The spirit of euphoria returned to Melbourne since restrictions eased this week, ending one of the world’s toughest lockdowns after 112 days. People’s enthusiasm to embrace their new freedoms and make up for lost time, however, have sparked fears for another wave of COVID-19.
No sooner did restaurants open their doors that long queues formed outside with foot traffic back to 80 per cent of normal times.
Despite COVID-19 safe plans and strict controls at restaurants there are overly-long queues at retail stores with Kmart having introduced a booking system to deal with the crowds. There are fears that people are not socially distancing as much as they should be.
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Infections have dropped but the economic and social impact has been enormous in Melbourne with thousands of jobs lost and mental health services having surged by more than 30 per cent.
The situation is slowly being monitored as the ring of steel is set to be lifted on 9 November. Victoria’s state opposition submitted a scheme that would involve state government subsidising of the cost of regional holidays once statewide travel is announced. The plan would offer 50 per cent discounts to be capped at $200 in an effort to encourage people to stay in Victoria for their holidays and support tourism.
READ MORE: Midweek reopening for Melbourne retailers and restaurants may be possible
International flights
International flights are set to resume late November, according to recommendations of an interim report on Victoria’s failed hotel quarantine problem set to be released next Friday. The resumption of flights would allow thousands of Australians to return to their families for Christmas.
Victoria’s Premier Daniel Andrews said on Thursday, “We should be able to hit the target we agreed to at National Cabinet to have flights returning, people reunited with their families for Christmas. I think it is probably toward the end of November rather than the middle, I would think.”
International flights to Melbourne stopped in early July as COVID-19 spread through the city. Other Australian states are requesting a cap on arrivals to stop their quarantine systems from being overwhelmed, thus limiting the numbers able to enter Australia. There are currently 34,000 Australians struggling to get home from abroad.
The report on the hotel quarantine program due to have been released on 6 November will be released on 21 December due to additional evidence submitted after the inquiry’s hearings ended on 28 September.