2022 was supposed to be different, but It feels exactly like there is a lockdown. Victoria's health minister hasn't ruled out mask mandates or work-from-home rules after the state's pandemic powers were extended for another three months. Mr Morrison told day that with the arrival of Omicron, and Australia's high vaccination numbers, the government's approach had "shifted gears". The government and health authorities failed to control infections among returned travellers spreading to hotel quarantine workers and beyond. Dr Chant said it was imperative that everyone takes the current restrictions seriously. "But generally, for that ordinary day-to-day travel, be that to a workplace or to a friend's house or family, that travel is no longer happening. National cabinet encourages wearing masks to combat COVID-19. Victorians should work from home if they can. On the same day. Its a nightmare, she says. The lockdown covers only Melbourne and an area to the north called the Mitchell Shire. Victoria enters lockdown for the fourth time. "This is a hard lockdown. These include the reasons listed in Victoria, in addition to things like attending weddings or funerals. The thought of lockdown again is what is giving me a lot of anxiety and a lot of dread it scares me, says Melbourne man James Burke. The Herald Sun reports the state government is holding high-level meetings this afternoon to weigh up whether to reimpose restrictions across Melbourne, with an announcement expected as early as Thursday. . ABC host Patricia Karvelas said Melbourne residents were "on high alert again". Covid-19 was first detected in Australia on January 25, 2020. But of course we are not living in normal times, everything, including the flu, is now politicised. She was appointed as an independent advisor on the AstraZeneca covid vaccine advisory group, Australia. As of this date, the city was expected to be locked down until "late October". This is clearly one of the biggest failures of the Victorian public health response to the pandemic, and was the catalyst for the devastating second wave in Victoria. More than two years old, we've passed another grim milestone: 10,000 people have now died of Covid-19 in Australia. A new 'veloway' is welcome news for Melbourne's cyclists. For most, the threat posed by Covid has eased 92.4% of Australians over the age of 16 are fully vaccinated, and 18% have also had a booster shot. The state government put Melbourne into its second lockdown in early July after cases exceeded 100 cases per day. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. Couples who don't live together are permitted to visit in Victoria. But maybe Im wrong. The first person in Australia to die of Covid-19 dies in a Western Australia hospital. More than 10,000 Australians have now died of Covid-19. Many issues quickly became clear, such as the understaffing of aged-care centres and infection control practices, along with the lack of the proper accountability by government for these facilities. The pandemic has highlighted the vital role public health plays in keeping the community safe and healthy, so it needs adequate resources in future. He owns a series of ecotourism huts in the New South Wales Blue Mountains and lost the 2020 summer holidays to bushfires and 2021 to coronavirus. Sydney temporarily reintroduces mask-wearing and imposes limits on visitors to the home. More than 90 per cent of those who had a positive RAT result, ended up with a positive PCR test, he said. 20 infections in the community at this time is not what I would like to be seeing. It was no surprise for those of us familiar with the Victorian health department that at times it struggled to cope during the pandemic. Now that has ended too. Northcote woman Phoebe* is also feeling a sense of arrested development. While session tickets were capped at 50 per cent last week, the opening day saw 25,206 attendees on Monday. There are confirmed positive cases on board at the time, and 130 people test positive within a week. Over at worldometers we find some different numbers: The question is what has changed in the past few weeks to have led to this large increase in cases? of the novel coronavirus. Murdaugh is heckled as he leaves court, Ken Bruce finishes his 30-year tenure as host of BBC Radio 2, Isabel Oakeshott clashes with Nick Robinson over Hancock texts, Alex Murdaugh unanimously found GUILTY of murder of wife and son, Dozens stuck in car park as staff refuses to open gate for woman, Missing hiker buried under snow forces arm out to wave to helicopter, Two Russian tanks annihilated with bombs by Ukrainian armed forces. The 'winter shot': Everything you need to know about getting your next COVID-19 booster, If you catch COVID again, will your symptoms be worse? Highpoint shopping centre has also emerged as an exposure site, with anyone who attended between on Friday night between 10am and 2pm urged to get tested. He said the size of the fallcould not be fully accounted for by the hundreds of thousands of Victorians isolating as cases or close contacts. A fortnight ago on December 23, Victoria reported 2,005 new cases. It's relentless," she tweeted. 'People have come forward to get tested in record numbers, which is important to help keep people and the community safe, but we need to make sure our testing clinics are there for people who really need it,' Mr Perrottet said. Sydneysiders who live alone are permitted to establish a 'single's bubble' with a friend. How did it come to this? COVID-19 Victoria 2022: The mood in Melbourne in another COVID winter National Victoria Coronavirus pandemic This was published 3 months ago Measuring Melbourne's mood as the city weathers another COVID winter Neil McMahon July 16, 2022 7.52pm Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Which somehow seems fitting as things being out of order seems to be the way things are with Covid. "I dont think it is fair to compare because every state has different circumstances at a different way of dealing with the virus. Help keep family & friends informed by sharing this article, How a 21yo man with the code name 'Svyat' smuggled residents past Putin's private army, Anna called police to report an assault, but they took out a family violence order against her. When asked about that decision today, Mr Foley said "most of those recommendations" were turned into orders, such as the rules around face masks. But will it be safer for women? The government is also looking at providing free rapid antigen tests to help curb the spread of the virus as well as relieving pressure off medical workers. The Premier said it isn't "fair" to compare the two. Melbourne exits its sixth lockdown, after 263 cumulative days. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), abc.net.au/news/victoria-melbourne-covid-shadow-lockdown-cbd-mobility/100753496, Help keep family & friends informed by sharing this article. 'Because Victorians went out and got vaccinated in record numbers, it means that we are not considering going into lockdown and this is the commitment that we gave to the people of Victoria,' he said. The Premier also hinted that parts of Regional Victoria may be able to exit lockdown "before next Tuesday if it is safe to do so." The new BA.5 variant is considered to be even more transmissible than previous Omicron variants. SBS reporter asked Ms Berejiklian if she was seeking advice from the Victorian government given they are the only other state that have dealt with an outbreak of this size, which they supressed with hard lockdown rules. Prime Minister Scott Morrison this week urged states not to re-introduce mask mandates, saying Australians should by this point in the pandemic know when and when not to wear a face covering. Chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant called out a number of suburbs of concern, highlighting the need for high rates of testing. His wife was the second. It's quieter on our roads, butthe timing of an Omicron wave during the state's summer holidays can make the picture complicated. NSW has meanwhile suffered its worst day of the pandemic with 5,715 new Covid-19 cases. Its been revealed when Australia will experience the next Covid surge, but one state is expected to reach its peak much sooner than the rest. Almost everyone who spoke to Guardian Australia said they would feel more comfortable moving around if they had access to free, readily available rapid antigen tests. log in. I have adjusted to living a more sheltered life and enjoy being in my house, running the same route, cycling the same loop, doing the Wordle, going to bed on time, she says. A new test, the rapid Antigen test which can be done at home has become available. "We're still doing things like we're going to the park, we're going to the beach on hot days, you can see that very clearly," he said. Revealed: The top 10 fastest-growing destinations for UK pensioners retiring overseas. Every single one of us was double-vaccinated as soon as we were eligible but we are not eligible yet for a booster. Melbourne has endured the world's longest cumulative time in lockdown, . They may also have more extensive family and community networks that arent in the minds of health officials when laying down a one-size-fits-all set of rules. He said authorities estimated one in 20 Victorians aged in their 20s currently had the virus, compared to onein 50 Victorians of all ages. Under new testing changes, those who test positive on a RAT will be considered "probable" cases and must isolate immediately for seven days and notify their contacts. 24 people were infectious in the community. Two months ago, Premier Daniel Andrews said Victorians could expect a summer filled with the "normality we've all craved" due to the state's strong vaccination coverage. Victoria's fifth lockdown ends, but less than a week later, the stateis plunged back into another long lockdown. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. Mr Foley said there was "nothing wrong" with seeing family and friends at cafes and restaurants but said it was safer to meet outdoors. We need to get that down to is close to zero as possible," she said. There are a number of issues we won't know until we have further data," she said. On Thursday the NSW premier will announce the policy reversal following Covid crisis talks with fellow state leaders and Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Daniel Andrews must end this shadow lockdown and stop imposing 2020 style restrictions on family run cafes, retailers, restaurants and businesses and must immediately provide the support needed for their survival.. Register, Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout. Under the testing change, those who test positive on a RAT will be considered "probable" cases and must isolate immediately for seven days and notify their contacts. Worried. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. NSW recorded 97 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. NSW announces more of its restrictions will ease, allowing people in the state to: Then-NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian announces that from July 1, the following will be allowed: Victoria announcespostcodes 3038, 3064, 3047, 3060, 3012, 3032, 3055, 3042, 3021 and 3046 will go back into lockdown from July 2.