OCTOBER 13, 2020 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
Lockdown limbo By Esther Lauaki
School’s back …again
(Supplied)
The western suburbs reached a positive milestone last week but hopes for significant easing of restrictions on businesses are fading as new COVID-19 infections persist. Retail, hairdressers, beauty therapists and outdoor dining were flagged to reopen with strict hygiene protocols under the third step in easing restrictions from October 19, if Victoria hit a rolling 14-day case average of five or lower, and fewer than five mystery cases in a fortnight. But the average lingered around 9.5 on Sunday – well above the metropolitan Melbourne target. Premier Daniel Andrews said restrictions could be eased from next Monday, saying the five-kilometre travel limit was among measures the government would consider lifting for metropolitan Melbourne. Bucking the trend last Thursday, covid-hotpots in the north and western suburbs reported zero new cases for the first time since March. An outcome that community health service Cohealth put down to a community-led response, a joint response from multiple community health services, and culturally specific health efforts. There was not a single new covid case in Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Hume, Maribyrnong, Melton and Wyndham. Cohealth chief executive Nicole Bartholomeusz said the success was due to community health providers’ approach of using community expertise and knowledge, developing tailored health information and providing support to make it possible to comply. “To have gone from 10 hotspot postcodes in lockdown across the north and west to now having zero new cases in all eight LGAs in that region is remarkable,” Ms Bartholomeusz said. Brimbank had 21 active cases on Sunday while there were still 17 active cases linked to an outbreak at Estia Aged Care Keilor East. “Community health quickly engaged a range of community members to be part of spreading health messages in language, distributing masks, helping people recognise symptoms, encouraging tests, and breaking down the stigma attached to the virus,” Ms Bartholomeusz said. “There are important lessons to be learnt from the progress in the north and west.
Kavita Andropoulos had mixed feelings about returning with her peers to the classroom this week as Brimbank’s VCAL and VCE students headed back to on-site learning. With the exception of a few weeks, students have been distance learning for most of the year as a result of the pandemic. Kavita, a school captain at Taylors Lakes Secondary College, is sitting her year 12 VCAL assessments in a week and says she is feeling quietly confident. “For me, all my classes were on Google teams and the only downfall was, with the science subjects, you couldn’t do any of the practical assessments so the school had to modify those for us. “I think my grades could be better but considering the circumstances, I think I’m on track.” She said that, unlike some of her peers, she did not struggle being separated from her classmates this year. “I know for a lot of my cohort, they relied a lot on social support, but for me, I developed personal growth and independence. “I got to spend a lot more family time and got to know myself a lot better.” Kavita is studying towards a future in criminology or forensics. She said she was trying to remain calm about her upcoming exams. Year 7 students joined their VCAL and VCE peers in metropolitan Melbourne for face-to-face learning from Monday this week, while years 8 –10 students will return from Monday, October 26. Esther Lauaki
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