Victoria began the month with the lowest tally of new COVID-19 cases since July. There were 70 new coronavirus cases overnight and five deaths.
With figures slowly dropping the focus is on exiting the crisis and opening up the state again.
Victoria’s Premier Daniel Andrews said yesterday that the “roadmap” out of COVID-19 restrictions will be presented on Friday.
There has been talk of a “traffic light” system for businesses to open up with a red, orange and green light system. Red goes to businesses which will remain closed, orange will mean a partial lifting of restriction and green businesses and spaces will open up with normal social distancing measures to apply.
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Mr Andrews said that details would be given once these were settled, but also warned about opening the state too soon given that COVID-19 infections were now trending down.
On Sunday, Australia’s Treasurer Josh Frydenberg criticised Mr Andrews of not having presented a clear plan for transition out of lockdown which is due to end on 13 September. “We’re only two weeks away from the end of the so-called stage four restrictions, and businesses are in the dark as to how they will get their workers back and their doors open,” Mr Frydenberg told Sky News.
Stage four lockdown measures have left Victorian businesses languishing and unemployment benefits in the state have jumped by 7.2 per cent since the end of June.
The state also noted a slump in household spending.
Federal Parliament resumed on Monday and Jobkeeper and Jobseeker payments are being discussed with plans to extend these but also reduce the amounts.
Jobseekers are expecting a blow to their current welfare payments at around 25 September, just a couple of weeks after stage four restrictions end in Melbourne.
It is expected that 2.3 unemployed people, single parents and students in the nation will be affected by the reductions as the allowances could be cut by $300.