Victoria on edge as two new local coronavirus cases are detected just hours before premier is due to relax restrictions on masks and gatherings in homes – what will Dan Andrews do now?
- Victoria records two new Covid-19 cases after six days without any infections
- The new covid cases are both primary close contacts of pre-existing infections
- It comes before Daniel Andrews is expected to roll back a string of restrictions
Victoria has recorded two new locally acquired cases of Covid-19 just hours before a string of restrictions were set to be relaxed.
The new cases have ended the state’s six-day streak with no new infections.
Health authorities said the new infections are both primary close contacts of pre-existing cases and have been quarantining during their infectious period.
The cases were found amid more than 16,500 tests carried out in the last 24 hours with Victoria now having 17 active cases of Covid-19.
Victoria has recorded two new locally acquired cases of Covid-19 just hours before a string of restrictions were set to be relaxed
It comes as Premier Daniel Andrews was expected to roll back restrictions on masks and gatherings at homes and outdoors.
The rules are expected to return to how they were during Christmas time.
This could see masks only being made mandatory for indoor setting like shopping centres, supermarkets and on public transport.
Changes are also expected to be made to the amount of visitors people can have in their homes.
The current limit is at five but this could be bumped up to 30.
Health authorities said the new infections are both primary close contacts of pre-existing cases and have been quarantining during their infectious period (pictured commuters in Melbourne)
Only 20 people are allowed to gather together outside in the state but before Christmas this was at 50.
Mr Andrews is expected to make an announcement regarding the restrictions before midday on Friday.
It’s likely the restrictions won’t come into effect until midnight on Friday.
‘I will try to give people as much notice as possible and I will try to get the setting back as close to not New Year’s Eve but to Christmas,’ the premier said on Thursday.
‘There’s obviously lots of different options on the table, what we do and the time frame.’
Two weeks have passed since the Holiday Inn cluster which infected 22 people, including staff, those in quarantine and close contacts.
Limits on public gatherings are expected to be announced later on Friday but this could now be pushed back after two new coronavirus cases were recorded (pictured residents in St Kilda Beach)