Originally published at Upon Hope. "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 NSW government cancels all major events of more than 500 people. 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. Far fewer know their real story. While session tickets were capped at 50 per cent last week, the opening day saw 25,206 attendees on Monday. 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. This is how the news unfolded on Wednesday. Worried. We hit the streets of Sydney and find the normally bustling metropolis completely empty. #CovidVic. of the novel coronavirus. Cooper is disabled and immunocompromised. I know and understand that this is challenging and there is no family that has not been touched by that over the last few years and certainly many touched by that over the last few weeks and months, he said. , 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. It's relentless," she tweeted. "This is systematic, mass, stay-at-home behaviour, the likes of which we usually see during deep, organised stage four-style lockdowns," he said. The new BA.5 variant is considered to be even more transmissible than previous Omicron variants. NSW recorded 97 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. 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. Follow our Covid live blog for the latest updates, a disease is less devastating if most of its victims are people who have pre-existing conditions, since ordered $62m worth of rapid antigen tests. 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. I do not want to get Covid.. How did it come to this? Infections peaked about a month later, before beginning to fall. Revealed: The top 10 fastest-growing destinations for UK pensioners retiring overseas. 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. The messy family drama behind one of the world's biggest K-pop empires, as the wave of infections sends staff into isolation at the same time COVID-19 patients are growing, Victorian hospitalisations surge to 631 as state records nearly 22,000 new infections, Timely reminder: How to respond if you test positive to COVID-19. Its a story repeated in every Australian state, except Western Australia. Oct. 22, 2021. 'Think of Christmas Day when you're going to see elderly relatives, and wear a mask it's pretty simple.'. Victoria enters its fifth lockdown . 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. On Friday 7th January 2022, 21,728 cases were recorded in Victoria, However at 9.18am on Saturday 8th January 2022, the Victoria Department of Health twitted out that the number of new cases was 51,356. 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 pandemic has highlighted the vital role public health plays in keeping the community safe and healthy, so it needs adequate resources in future. The state government put Melbourne into its second lockdown in early July after cases exceeded 100 cases per day. 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. All times AEDT (GMT +11). Sydneysidersare restricted to 5km of home. 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. In the past fortnight none of my patients have gone to ICU. This is clearly a very rapidly moving situation. It remains to be seen how this unofficial lockdown will affect the Australian Open, which has only just begun in Melbourne. Mr Byrne said mobility at the moment was roughly equivalent to the 2020 period before Melbourne moved from stage threeto stage fourlockdown. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), abc.net.au/news/covid-restrictions-tighten-in-victoria-to-slow-spread-of-omicron/100741342. 'Providing rapid-antigen testing kits for those who want to do the right thing will help take the pressure of our testing clinics, while giving people confidence to get on with their lives.'. On the same day, three men in NSW also test positive for coronavirus. "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. Many like Cooper have gone into self-isolation to protect themselves or a vulnerable loved one. Whats the price that we are willing to pay in order for people to be able to go and have brunch? "And they're going to disagree whether that's employers or family members or friends when you go to cancel a social engagementbecause you don't want to go out and catch Omicron. The first Covid-19 case was detected in Australia on January 25, 2020. Pictured are Melbourne Demons fans during the AFL Grand Final in Perth on September 25. The bigger question of course will be whether we ever need to rely on hotel quarantine again or whether we have learned the more important lesson about how unsuitable hotels are for containing infectious diseases. People in Melbourne start putting teddy bears in their windows for children to find on daily exercise walks. Personally, I feel better with accepting that Covid is an ongoing issue. He added that the government was encouraging dance floors to be closed. Victoria goes into lockdown for the sixth time. 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. 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. Victoria announces tough new lockdown measures, including the 5km rule and an overnight curfew. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. "We need to see the numbers decrease. Melbourne spent more time in lockdown than any other city on Earth. Hannah*, a vision-impaired support worker in Melbourne, says the 2021 lockdowns left her feeling emptied out. Mr Foley said there was no plan to introduce another lockdown. A near-deserted Bourke Street in the Melbourne CBD on October 20. Covid-19 case numbers are on the increase across the state with 2,005 new infections and ten deaths reported on Thursday. 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! Sydney temporarily reintroduces mask-wearing and imposes limits on visitors to the home. Victorian Covid-19 testing head Jeroen Weimar said four of the new cases on Wednesday were linked to the Ariele apartment complex. 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. Sydneysiders who live alone are permitted to establish a 'single's bubble' with a friend. Mr Foley said there was "nothing wrong" with seeing family and friends at cafes and restaurants but said it was safer to meet outdoors. In the early part of the pandemic, the amount of effort needed to reach these groups was underestimated. Vulnerabilities such as understaffing and inadequate training have been known for decades and were largely swept under the carpet. COVID in Victoria: 262 days in lockdown, 3 stunning successes and 4 avoidable failures Published: December 16, 2021 2.11pm EST Hassan Vally Associate Professor, Deakin University Catherine. There are many venues who have given feedback that they are not at 100 per-cent capacity and havent been for quite some time, he said. The health department had been depleted over many years by both sides of politics and it clearly entered the pandemic under-resourced. Everyone is trying (and failing) to make sourdough. The government is also looking at providing free rapid antigen tests to help curb the spread of the virus as well as relieving pressure off medical workers. A new 'veloway' is welcome news for Melbourne's cyclists. His mother's pitiful public apology. PETER HITCHENS: Now we know for sure that our leaders lost their heads over Covid. Other business owners say they are finding this summer more difficult than previous seasons because there was no financial aid available. Until today I had not thought that that was a serious option, now Im reconsidering. 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. Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the number NSW health officials are concerned about is how many people are spending time in the community while infectious. The Victorian government cancels the F1 Grand Prix, hours before the event. With daily case numbers in the tens of thousands, NSW health officialsand Victorian authorities are cautiously optimistic that the state has passed the peak of the current Omicron outbreak. 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. decided it didn't want to go into . 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. Over 800 people died of COVID during Melbournes second wave in 2020, many of them aged-care residents. And our society will be all the worse for it. However, the real story of the response to COVID in Australia is messier. It is up to individuals to determine and manage their own risk. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. 5 https://t.co/RbnwQRfFF0, In Melbs we are on high alert again. Victoria asks (but does not mandate) people to wear masks in public for the first time. I would not be fine I had my booster shot last week and was severely unwell for five days. This resulted in the state being able to emerge from the final lockdown five days ahead of schedule and the return of freedoms so desperately desired. 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. Don't have an account? To access the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Victoria, visit the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Victoria website or call the 24-hour Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398. The deputy premier said the changes were 'modest measures' that would protect the state's health system from the recent surge in infections. Dr Chant said it was imperative that everyone takes the current restrictions seriously. Melburnians pictured outside Melbourne Town Hall on December 22. The risk is too high: Ashleigh Cooper, who is disabled and immunocompromised, went into self-isolation two weeks ago. The only thing different now and previous lockdowns is Daniel Andrews has left small businesses to fend for themselves by not provided the support needed at this crucial time, he said. The Australian government has since ordered $62m worth of rapid antigen tests. This from tonight's CHO report in Victoria: Wastewater detections in Geelong BEFORE the Sydney removalists crossed the border. Melbourne exits its sixth lockdown, after 263 cumulative days. 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. Lydia Napoli also works in hospitality in NSW. 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. "And that trend is something that we're seeing all across the city.". Some email providers try to silence us. Residents attending major events with more than 30,000 spectators will also have to wear a face mask. 'People have come forward to get tested in record numbers, which is important to help keep people and the community safe, but we need to make sure our testing clinics are there for people who really need it,' Mr Perrottet said. Local lockdown orders are reinstated in the northern beaches. When it comes to responding to a pandemic, however, this presents its challenges. I cannot stress this enough that everyone needs to take it seriously as hard lockdown," she said. Victoria on Thursday confirmed another 2,005 new infections and ten deaths - up from the 1,503 cases recorded on Wednesday. postcodes 3038, 3064, 3047, 3060, 3012, 3032, 3055, 3042, 3021 and 3046 will go back into lockdown from July 2. The local government areas of Fairfield, Liverpool and Canterbury-Bankstown are still areas of concern for NSW health officials. Here's everything we've learned from Melbourne's polarising e-scooter trials. Thomas Barbera says his friend groups have done the same, and it has caused some uncomfortable conversations. The Department of Health in Victoria has revealed "two unexpected detections of COVID-19 viral fragments" in wastewater around Geelong. Victoria adds 'outdoor recreation' to the reasons to leave home, allowing picnics for the first time since July. They have a terrific impact on transmission - that is as true for Omicron as for any variant.'. The fact this didnt happen should make Victorians extremely proud. Melbourne, Victoria could go back into Christmas lockdown . NSW has recorded 97 new Covid-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. 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. Some wouldn't survive. She still cant smell or taste anything and several of her friends remain unwell. 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.