The COVID-19 resurgence in Victoria continues to worsen, with ten Melbourne postcodes back to full restrictions in an effort to keep the infections contained.
Having seen double-digit numbers in new cases over the past two weeks, even as the rest of the country prepares for patron restrictions to lessen to one person per two square metres, as per Federal Government announcement this week, the southern state stands poised for the possibility of further closures.
From midnight tonight the designated postcodes* have residents required to again stay indoors, only leaving for the former stipulated reasons of fetching daily essentials, exercise, caregiving or work or school.
Businesses in these areas have been re-closed, including pubs, and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews notes the public health advice says “this is what we must do”, warning if people do not adhere to the restrictions still more may need to be applied.
“If we do not do this now then I won’t be locking down 10 postcodes, I will be locking down all postcodes.”
On the eve of Victorian venues welcoming back up to 50 patrons, last week the cap limit of 20 persons was extended, giving operators gearing up for the increased trade just 48 hours to gear down again.
Venues can serve alcohol without a meal, but patrons must be seated and bookings are limited to groups of 10.
The recent spike has largely been attributed to spread within large families, gathering without socially distancing, and security guards at the Stamford Plaza Hotel in the Melbourne CBD and Rydges on Swanston Hotel in Carlton.
The security guards are contractors, but working under the direction of the Department of Health, bringing the office’s own practices into question.
“One hotel leaking out cases is maybe just bad luck, but two?” offered Tony Blakely, professor of epidemiology at University of Melbourne.
Victorian businesses and the Australian Hotels Association have pleaded a case for increasing the patron limits, given no pubs are known to have been involved in transmissions, but the latest development all but rules that out.
Police in Victoria can issue on-the-spot fines of up to $9,913 for businesses for ‘Refusing or failing to comply’ with emergency directions, a public health risk power direction, or a direction by the Chief Health Officer to provide information.
“Affected postcodes: 3012, 3021, 3032, 3038, 3042, 3046, 3047, 3055, 3060, 3064.