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MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2021
LOCKDOWN TO EASE COVID Latest Another death in Whittlesea
■ The Department of Health yesterday (Sun.) notified of seven deaths: ■ a woman in her 80s from Whittlesea ■ a man in his 80s from Mornington Peninsula ■ a man in his 80s from Darebin ■ a man in his 50s, a woman in her 60s, a man in his 70s, and a man in his 80s, all from Hume. This brings the total number of deaths in Victoria since the pandemic began to 963. The total number of confirmed cases in Victoria since the beginning of the pandemic is 65,605. Victoria announced 1838 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday. All were locally acquired cases. There are 23,376 active cases in Victoria. There are 777 COVID-19 cases in hospital in Victoria. 151 of those cases are in intensive care, with 94 cases on a ventilator. - Department of Health and local health professionals
■ Regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne will start to come out of COVID-19 restrictions from 11.59pm Thursday (Oct. 21). The moves were announced yesterday (Sun.) by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. “After an incredible effort from Victorians and record vaccination rates, Victoria is set to hit its 70 per cent double dose vaccination target in the Roadmap nearly a week early and significant restrictions are set to be eased,” Mr Andrews said. “Victoria’s Roadmap to Deliver the National Plan has set Victoria on a hopeful path to opening while preserving our health system and ensuring Victorians can still get the healthcare they need when they need it most. “The Roadmap was developed based on expert modelling from the Burnet Institute and is set against COVID-19 thresholds, including hospitalisation rates and the vaccination targets already set out in the National Plan to transition Australia’s National COVID-19 Response. “With our first dose vaccination rate at almost 90 per cent, Victoria will this week hit a significant milestone on the Roadmap, with 70 per cent of Victorians 16 years and over having received both their vaccine doses. “Because of this, Victoria’s Chief Health Officer has determined that at 11.59pm on Thursday October 21, Victoria will move forward in opening up and more restrictions will be eased,” MrAndrews said.
One of Yea’s finest
● Described in tributes as ‘one of Yea’s finest gentlemen’, the local community is mourning the passing of John Bett. He was known for many local interests including the Yea Agricultural, Pastoral and Horticultural Association (Show Society), the Rotary Club of Yea (twice President), Yea Pony Club, Yea Historical Society and other organisations. Photo: Rotary Club of Yea
COVID Latest Ahead of time
● Premier Daniel Andrews “With more than 3.5 million Victorians now fully vaccinated and having taken the necessary steps to protect themselves, their family, their friends and the entire community, Victoria is heading towards being one of the most vaccinated jurisdictions in the world. “Victoria has delivered more vaccines through our state-run hubs than any other state or territory in Australia. “These vaccination rates, in addition to revised Burnet modelling and lower than predicted length of stays in hospital mean further steps will be able to be taken at the 70 per cent double dose that were not previously outlined in the Roadmap, including visitors to the home and larger patron caps in certain businesses. “Up to 10 people (including dependents) per day will be able to visit homes in both regional and metropolitan Melbourne. “To ensure this is done safely, it’s highly recommended that Victorians only permit people aged 12 years and over who are fully vaccinated to visit them at home. “In metropolitan Melbourne, the curfew and the 15km travel radius will be lifted, however movement between regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne will only be allowed for permitted reasons. “This is to ensure Melburnians don’t spread the virus further into regional Victoria while we push to our 80 per cent double vaccinated target. “People in metropolitan Melbourne must continue to work from home if they can. Anyone on the authorised workers list is required to have had at least one dose of the vaccine in order to work on site. Childcare will be open to children who are already attending, as well as children whose parents or guardians are fully vaccinated. The return to school plan will also be brought forward in line with the rest of these settings, with the start of the staggered return of Grade 3 to Year 11 in metro Melbourne commencing on Friday (Oct. 22). ● Turn To Page 2
■ Lockdown (and the curfew) will lift in restricted areas across Victoria at 11.59pm Thursday (Oct. 21). For more information on eased restrictions across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria from this date, visit www.premier.vic.gov.au/victorians-hardwork-means-hitting-target-ahead-time or www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/victoriasroadmap For information on current restrictions in metropolitan Melbourne, visit www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/how-welive Vaccines On Saturday (Oct. 16), 38,977 vaccine doses were administered by Victoria’s statecommissioned services. The total number of doses administered through state-run services is 4,164,736. 89 per cent of Victorians aged 16 and over have now had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 65.5 per cent have had two doses. This excludes most recent Commonwealth data. New community pop-up vaccination sites will open this week offering walk-ups at the following locations: ■ Victorian Pride Centre, St Kilda ■ Queerspace, Drummond Street, Carlton ■ East Reservoir Senior Citizens Centre ■ Our Lady Guardian of Plants Chaldean Catholic Church, Campbellfield ■ Kingsbury Bowling Club ■ Craigieburn Sports Stadium ■ Fawkner Community Hall ■ Sacred Heart Mission, St Kilda ■ EACH Building, Yarra Junction ■ Bunjil Place, Narre Warren Victorians are encouraged to book their COVID-19 vaccination through their local GP or community pharmacy, community health service or state vaccination centre. To find a GP or pharmacy provider and make a booking, visit www.health.gov.au Outbreaks Of the 1838 locally acquired cases announced yesterday (Sun.), the following Local Government Areas in metropolitan Melbourne recorded more than one newly diagnosed case: ■ 23 cases in Banyule ■ 13 cases in Bayside ■ 18 cases in Boroondara ■ 102 cases in Brimbank ■ 41 cases in Cardinia ■ 251 cases in Casey ■ 33 cases in Darebin ■ 34 cases in Frankston ■ 18 cases in Glen Eira ■ 145 cases in Greater Dandenong ■ 24 cases in Hobsons Bay ■ 161 cases in Hume ■ 29 cases in Kingston ■ 20 cases in Knox ■ 17 cases in Manningham ■ 20 cases in Maribyrnong ■ 15 cases in Maroondah ■ 45 cases in Melbourne ■ 128 cases in Melton ■ 39 cases in Monash ■ 22 cases in Moonee Valley ■ 56 cases in Moreland ■ 15 cases in Mornington Peninsula ■ 13 cases in Nillumbik ■ 45 cases in Port Phillip ■ 12 cases in Stonnington ● Turn To Page 2