track to get out of lockdown on Wednesday as scheduled.
But the Premier has previously warned tough measures are likely to remain in place until the state’s vaccination rate reaches 50 per cent.
Stay-at-home orders, brought in on July 16, are on track to end at 11.59pm on Tuesday as scheduled but Premier Daniel Andrews (pictured) has warned that a range of restrictions will need to remain in place
Victoria police are pictured in formation at Melbourne’s anti-lockdown protests on Saturday
‘On the data we have now, on the trend we have now, the strategy is working. We are well placed,’ the Premier said.
‘But we won’t go from five reasons to leave the home from midnight on Tuesday to do whatever you want, wherever you want,’ he said.
The ongoing restrictions being discussed would see schoolchildren return to the classroom this week with excursions, planned camps and events also set to be given the green light.
High level talks are already underway to open the doors of Victoria’s beloved hospitality venues with cafes, restaurants and bars looking likely to trade this week under the 4 person per sq/m rule with a cap of 50 patrons indoors.
Retail stores are also set to have the same restrictions, while outdoor community sports events will be capped at 100 people.
Under the new proposal face masks are expected to remain mandatory both indoors and outdoors as the highly contagious Indian Delta variant continues to wreak havoc north of the border.
One of the issues that could stand in Victoria’s way however is a potential rise in cases due to the anti-lockdown march which occurred in Melbourne’s CBD on Saturday.
More than 1,000 people flooded the streets flouting stay-at-home orders to protest Covid restrictions, with many more taking to the streets in Covid-ravaged Sydney.
A healthcare worker is seen outside of a pop-up Covid19 testing facility outside of the LaCrosse apartment block in Docklands, Melbourne, Sunday, July 25
Commenters walk along the Jim Stynes pedestrian bridge with face masks under their chins on Monday
The demonstrators were seen abandoning face masks and disregarding social distancing, raising concerns the anti-lockdown rally could act as a super spreader for Covid-19.
A final decision on whether Victorians will be released from lockdown is expected to be made on Monday evening.
‘As we made our position clear yesterday, we want to make sure that with restrictions ending tomorrow that we make that decision based on the most up to date and accurate of data and advice from our public health teams,’ Victoria’s Health Minister Martin Foley told reporters.
‘Nothing has yet been finalised but we are mindful of the need as soon as possible, as a decision has been made, to share that with the people of Victoria.’
One of the issues that could stand in Victoria’s way is a potential rise in cases due to the anti-lockdown march which occurred in Melbourne’s CBD on Saturday (pictured)
A final decision on whether Victorians will be released from lockdown is expected to be made on Monday evening. Pictured: Anti-lockdown protesters are seen in Melbourne’s CBD
Asked why authorities were holding off on making a decision, Mr Foley said: ‘Two days of zero cases in the community’ does not equate to ‘public health certainty’.
More than 25,000 test results were received in the 24 hours to midnight on Monday, while almost 14,000 vaccine doses were administered at state-run sites during the same period.
‘Over the past week, we’ve seen the day of our highest-ever testing numbers in Victoria and yesterday, we saw 25,000 plus tests returned,’ Mr Foley said.
‘That together gives us some further comfort that we know what is out there but we can only be sure if Victorians continue to come forward in such strong numbers.’
However, he urged residents with symptoms to continue to come forward for testing, particularly those from Melbourne’s northern and western suburbs where Covid fragments were detected in sewage between July 20 and 23.
The alert applies to the suburbs of Tarneit, Trinder nine, Glenroy Hadfield, Oak Park, Pascoe Vale, and Truganina.