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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2021
COVID Latest 11 cases in Mitchell, 2 deaths in W’sea
■ Victoria announced 1903 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday (Mon.). All were locally acquired cases. There are 22,327 active cases in Victoria. There are 851 COVID-19 cases in hospital in Victoria. 155 of those cases are in intensive care, with 103 cases on a ventilator. The Department of Health was notified of seven deaths yesterday: ■ a man in his 50s from Brimbank ■ a woman in her 60s and a man in his 90s from Whittlesea ■ a man in his 70s from Baw Baw ■ a woman in her 70s from Moreland ■ a woman in her 80s and a woman in her 90s from Casey This brings the total number of deaths in Victoria since the pandemic began to 970. The total number of confirmed cases in Victoria since the beginning of the pandemic is 67,457. Restrictions From 11.59pm Thursday (Oct. 21), nonhousehold primary close contacts who are fully vaccinated will only need to quarantine for seven days. For more information, see https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/safeand-sensible-isolation-changes-we-hit-70cent For more information on eased restrictions across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria from this date, visit https:/ /www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/victoriasroadmap Vaccines On Sunday (Oct. 17), 32,405 vaccine doses were administered by Victoria’s statecommissioned services. The total number of doses administered through state-run services is 4,197,152. 89.2 per cent of Victorians aged 16 and over have now had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 66.5 per cent have had two doses. New community pop-up vaccination sites will open this week offering walk-ups at the following locations: ■ Victorian Pride Centre, St Kilda ■ Queerspace, 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 1,903 locally acquired cases announced on Sunday (Oct. 17), the following Local Government Areas in metropolitan Melbourne recorded more than one newly diagnosed case: ■ 22 cases in Banyule ■ 12 cases in Bayside ■ 13 cases in Boroondara ■ 149 cases in Brimbank ■ 31 cases in Cardinia ■ 188 cases in Casey ■ 59 cases in Darebin ■ 41 cases in Frankston ■ 16 cases in Glen Eira ■ 158 cases in Greater Dandenong ■ 36 cases in Hobsons Bay ● Turn To Page 2
INDI YOUTH CLIMATE CALL
● Dr Helen Haines, Indi MHR, pictured yesterday in Federal Parliament. Young people aged between 14 and 24 from ■ Federal MHR Helen Haines spoke in the House of Representatives yesterday (Mon.) all corners of Indi, wrote the speech. “I was proud to read a speech written by about Indi’s youth demanding climate action. young people in my electorate in Parliament Indi's youth demand climate action “The Indi Youth Advisory Panel has asked today, to express their raw emotion and ensure me to deliver this speech also as part of the they were heard,” Dr Haines said. “It was confronting for me to read these Raise Our Voice Australia campaign,” Dr words, and that is part of what makes it so imHaines said. “Young people in Indi face various barriers portant for them to be heard – young people in to education. We need more resources, fund- regional Australia are scared and want action on climate change, and the people in power need ing, and support. We need more help. “This is just one of the ways we fear our to pay attention.” “As young people some of our earliest memofuture is challenged, and Government inaction on climate change is only exacerbating those ries surround the impacts of climate change, with extreme temperatures provoking catafears. “During the Black Summer Bushfires, Rhia, strophic weather events,” the young people at 16 years old, travelled back and forth to school wrote. “We are facing yet another summer, scared in Mount Beauty wondering if their home would of a day when the wind is in the wrong direcstill be standing at the end of the day. “As young people some of our earliest memo- tion, or the temperature is one degree too high. ries surround the impacts of climate change, We need to reach net zero emissions yesterwith extreme temperatures provoking cata- day.” The speech expressed desperation and a call strophic weather events. “We are facing yet another summer, scared for urgent action. “You say it is too complex for us to underof a day when the wind is in the wrong direction, or the temperature is one degree too high. stand, but it is really quite simple: we need policy We need to reach net zero emissions yesterday. changes and we need them now, because we “We need ambitious policies that give us are staring down the barrel of our future.” the speech by the young people of Indi said. hope! Dr Haines read the speech by the young “We are grieving a future that you are dismantling before our eyes. We are angry. We are people of Indi on the same day she seconded sick and tired of empty gestures and reckless the Climate Change Bill introduced by Zali Steggall, Member for Warringah . policy. The target is for Net Zero emissions by 2050 “You say it is too complex for us to understand, but it is simple: we need policy changes, to be put into legislation. Dr Haines also made and we need them now, because we are staring amendments to the Bill to protect regional Australia. down the barrel of our future. The Climate Change Bill introduced to Par“Mr Deputy Speaker, these are the voices liament yesetrday includes a regional economic of some young people in my electorate.” Helen Haines delivered a speech in Parliament safeguard mechanism, that requires the new Cliwritten by young people in Indi on Monday, ex- mate Commission to make sure that regional pressing their fear and anger over inaction on Australia secures an equitable share of the economic benefits of a net zero transition, inserted climate change. The speech was developed as part of a cam- by Dr Haines. It also includes a regions-first clause that repaign to bring the voices of young people to Parliament and increase the representation of quires the Climate Commission to implement a diverse groups, run by Raise Our Voice Austra- strategy to maximise the economic benefits for lia. More than 60 MPs and Senators are taking rural and regional Australia in the transition to net zero. part in the campaign. - Sally Whyte The Indi Youth Advisory Panel, made up of
Local News Vale ‘Phar Lap’
● Phil Orth ■ Condolences are being extended to the family of Phil Orth, who passed away yesterday (Mon.). The Yea man was known throughout the community, including sporting interests such as local football and racing circles. The Local Paper joins with the community in extending its sympathies to family and friends on their loss. - Ash Long
Wollert park opens
■ The newly-upgraded Bellavista Park in Wollert is now open. The updated playground now includes a fun-filled multi-level play unit with slides, rope bridge, monkey bars, mini climbing wall and rope ladder, perfect for toddlers through to school-aged children. The popular park also includes new picnic settings and nature play features made from refurbished timber recycled from the old playground. Bellavista Park is located on Bellavista Drive in Wollert. - Whittlesea Shire Council
Close contacts
■ There are currently more than 61,300 Coronavirus active primary close contacts in isolation in Victoria. At 12 Monday yesterday (Mon.), there were around 120 published exposure sites in Victoria. There may be occasions when the Department of Health is unable to make contact with a business or residential premises before their listing as an exposure site. At all times, it takes the decision of when to publish these sites in the interests of public health. The Department regularly manages exposure sites that it doesn’t publish online, particularly if these sites represent lowerrisk exposure, or if they have comprehensive record-keeping and contact-tracing measures, or if they identify small, private locations – including smaller apartment or townhouse complexes. For more information, refer to www.health.gov.au/resources/collections/ coronavirus-covid-19-common-operatingpicture - Local health professionals