Melbourne is under further, stricter lockdown and a curfew, as Sydney clusters bloom and masks become new normal for hospitality.
On Sunday Victoria recorded 671 new cases of COVID-19, taking the state’s total to 11,557. Another seven people have died in Victoria, bringing the national death toll to 201.
Last night, Premier Daniel Andrews said Victoria was entering a six-week State of Disaster, until at least Sunday 13 September, flagging changes to Public Health Orders in both metropolitan and regional areas.
The Stage 4 restrictions, which only apply to metropolitan Melbourne, dictate that from midnight yesterday all city residents must wear a face mask or covering when outside, or risk a $200 fine. (video below)
Melbourne’s curfew dictates no residents may be outside of their home between the hours of 8pm and 5am.
Businesses are being classified into three groups; supermarkets and food and beverage operations offering takeaway and home delivery classed as ‘business as usual’.
Other businesses will be told to operate at reduced output, while a third category of businesses will only be allowed remote workers. “If they can’t work from home, it won’t be done,” said the Premier.
Residents of Melbourne must not travel beyond five kilometres of home, with few exceptions.
Stage 4 restrictions see supermarket shopping limited to one person per household, per day, weddings are not allowed in metropolitan Melbourne and residents cannot go elsewhere in the state to get married, and recreational activities such as fishing, hunting, golf or boating are not permitted.
From midnight on Wednesday regional Victoria enters Stage 3 restrictions, keeping residents in their homes except for food and supplies, work or education, exercise and care-giving. There is no further curfew or radius restriction.
NSW venues continue to find strife, coming from either patron or the authorities.
On Friday Darlo Bar in Darlinghurst confirmed people who have since tested positive attended on July 26.
On Saturday Rockpool Group’s The Bavarian in Manly reported a patron with COVID-19 had attended the venue on July 24, urging visitors on that day to take heed. The venue underwent deep cleaning, reopening Saturday afternoon.
The cluster around Wetherill Park’s Thai Rock restaurant approaches 100 cases, the cluster out of Potts Point restaurants has climbed to 24, and over the weekend an 83-year-old man connected to the Crossroads Hotel cluster died.
Authorities from multiple government departments continue to police guidelines; on Saturday the Watsons Bay Hotel was fined $5,000 when patrons were found drinking while standing, and gaming machines were not distanced or disabled.
On Sunday NSW reported 12 new cases of COVID-19, on Monday 13 cases.
Health authorities have updated mask usage recommendations to include public-facing workers, worshippers and residents near known clusters as the dreaded community spread numbers rise.
“While most cases in the past week have been associated with local clusters and close contacts of known cases, seven in the past week have not been able to be linked to known cases,” announced NSW Health’s Dr Jeremy McAnulty on Saturday.
On Sunday Premier Gladys Berejiklian said NSW has not yet made public mask usage mandatory but that the situation in Victoria was certainly “cause for alarm”.
“We’re going to the next stage of assessing what else and how else we can decrease the risk and break the current chain coming through NSW.”
It is recommended masks are worn, particularly where social distancing is impossible, by public-facing workers in hospitality and supermarkets, as well as religious worshippers and residents in hot spots.
“The AHA NSW has immediately advised member hotels the NSW Government is now recommending hotel staff wear masks where they are not able to maintain an appropriate physical distance,” says AHA NSW director of liquor and gaming, John Green.
NSW Police Minister David Elliott reported nine fines were issued Saturday for breaches of restrictions.
“It beggars belief that anybody would turn on the TV news bulletin today and see what’s going on in Melbourne and want to breach the law in NSW,” he said.
Premier Andrews has cited further support to come for businesses in coming days, having spoken with PM Scott Morrison about the need for further safety net measures.
The Victorian Government previously outlined a $534 million support package for businesses. To date $63 million has been paid to 12,600 businesses by way of $5,000 cash grants.
Editor’s note: it is recommended home-made reusable cloth masks feature at least 2 layers and be washed after each use.