SEPTEMBER 29, 2020 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
Licence tests resume
Learner Ebony Benger and Ron Perry.
Learner drivers in Moorabool can start clocking up the hours again. Testing was put on hold earlier this year in response to the coronavirus pandemic, but the easing of restrictions last week has meant learners can start booking in their tests. Roads Minister Ben Carroll said it was an exciting step for many eager drivers. “A driver’s licence opens up a world of possibility for people in regional Victoria – and we’re now in a position to safely resume testing so that they can access employment, study and other activities,” Mr Carroll said. “We’ll work through the backlog of appointments as quickly and safely as possible.” VicRoads will first clear the backlog of 5000 tests that had to be postponed in regional Victoria before new bookings are opened up, which is expected to occur in November. The Djerriwarrh Community and Education Services L2P program will also resume in Moorabool, with mentors from the community helping learners get their 120 hours of driving under safe conditions. Mentor inquiries: 8746 1000.
(Damjan Janevski) 216394_01
Ewen McRae
On the road to reopening By Ewen McRae The roadmap to COVID recovery is now clearer, with case numbers continuing to fall and a number of restrictions lifted this week. On Sunday, Premier Dan Andrews outlined the restrictions that would be eased as part of step two on the roadmap to reopening, including the end of the nightly curfew. On-site schooling will resume for VCE, VCAL and primary school students from October 12, while childcare will also reopen to all families in metropolitan Melbourne.
More than 127,000 workers will return to work, with increases to the capacity of food distributors, manufacturing and construction. Public gatherings are allowed outside with a maxium of five people from two households, more than one person can leave home for four essential reasons and outdoor weddings can resume with five people and the couple. “Seven weeks ago, our average case numbers were peaking at more than 400 every single day, today, Melbourne’s rolling case average is 22.1,” Mr Andrews said. “It’s a remarkable thing – and an achievement
that belongs to every single Victorian. “Because with grit and with guts and with heart – we are beating this thing.” Mr Andrews also announced that moves to the third and last steps of the recovery will no longer be defined by dates. Instead, the “trigger point” for review by the public health team will be based solely on reaching the case number targets. As of Sunday, Melton had just 31 active cases, while Moorabool had a single active case. New state Health Minister Martin Foley said he would work hard to ensure the current
state government measures continued to reap positive results. “I will be working every day with the outstanding public servants and health professionals and the people who bind the health system together,” Mr Foley said. “I will be working with all of those professionals to make sure that we suppress this virus, and that we then are in a position where we contact trace, we quarantine and isolate where we need, and we keep this virus at the lowest possible levels. “We are nearly there.”
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