We are no longer accepting comments on this article. This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. The messy family drama behind one of the world's biggest K-pop empires, as the state arrived at its 90 per cent vaccination target, Timely reminder: How to respond if you test positive to COVID-19. The Victorian Premier has spoken out after Queensland moved to make major changes to its drug laws. As of this date, the city was expected to be locked down until "late October". Victorias latest Covid rules have been labelled a shadow lockdown by the opposition which claims isolation rules, density limits and restrictions have smashed Melbourne businesses. The World Health Organisation declares the novel coronavirus to be a pandemic. He said the size of the fallcould not be fully accounted for by the hundreds of thousands of Victorians isolating as cases or close contacts. Multicultural groups are more reliant on different channels to get their health advice and may have different attitudes towards government and health officials. "I dont think it is fair to compare because every state has different circumstances at a different way of dealing with the virus. And please, do not leave your home unless it is absolutely essential.". Almost 2,700 passengers aboard the Ruby Princess cruise ship are permitted to leave the ship in Sydney without being tested for Covid-19. July 27, 2021 Victoria's fifth lockdown ends, but less than a week later, the state is plunged back into another long lockdown. Daily case numbers remain at tens of thousands in NSW and Victoria. But perhaps most frustrating was the news that the crew have not been cooperating with contact tracers who only today found out there were two trucks involved. Face masks are mandatory in all indoor settings in Victoria, except private homes,for anyone aged eight or over. The health department had been depleted over many years by both sides of politics and it clearly entered the pandemic under-resourced. postcodes 3038, 3064, 3047, 3060, 3012, 3032, 3055, 3042, 3021 and 3046 will go back into lockdown from July 2. Residents attending major events with more than 30,000 spectators will also have to wear a face mask. Premier Daniel Andrews has himself said there is no need to lockdown the Victorian capital for a seventh time once more than 90 per cent of the state's population has received both Covid vaccine doses. It would have been so easy to lose hope and stop complying with the tough restrictions en masse, especially as Victorians navigated their way through lockdown six, arguably the toughest to endure. In doing this, the objective is not to blame. Victoria recorded eight new cases on Wednesday, seven of them linked to a returned family and a crew of removalists, who both came into the state from NSW. National cabinet encourages wearing masks to combat COVID-19. Two years of having get a test drummed into you and then suddenly people are told not to get a test unless they fit certain criteria I found that really hard, he says. The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry's acting chief executive Scott Veenker said customer numbers were dwindling across hospitality and events sectors, and the surge in infections was also putting pressure on staffing. If the measure of success in responding to the pandemic is the amount of disease prevented and lives saved, Australia will undoubtedly be held up globally as an exemplar of best practice. Victoria on Thursday confirmed another 2,005 new infections and ten deaths - up from the 1,503 cases recorded on Wednesday. Context is important and needs to be factored into any critique. On Thursday the NSW premier will announce the policy reversal following Covid crisis talks with fellow state leaders and Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Vulnerabilities such as understaffing and inadequate training have been known for decades and were largely swept under the carpet. Victorians should work from home if they can. Daniel Andrews must end this shadow lockdown and stop imposing 2020 style restrictions on family run cafes, retailers, restaurants and businesses and must immediately provide the support needed for their survival.. 'Like a lockdown': in 2022, Australians are still feeling the fear and anxiety of Covid Most of the population is vaccinated and harsh restrictions have ended. Victoria's roadmap out of lockdown is announced. No wonder local councils and businesses are stepping in, initial challenges with the vaccine rollout, Associate Lecturer, Creative Writing and Literature, Lecturer / Senior Lecturer, Emerging Technologies, Committee Member - MNF Research Advisory Committee. Like everyone else, we just have to muddle through on our own.. People do not want to feel that you are judging them or saying that what they are doing is unsafe and it is not inherently unsafe, they just have different risk tolerance and different priorities than you, he says. Here we are in early January 2022 and it's a wet day today (Sunday) in Melbourne, even though it's summer. Under new testing changes, those who test positive on a RAT will be considered "probable" cases and must isolate immediately for seven days and notify their contacts. Will the UK go into another lockdown in 2022? Its a nightmare, she says. Around one third of businesses in Melbournes Chapel Street precinct have had to shut or reduce hours in recent weeks due to Covid-induced staff shortages. But on Wednesday night, a further case emerged from a school in Bacchus Marsh as well as reports of two additional cases that would bring today's number to 10. "We need to see the numbers decrease. NSW recorded 97 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. Up to five visitors to a household at any one time. When I have been asked for my opinion I have said that we will be free to have summer and then we will go back into lockdown in March. While resources were poured into the department to cope with the unprecedented demands during the pandemic and some structural changes were made most notably the creation of local public health units more work undoubtedly needs to be done. 'Masks have a very small individual cost for us,' he said. We already have this email. He said authorities estimated one in 20 Victorians aged in their 20s currently had the virus, compared to onein 50 Victorians of all ages. But as a wave of Omicron infections wreaks havoc across workplaces and the healthcare system, data suggests Victorians are voting with their feet and staying close to home. 24 people were infectious in the community. NSW on Thursdayrecorded 5,715 new Covid-19 cases - a daily record - and one death just two days before Christmas. "I need to find any cases that are out there to get them under control, and obviously we need to continue to work very closely with our red zone arrivals to make sure that these flying embers don't catch light again," Victoria's Covid-19 Commander Jeroen Weimar told reporters earlier on Wednesday. Mr Andrews did not appear at Thursday's Covid press conference but did briefly interrupt his holiday to attend Wednesday's national cabinet meeting. "These relatively mild restrictions are about making sure that activity can continue but in a less congregated and less active space.". National Cabinet agrees that the states will close: Melbourne distiller Gypsy Hub is the first (that we know of) to pivot to making hand sanitiser. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. Most of the population is vaccinated and harsh restrictions have ended. The Premier said it isn't "fair" to compare the two. Mr Merlino's NSW counterpartDominic Perrottet has refused to bring back a sweeping indoor mask mandate - despite many health experts recommending residents continue wearing the face coverings indoors. Melbourne spent more time in lockdown than any other city on Earth. In case you missed it, the Sydney removalists who carried the virus to an apartment block in the Melbourne suburb of Maribyrnong have not been as forthcoming as authorities would like regarding the details of their trip. How can I best get on with living my best life?, NSW expects Covid hospitalisations to peak next week. Mr Morrison told day that with the arrival of Omicron, and Australia's high vaccination numbers, the government's approach had "shifted gears". The new BA.5 variant is considered to be even more transmissible than previous Omicron variants. The above numbers came from the same article here. He said that was a breach of the conditions of their permit. This article was originally written on July 4, 2022 and has since been updated and fact-checked. NSW cases rise to 20,794 and Victoria jumps to 8,577 but PM vows Australia will NEVER go back into lockdown because infection numbers 'DON'T matter and Omicron can be managed like the flu' Living in Victoria the last couple of years has been really tough. So which ones are best? Life is about to get very difficult for the unvaccinated, Active Cases: serious or critical: 269 (0.1%). 'Please confirm what Muslim refers to': Why Ali's birthday payment for his nephew was flagged by his bank, These engineers break their silenceafterdecade of criticism overBrisbane2011 flood handling, Kade was a fit 31-year-old when he died from a heart attack, Sherpa are world famous for their work, which is synonymous with their name. 'Wear a mask in an indoor setting. Test yourself with this Cockney Rhyming Slang quiz. 2022 was supposed to be different, but It feels exactly like there is a lockdown. Almost everyone has a pre-existing condition, Cooper says. Phoebe says her social circle has split in two: those who have had Covid and are now feeling invulnerable for 30 days despite warnings that earlier reinfection is possible and those who are curbing social activities to try to avoid it. Multilingual Australia is missing out on vital COVID-19 information. His wife was the second. August 5, 2021 Victoria. Victorian premier Dan Andrews announces that only two people may gather outside unless they are members of a household, as well as the only four reasons people are permitted to leave home: NSW health minister Brad Hazzard announces that there are 16 reasons to leave home in NSW. People queue at a walk-in Covid testing site in Melbourne. However, the real story of the response to COVID in Australia is messier. The thought of lockdown again is what is giving me a lot of anxiety and a lot of dread it scares me, says Melbourne man James Burke. "Were very keen to make sure we get a very firm grip of this as soon as we possibly can.". For me the risk is too high, she says. Victorian Liberal deputy leader David Southwick said the restrictions had placed increased pressure on businesses. The Victorian government cancels the F1 Grand Prix, hours before the event. "This is a hard lockdown. The affected LGAs areWoollahra, Waverley, Randwick, and the City of Sydney, including the CBD. Victoria's health minister hasn't ruled out mask mandates or work-from-home rules after the state's pandemic powers were extended for another three months. 'Please confirm what Muslim refers to': Why Ali's birthday payment for his nephew was flagged by his bank, These engineers break their silenceafterdecade of criticism overBrisbane2011 flood handling, Kade was a fit 31-year-old when he died from a heart attack, Sherpa are world famous for their work, which is synonymous with their name. Ms Berejiklian said the impact of some of the more recent changes wouldn't be known for at least a few more days. The 'winter shot': Everything you need to know about getting your next COVID-19 booster, If you catch COVID again, will your symptoms be worse? The risk is too high: Ashleigh Cooper, who is disabled and immunocompromised, went into self-isolation two weeks ago. These include the reasons listed in Victoria, in addition to things like attending weddings or funerals. The government chose not to bring in those changes at the time, arguing their introduction could hurt businesses and potentially undermine public confidence in the government's pandemic response. He added that the government was encouraging dance floors to be closed. This is how the news unfolded on Wednesday. That's a higher turnout than the first day last year, when 17,922 attendees were recorded. Under the testing change, those who test positive on a RAT will be considered "probable" cases and must isolate immediately for seven days and notify their contacts. "Going to be so mad if we get sent into our fifth lockdown because of a Sydney removalist who wasn't wearing a mask," Choice journalist Jarni Blakkarly tweeted. "The number that would worry us in the last 24 hours is the 24 number. Omicron variant of coronavirus led to huge spike in cases over New Year but has since subsided, prompting Boris Johnson to drop social restrictions . A new test, the rapid Antigen test which can be done at home has become available. Some people are going to get chronic illness from that, and we are in our 20s, she says. Two years of mostly home schooling has given his youngest child, who started kindergarten in 2020, social anxiety, and his older child had a panic attack at the prospect of returning to face-to-face learning. To access medical care or provide caregiving. A crew of infectious removalists from Sydney transited through Victoria last Thursday, visiting households in Craigieburn and Maribyrnong, and coming into contact with two families of four. He also feels the loss of the sense of collective action which, for some, underscored the long lockdowns of 2020 and 2021. What does is Victorians got vaccinated at a rate that surpassed all expectations. Here's everything we've learned from Melbourne's polarising e-scooter trials. As we reach the end of 2021 and cast our eyes towards 2022, we can begin to imagine what life in the post-pandemic world might look like. Lockdown orders end for Sydney's northern beaches. Face masks are required at all major events with more than 30,000 people. Two months ago, Premier Daniel Andrews said Victorians could expect a summer filled with the "normality we've all craved" due to the state's strong vaccination coverage. Barbera says he is still struggling to come to terms with a health policy that expects and accepts that hundreds of thousands of Australians will get Covid, after two years where a handful of cases would send the city into lockdown. The Department of Transport's figures show public transport usage steadily rose through December to hit 83 per cent of February 2020 levels before crashing to 32 per cent. The outbreaks that devastated the aged-care sector during the second wave in Victoria were desperately sad. Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news, events, offers and partner promotions. Density limits will be reintroduced in Victoria from 11:59pm and it will become mandatory to reportpositive rapid antigen test results to the health department, in response to the state's surging Omicron outbreak. Density limits of one person per 2 square metres will be introduced indoors at hospitality venues and entertainment venues. Victoria goes into lockdown for the sixth time. Melburnians pictured outside Melbourne Town Hall on December 22. It's quieter on our roads, butthe timing of an Omicron wave during the state's summer holidays can make the picture complicated. These were exposed in all their awfulness during the pandemic. But for the 40 people Guardian Australia spoke to, it doesnt feel like its over. We should absolutely acknowledge that [lockdown] was bad and a lot of people suffered, but a lot of people are also alive now because of it, she says. On the same day, three men in NSW also test positive for coronavirus. "The reason why we want to provide that 2-week period at least is so that parents who are teaching children or supervising children from home know that unfortunately for an additional two weeks at least their children will need to learn from home.". Victorians are anxiously waiting to see if they will be plunged into yet another lockdown, as the state government weighs fresh restrictions amid a worrying rise in Covid-19 cases brought in from NSW. It's relentless," she tweeted. Dr Chant said it was imperative that everyone takes the current restrictions seriously. , to be implemented by state governments: a ban on non-essential indoor gatherings of 100 or more people (including staff); a ban on outdoor gatherings of 500 or more people to continue in place; people only consider travel when it is essential; strict visitation rules for aged care facilities including a limit of two visitors a day and preferably no children under 16 years of age; social distancing measures of 1.5 metres; and. Its relentless. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. National cabinet encourages wearing masks to combat COVID-19. This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. "In regards to the balancing of economic, social, mental health, cultural and just family reasons, that was the appropriate decision," he said. It felt like, have we given up?. There are other signs, too, that highlight a shift in focus from enjoying the freedoms of a reopened economyto navigating the pressure causedby the rapid rise in Omicron cases. On 26 September at 11:59pm, the 7 day Geelong and Surf Coast lockdowns ended as scheduled, but Mitchell Shire's lockdown was extended with no end date set. While session tickets were capped at 50 per cent last week, the opening day saw 25,206 attendees on Monday. Mr Merlino said from 11.59pm on Thursday face coverings would once again be mandatory for patrons at cafes, restaurants and pubs in a bid to stem the spread of the Omicronvariant. Guardian Australia journalist Melissa Davey said there was "no way (the Victorian government) will delay any restrictions they think are needed given the way Delta is spreading in NSW". The areas of concern are Fairfield local government area, Roselands, Rosebury, Canterbury, Belmore, Sutherland shire, the St George area, Windsor, St Ives, Penrith and Bayside local government area," she said. The pandemic has highlighted the vital role public health plays in keeping the community safe and healthy, so it needs adequate resources in future. Asked if the removalists had been deliberately evasive, Mr Weimar said: "They're not being deliberately forthcoming, let me put it that way.". How did it come to this? COVID 19 11:26am Jun 4, 2022 Sydneysidersare restricted to 5km of home. Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. The state recently reintroduced low-level restrictions in the wake of Omicron, including mask wearing indoors, density limits on hospitality and the banning of indoor dance floors. Melbourne, Victoria could go back into Christmas lockdown . Victoria goes into lockdown for the third time. Around her, in the suburbs of Melbourne, Covid cases are soaring. The 78-year-old man had been a passenger aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship and was the first WA resident to test positive for the disease. Over at worldometers we find some different numbers: The question is what has changed in the past few weeks to have led to this large increase in cases? Of the new cases, 60 were isolation throughout their infectious period, seven cases were in isolation for part of their infectious period and 24 were infectious in the community. NSW has recorded 97 new Covid-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. "We will know at the end of two weeks to what extent we need to extend the lockdown, whether there is any chance of face-to-face schooling. The local government areas of Fairfield, Liverpool and Canterbury-Bankstown are still areas of concern for NSW health officials. Authorities confirmed seven cases were linked, Covid rule that was an atrocious mistake. Its a story repeated in every Australian state, except Western Australia. Victorians are furious at the way Covid was spread from Sydney to Melbourne and are anxious about the prospect of a fresh lockdown as new cases emerge tonight. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. Partly empty shelves in Sydneys inner west caused by Covid-induced supply chain issues. 30 Aug, 2021, 08.26 AM IST 250 held in Australia anti-lockdown protests Personally, I feel better with accepting that Covid is an ongoing issue. Don't have an account? "I am highlighting that the risk is ever present and remember, what I'm reading you today is what has happened overnight so tomorrow, there might be different sites," Dr Chant said. It is very strange to watch the rest of the world say we will go out and it will be fine and we will get sick and it will be fine. We hit the streets of Sydney and find the normally bustling metropolis completely empty. It's what young people do and we don't begrudge them that," he said. We reflect on what we've learnt after 100 days of lockdown in Melbourne. The Victorian Premier has fired back after being accused of putting the state in shadow lockdown through new Covid restrictions. Some wouldn't survive. But will it be safer for women? Two years [living in a pandemic] is very different to five years when you only get three good months every year.. The announcement of the restrictions comes a fortnight after density limits and the closure of indoor dancefloors were recommended by the Chief Health Officer as the state headed towards Christmas and New Year celebrations. Theres still high chances of new variants. The government and health authorities failed to control infections among returned travellers spreading to hotel quarantine workers and beyond. Timelines of Melbourne's lockdown - Since the pandemic began The timeline This basic timeline provides start and end dates along with COVID-19 cases for each of the six lockdowns Melburnians have faced since the pandemic began Lockdown One: 43 days BEGAN: March 30, 11:59pm ENDED: May 12, 11:59pm of the novel coronavirus. All of which makes me wonder if we are heading towards a summer lockdown. His mother's pitiful public apology. PETER HITCHENS: Now we know for sure that our leaders lost their heads over Covid. Almost everyone who spoke to Guardian Australia said they would feel more comfortable moving around if they had access to free, readily available rapid antigen tests. "That is the number, the 24 number is what we need to get down to is close to zero as possible," she said. In the early part of the pandemic, the amount of effort needed to reach these groups was underestimated. This is an additional 14 days on the previous directions. Interactive map reveals when you may see SNOW. "Clearly, what were saying is particularly in greater Sydney, I have said openly that if you have had your AstraZeneca shots, over four weeks ago, contact your GP and talk about bringing the second dose forward from the 12 week mark to around 6- eight weeks," she said. The first Covid-19 vaccine doses are administered in Australia. Help keep family & friends informed by sharing this article, How a 21yo man with the code name 'Svyat' smuggled residents past Putin's private army, Anna called police to report an assault, but they took out a family violence order against her. Many health experts advocated for the development of purpose-built quarantine facilities and Victoria was a comparatively early adopter, yet we still dont have a facility in operation. "If you're fully vaccinated then your life will be back to normal, you'll be able to enjoy all of the things that you have yearned for and miss and desperately worked so hard for," Mr Andrews said as the state arrived at its 90 per cent vaccination target. Until today I had not thought that that was a serious option, now Im reconsidering. University of Melbourne mobility analyst Rohan Byrne said mobility in Melbourne had "plummeted" to its lowest point since the last lockdown, even compared to previous holiday seasons. The comments below have not been moderated. Victoria's Chief Health Officer has declared that from tonight the lockdown restrictions will be strengthened and extended in metropolitan Melbourne, until 11.59pm on Thursday, 2 September. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. They may also have more extensive family and community networks that arent in the minds of health officials when laying down a one-size-fits-all set of rules. I have adjusted to living a more sheltered life and enjoy being in my house, running the same route, cycling the same loop, doing the Wordle, going to bed on time, she says. By 9News Staff 9:31am Jan 3, 2022 Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said the days of lockdown are gone, even as daily COVID-19 case numbers continue to escalate across the country. Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews has issued an ominous warning as the southern state prepares to come out of lockdown. With that in mind, lets look at what went right, and wrong, in Victoria amid the pandemic so far. My husband is working overtime, heaps of chefs and [front-of-house staff are] unwell or close contacts, and there is no support.
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