The NSW government cancels all major events of more than 500 people. Massive gas tanker crashes in Maryland and EXPLODES into fireball killing the driver and setting local What will the next pandemic be? Whether the period spent in lockdown and the desire to do anything it took to avoid more of the same was a motivating factor, or whether there were other reasons for this, does not really matter. Local lockdown orders are reinstated in the northern beaches. While we should celebrate what went right, its much more important we look fearlessly at what could have been done differently. Sydneyis released from lockdown on 'freedom day'. "We really are all in this together and the data proves it.". And they lost control in just two weeks.. A man who had flown from Guandong, China, to Melbourne on January 19, 2020, tests positive for Covid-19, becoming Australias first confirmed case. "Feeling tense. The Sydney suburb of Avalon records an outbreak of Covid-19, after NSW had gone 12 days with zero community transmission. Vulnerabilities such as understaffing and inadequate training have been known for decades and were largely swept under the carpet. "This is a hard lockdown. Thanks for subscribing! Many like Cooper have gone into self-isolation to protect themselves or a vulnerable loved one. Register, Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) for the 6th January 2022, the most recent data available, Australia has the following statistics: So according to these figures, more than 10% of all cases in the past two years were found in one day! . This is clearly a very rapidly moving situation. 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. With that in mind, lets look at what went right, and wrong, in Victoria amid the pandemic so far. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. A new 'veloway' is welcome news for Melbourne's cyclists. Victoria's 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 first Covid-19 vaccine doses are administered in Australia. This from tonight's CHO report in Victoria: Wastewater detections in Geelong BEFORE the Sydney removalists crossed the border. In the past fortnight none of my patients have gone to ICU. 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. Density limits of one person per 2 square metres will be introduced indoors at hospitality venues and entertainment venues. Mr Foley said "such high levels of transmission" meant Victorians had to "coexist" with the virus. Restrictions were the same as Melbourne, but . Australia's two largest states have kicked off 2022 with record COVID cases - while others have opted to change restrictions. The rest of Victoria goes back into lockdown, as Sydney restrictions ease further. Kakadu National Park rangers in war against feral animals as populations boom, Shoe polish stands begin to vanish, lose their shine, A Nazi-hunting nun, an accused murderer, a theatre legend: This Australian actor plays them all, Macron says no 'double standards' between Ukraine and Africa as Congo leader urges France to back sanctions against Rwanda, They can be cheeky, nippy, and playful but these camels are also helping put a business on the map, Neurodivergent children are three times more likely to drown than their peers this class is working to change that, Mooney's Aussies humbled in Gujarat loss in WPL opener, A sea of colour as WorldPride takes over Sydney Harbour Bridge. 20 infections in the community at this time is not what I would like to be seeing. Despite the efforts of the Victorian Aged Care Response Centre, a new unit specifically formed to bring these outbreaks under control, hundreds of elderly people died unnecessarily. 'Masks have a very small individual cost for us,' he said. Of the 2200 businesses on the strip, around 30 per cent have had to temporarily close, shorten their trading hours or their number of trading days. Thats no-ones fault, it is the nature of this virus and people are making their own choices, to not go out as much as they might have., To join the conversation, please 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 As a sole trader, Chigwin wasnt eligible for government support in earlier rounds. "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.". 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. Regardless of your political stripes, or whether you felt all of the calls Victorian health authorities made were always the right ones, no one can doubt the commitment of the government and health authorities to get Victoria through the pandemic, and to communicate with Victorians. This is more than simply a language issue. 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. Pictured: Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton. "These relatively mild restrictions are about making sure that activity can continue but in a less congregated and less active space.". We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. You can find Tuesday's blog here. Victorians should work from home if they can. Victoria goes into lockdown for the third time. 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. It may be a new year but the lies and the fight against them goes on! With the lockdowns extending into the 2022 financial year, we will no doubt be assisting with working from home tax deductions in the 2022 financial as well. 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. 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. How did it come to this? 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. We already have this email. "We're still doing things like we're going to the park, we're going to the beach on hot days, you can see that very clearly," he said. The Herald Sun reports the state government is holding high-level meetings this afternoon to weigh up whether to reimpose restrictions across Melbourne, with an announcement expected as early as Thursday. A leading Australian infectious disease expert has ripped into one of the most draconian measures enforced during the pandemic. He said while there were rules and density limits in place for businesses, it was likely the public had changed its behaviour during the current outbreak. More than 2000 people who attended an MCG match between Carlton and Geelong on July 10 are also on alert after the game was attended by an infected person. Im double vaxxed and feeling like, what was the point? When it comes to responding to a pandemic, however, this presents its challenges. Covid-19 case numbers are on the increase across the state with 2,005 new infections and ten deaths reported on Thursday. Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. How can I best get on with living my best life?, NSW expects Covid hospitalisations to peak next week. These key charts will show if thats happening, NSW Covid update: health officials increasingly confident cases will plateau next week, Unions say exemption to allow Covid-positive people to work at SA meatworks sets dangerous precedent, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. It was no surprise for those of us familiar with the Victorian health department that at times it struggled to cope during the pandemic. Many others say they have chosen to go back into something resembling lockdown until their children can be vaccinated or until the outbreak peaks. Fronting up to press conferences day after day and answering all of the tough questions was important for many reasons. 5 https://t.co/RbnwQRfFF0, In Melbs we are on high alert again. He added that the government was encouraging dance floors to be closed. Australia has one of the most powerful passports in the world. Join the conversation, you are commenting as. 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. 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. Prime Minister Scott Morrison this week urged states not to re-introduce mask mandates, saying Australians should by this point in the pandemic know when and when not to wear a face covering. Mr Andrews did not appear at Thursday's Covid press conference but did briefly interrupt his holiday to attend Wednesday's national cabinet meeting. Premier Dominic Perrottet had last week scrapped the QR check-ins for 'low risk' venues such as retail and kept them in place for 'high risk' settings like gyms and pubs. The outbreaks that devastated the aged-care sector during the second wave in Victoria were desperately sad. But maybe Im wrong. There are confirmed positive cases on board at the time, and 130 people test positive within a week. It will also be mandatory to report the positive RAT result to the Department of Health through an online form or by phone, in areporting system the government said would go live on Friday. To access medical care or provide caregiving. The Ukraine war may be a battle for the global order but whose rules are we fighting for? So which ones are best? I do not want to get Covid.. Among the potential exposure sites are a major Melbourne shopping centre and an AFL game. It remains to be seen how this unofficial lockdown will affect the Australian Open, which has only just begun in Melbourne. Asked if the removalists had been deliberately evasive, Victoria's Covid-19 Commander Jeroen Weimar said: "They're not being deliberately forthcoming, let me put it that way.". Melbourne 12:10pm Jun 8, 2022 Shanghai neighbourhoods return to lockdown Multiple neighbourhoods in Shanghai were placed back under lockdown only a day after city-wide restrictions were lifted, as China's stringent zero COVID-19 strategy continues to haunt the financial hub. You don't need to be forced to do it,' he said. Premier Daniel Andrews on Thursday defended the restrictions and current isolation rules, saying it was saving many thousands of people from ending up in hospital. He said the lockdown, which had "sort of emerged organically", would also bring with it different levels of anxiety, uncertainty and confusion for some people. Any one of these things could have led to the increase in numbers, together they are leading to big numbers. 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. Victoria on Thursday confirmed another 2,005 new infections and ten deaths - up from the 1,503 cases recorded on Wednesday. The state's health systems are under growing pressure, as the wave of infections sends staff into isolation at the same time COVID-19 patients are growing. The affected LGAs areWoollahra, Waverley, Randwick, and the City of Sydney, including the CBD. But for the 40 people Guardian Australia spoke to, it doesnt feel like its over. NSW on Thursdayrecorded 5,715 new Covid-19 cases - a daily record - and one death just two days before Christmas. 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. Sydney Aquarium staff bring their dogsto the closed aquarium to see the fish. Sign notifying customers that rapid antigen test (RAT) kits are sold out. Friday will finally see the entire state of Victoria exit lockdown after. You are not even fielding inquiries its school holidays in January, thats not right.. A further two cases were family members of Ariele apartments residents and one case was believed to have been infected at Coles in Craigieburn where a family returning from a red zone were not isolating. Time Out rebrands as Time In worldwide to bring our readers ways to connect with their cities and support urban culture without leaving home. July 27, 2021 Victoria's fifth lockdown ends, but less than a week later, the state is plunged back into another long lockdown. This is kicking off very quickly. Kakadu National Park rangers in war against feral animals as populations boom, Shoe polish stands begin to vanish, lose their shine, A Nazi-hunting nun, an accused murderer, a theatre legend: This Australian actor plays them all, Macron says no 'double standards' between Ukraine and Africa as Congo leader urges France to back sanctions against Rwanda, They can be cheeky, nippy, and playful but these camels are also helping put a business on the map, Neurodivergent children are three times more likely to drown than their peers this class is working to change that, Mooney's Aussies humbled in Gujarat loss in WPL opener, A sea of colour as WorldPride takes over Sydney Harbour Bridge. Premier Peter Gutwein said with a highly vaccinated population Tasmania would not be heading into lockdown or closing its borders because of the climbing case numbers. Asked if the removalists had been deliberately evasive, Mr Weimar said: "They're not being deliberately forthcoming, let me put it that way.". Interactive map reveals when you may see SNOW. A Victorian-based consultant told Guardian Australia they were still receiving commercial rent relief until this week. "The number that would worry us in the last 24 hours is the 24 number. August 5, 2021 Victoria. 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. are permitted to leave the ship in Sydney without being tested for Covid-19. More than 90 per cent of those who had a positive RAT result, ended up with a positive PCR test, he said. NSW recorded 97 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. log in. He said that was a breach of the conditions of their permit. Victoria on Thursday confirmed. However, the real story of the response to COVID in Australia is messier. They just want an indication from governments both state and federal that they will be supported and able to easily access tests and healthcare as the outbreak, and any new variants to come, rolls on. The Victorian Premier has fired back after being accused of putting the state in shadow lockdown through new Covid restrictions. Context is important and needs to be factored into any critique. "We are will have to vaccinate again against Covid and will have further advice about boosters but in the context of an outbreak, what we want to do is give people the advice so that they are protected.". Mr Foley said there was "nothing wrong" with seeing family and friends at cafes and restaurants but said it was safer to meet outdoors. Sydney temporarily reintroduces mask-wearing and imposes limits on visitors to the home. The World Health Organisation declares the novel coronavirus to be a pandemic. 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. Up to five visitors to a household at any one time. Melbourne exits its sixth lockdown, after 263 cumulative days. There are a number of issues we won't know until we have further data," she said. 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. worldwide to bring our readers ways to connect with their cities and support urban culture without leaving home. The anxiety of past outbreaks has been replaced with anger at state and federal governments, and a growing sense of despair that the pandemic will not end, at least not any time soon. But will it be safer for women? On Thursday the NSW premier will announce the policy reversal following Covid crisis talks with fellow state leaders and Prime Minister Scott Morrison. The fragments were detected as early as July 4 in the Geelong suburbs of Breakwater, Clifton Springs, Curlewis, Leopold, Drysdale, East Geelong, Moolap, Newcomb, South Geelong, Thomson and Whittington. They have a terrific impact on transmission - that is as true for Omicron as for any variant.'. COVID-19 Victoria 2022: The mood in Melbourne in another COVID winter National Victoria Coronavirus pandemic This was published 3 months ago Measuring Melbourne's mood as the city weathers another COVID winter Neil McMahon July 16, 2022 7.52pm Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The Department of Health in Victoria has revealed "two unexpected detections of COVID-19 viral fragments" in wastewater around Geelong. Some email providers try to silence us. 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. So which ones are best? For most, the threat posed by Covid has eased 92.4% of Australians over the age of 16 are fully vaccinated, and 18% have also had a booster shot. The state government put Melbourne into its second lockdown in early July after cases exceeded 100 cases per day. Mr Byrne said a "shadow lockdown" was a fair description for the situation. While session tickets were capped at 50 per cent last week, the opening day saw 25,206 attendees on Monday. As of this date, the city was expected to be locked down until "late October". Ms Berejiklian said authorities will know by the end of this two week extension whether the lockdown will need to be even longer. Two years [living in a pandemic] is very different to five years when you only get three good months every year.. Housing policies favour the rich and leave first home buyers high and dry. But Deputy Premier James Merlino said the state government was not considering adding to the world-record 262 days Melbourne has spent in lockdown since the pandemic began. A man who had flown from Guandong, China, to Melbourne on January 19, 2020, tests positive for Covid-19, becoming Australias first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus. Living in Victoria the last couple of years has been really tough. Worried. Victoria indisputably went through the toughest ordeal of any state in the country. "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. "It is very difficult to compare apples and oranges given the Delta strain and along the lockdown period in Victoria. Victoria goes into lockdown for the sixth time, are permitted to establish a 'single's bubble, More than 10,000 Australians have now died of Covid-19. 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. 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". As the virus. On 28 September, the Latrobe Valley went into lockdown for 7 days. People queue at a walk-in Covid testing site in Melbourne. Published: 01:28 GMT, 23 December 2021 | Updated: 03:32 GMT, 23 December 2021. Its relentless. The reintroduction of density limits, mask mandates and other restrictions has also meant consumers are most hesitant to shop, keeping vital dollars way from local businesses. "I think they are a 2020/2021 iteration," he said. It's hard to believe that while Australia was so focused on the bushfires that raged in the early part of 2020, another threat was already on our shores one that would change the way we live and work for years. "I dont think it is fair to compare because every state has different circumstances at a different way of dealing with the virus. Until today I had not thought that that was a serious option, now Im reconsidering. Australia has been the most locked-down country since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, but residents are growing frustrated with cases still rising. Victoria will not be sent back into lockdown despite a surge in cases linked to the hyper-contagious OmicronCovid strain, the state's deputy premier has vowed. 'Wear a mask in an indoor setting. of the novel coronavirus. A controversial media star and politician says there is no point in maintaining his political ambitions. It's quieter on our roads, butthe timing of an Omicron wave during the state's summer holidays can make the picture complicated. 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. "This is systematic, mass, stay-at-home behaviour, the likes of which we usually see during deep, organised stage four-style lockdowns," he said. "We need to see the numbers decrease. But the state as a whole has been sealed off from neighbouring New South Wales and South Australia. Ms Berejiklian said the impact of some of the more recent changes wouldn't be known for at least a few more days. The ship is later linked to up to 900 infections of Covid-19. 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. 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. For the most vulnerable people, the only way to manage this risk is to retreat. There's no Victorian COVID-19 lockdown, but Melburnians are choosing to stay home anyway By Joseph Dunstan Posted Tue 18 Jan 2022 at 11:16am, updated Tue 18 Jan 2022 at 4:38pm Even though lockdowns have officially ended, central Melbourne remains quiet as Omicron cases surge. Victorian Acting Chief Health Officer Ben Cowie said it would be likely that come January 10, Victoria's testing system would have diagnosed "more people than it did for all of 2021". So for me, right now, I am seeing the light.. When asked about that decision today, Mr Foley said "most of those recommendations" were turned into orders, such as the rules around face masks. The three new cases are all believed to be linked to the apartment building where the removalists worked without face coverings. decided it didn't want to go into . 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. The Premier said it isn't "fair" to compare the two. The lockdown covers only Melbourne and an area to the north called the Mitchell Shire. Mr Merlino said Victorians should also now work from home if they can and urged hospitality venues to switch to a seated-only service to reduce transmission. 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' Here's how likely you are to get it more than once, Charting the COVID-19 spread: Australia passes 10,000 coronavirus deaths, Self-help author Marianne Williamson launches primary challenge against Joe Biden for 2024 Democratic nomination, Chinese migrants walked a gruelling 500km to Victoria's goldfields in the 19th century. And please, do not leave your home unless it is absolutely essential.". 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. Its all just exhausting., Karen McVean, a Melbourne-based remedial massage therapist, has chosen a different approach. '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. These were exposed in all their awfulness during the pandemic. So it's going to be in some ways [it will be]more stressful for a lot of people.". Victorians are anxiously waiting to see if they will be plunged back into lockdown after a worrying spike in Covid-19 cases today. NSW announces more of its restrictions will ease, allowing people in the state to: Then-NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian announces that from July 1, the following will be allowed: Victoria announcespostcodes 3038, 3064, 3047, 3060, 3012, 3032, 3055, 3042, 3021 and 3046 will go back into lockdown from July 2. Australian government frontbencher Simon Birmingham told the ABC on Friday that demand for testing, from both PCR and rapid tests, had been far in excess of what has been modelled in Australia and all around the world. Far fewer know their real story. Deputy Premier James Merlino urged hospitality venues to switch to a seated-only service to reduce transmission. the song became the world's best-selling hit of 2022 . 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. Up to 20 people at an indoor funeral or 30 for an outdoor funeral; and, Attend places of worship and attend a funeral with up to 49 others; and. It now feels as though it is going to define parts of my life trajectory where I was hoping it wouldnt, she says. A new test, the rapid Antigen test which can be done at home has become available. Worried. The residents of Melbourne have spent more days in lockdown 262, to be precise than people anywhere else in the world. Couples who don't live together are permitted to visit in Victoria. In the midst of the ongoing pandemic, some individuals in Australia have still managed to avoid contracting Covid-19. Multilingual Australia is missing out on vital COVID-19 information. To go on holiday, particularly interstate, people have been required to get tested. "But if you are in certain areas where you know you are in even greater risk, as low as four weeks is acceptable. People who have had their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine are being urged to get their second dose as soon as four weeks after, rather than waiting the usual 12 weeks. What does is Victorians got vaccinated at a rate that surpassed all expectations. The comments below have not been moderated. Melbourne spent more time in lockdown than any other city on Earth. Are we set to have a third lockdown for 2021. The jump in cases in NSW - which is nearly 2,000 more than the 3,763 infections reported on Wednesday - comes after a major backflip on restrictions in the state with millions once again required to check into venues via QR codes. More than 10,000 Australians have now died of Covid-19. Victorians displayed enough collective adhesion to the strict public health orders that were in place to make those orders effective. What have we learnt since then? 'Think of Christmas Day when you're going to see elderly relatives, and wear a mask it's pretty simple.'. She was appointed as an independent advisor on the AstraZeneca covid vaccine advisory group, Australia. Face masks are required at all major events with more than 30,000 people. Premier Gladys Berejiklain said its "very difficult" to compare the current situation in Sydney to the situation experienced by Melbourne last year. Its been revealed when Australia will experience the next Covid surge, but one state is expected to reach its peak much sooner than the rest. "In regards to the balancing of economic, social, mental health, cultural and just family reasons, that was the appropriate decision," he said. Dr Chant said it was imperative that everyone takes the current restrictions seriously. Victoria asks (but does not mandate) people to wear masks in public for the first time. 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.