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Victoria pauses lockdown easing as coronavirus cluster grows

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VideoFresh cases in Melbourne's northern suburbs alongside thousands of pending virus tests, could halt the city's plan to reopen

Victorians will have to wait longer to take significant steps out of COVID-19 lockdown as health authorities sweat over an outbreak in Melbourne’s north.

Premier Daniel Andrews withheld the easing of some restrictions on Sunday as the State awaits results of at least 1000 tests from the northern metropolitan outbreak.

He described it as a “cautious pause” to rule out there wasn’t widespread community transmission linked to the cluster.

“We had hoped today to be able to announce that metropolitan Melbourne would take significant steps, not from today but from midweek, around retail, hospitality and a whole range of other, important next steps,” Mr Andrews told reporters.

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A lone woman is seen crossing the usually busy Flinders Street, Elizabeth Street intersection.
Camera IconA lone woman is seen crossing the usually busy Flinders Street, Elizabeth Street intersection. Credit: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

“We are not in a position to do that today because we have at least 1000 test results from that northern metropolitan outbreak that are in the labs.”

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said there should be no barrier to Victoria opening up at that level of community transmission.

“We hope and commend to Victoria that the Commonwealth will support them in moving to those next levels of reduced restrictions in line with NSW,” he told reporters ahead of Sunday’s announcement.

“We have seen how a strong testing, tracing and isolation system can allow a state to manage through the challenges of this.”

No new deaths kept the state’s toll at 817 and the national figure at 905.

The all-important two-week rolling case average is at 4.6 for Melbourne, below the benchmark of five that Victorian authorities have coveted to trigger the next step out of lockdowns.

Former Health Minister Jenny Mikakos tweeted, “It’s time for some safe easing up of restrictions” after hitting the benchmark.

The regional average is at 0.2, while there are nine cases with an unknown source in the city.

The premier had earlier backtracked on previous indications of an easing of restrictions on Sunday after seven cases were also reported on Saturday.

His tone had been optimistic on Friday after reporting a single fresh case, saying Victoria was “very well placed”.

But 24 hours later the message had changed.

Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews leaves the daily briefing on October 23.
Camera IconVictoria Premier Daniel Andrews leaves the daily briefing on October 23. Credit: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

“I just want to caution people from banking that tomorrow I’ll be making a whole series of detailed announcements about opening up,” he said on Saturday.

The premier said tens of thousands of tests needed to be processed and the results taken into account before any decisions were made.

Mr Andrews indicated health authorities would not lock down the affected suburbs as had been done in the past but rather may delay the easing of restrictions for the whole city.

About 800 residents in Melbourne’s northern suburbs have already been isolating because of the East Preston Islamic College outbreak, which began when a family supposed to be isolating mistakenly sent a child back to school.

But Mr Andrews disputed media reports that the family, and others in the area for whom English is a second language, were not provided the translation support they needed.

“The notion that whenever something happens that ought not to happen, that is somehow a fundamental deficiency in our public health response is not fair,” he said.

More than 20,000 warnings have been sent via text and email to taxi and Uber drivers who might have visited the area, asking they go and get tested.

Health workers have been doorknocking homes and new drive-through testing sites are operating across three council areas in the northern region.

Further north, a number of secondary contacts at Sirius College in Broadmeadows and Ilim College are being tested after they were linked to separate close contacts of a confirmed case.

Melbourne residents are currently allowed to travel up to 25km from home. They cannot have visitors to their home unless for care-giving.

On-site hospitality and non-essential retailers remain closed.

Outdoor gatherings are capped at 10 people from two households and face masks must be worn in public.

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