Sunday 19 September, the Premier of Victoria Dan Andrews released the state’s road map out of lockdown.
“We are opening this place up, there is no alternative,” said Premier Andrews.
The Premier said that after the targets are reached, he would not look to lockdown to “protect people that have chosen to not protect themselves.”
“Once we reach 80 per cent double dose vaccination there will be no more lockdowns, we want to be able to have 30 people in your home for a Christmas function,” Mr. Andrews said.
The Premier emphasised that only by “vaccination will the state open sooner.”
“If by law no one who is unvaccinated can order a beer at the bar, then the one serving the beer needs to be vaccinated, it’s just rational,” Mr Andrews said.
Mr Andrews said the current modelling from the Burnet Institute suggest that Victorians will reach 80 per cent double dose vaccination by 26 October for all over 16 years old.
“We will probably reach 80 per cent single dose coverage by the 26th of September which will allow us to go out and catch up with a few friends, all the activity will be outdoor and there will be limits on how many people from each household can meet, similar to the picnic rules we have currently.”
Bars, pubs, restaurants, and venues will be open to the vaccinated once we reach the 80 per cent double vaccination target which on current modelling is set for October.
“Business will be required to only have vaccinated people on their premises, that will be a determination by the state government through the CHO, [Chief Health Officer, Brett Sutton], and only after the law has been instituted.
“If by law no one who is unvaccinated can order a beer at the bar, then the one serving the beer needs to be vaccinated, it’s just rational,” Mr Andrews said.
Mr Andrews said that a vaccine pass will be something that links the national database of those vaccinated with our current Victorian QR code. He said that “none of the data would be kept.” He did not see the vaccine pass for venues as something long term.
Neos Kosmos asked if the government in 2020 and the CHO determination to reach zero transmissions, may have undermined the state’s long-term preparedness for COVID19.
“We did not focus on reaching zero transmission, but we succeeded in suppressing the transmission and reached zero a number of times.
“Now we cannot suppress Delta which is much more infectious, and lockdown has been about getting 70 per cent and 80 per cent double vaccination.
“We have spent more than any other government on health, but we did not have vaccines, or the supply we needed last year,” Mr Andrews said.
Neos Kosmos asked if there was a shift in narrative, and if last year the government fixated on medical advice only and underestimated the length or lockdowns and their long-term effects on society.
“I have not been listening only to medical advice, I have listened to many groups, industry groups, communities, health professionals and others when making decisions to lock down.”
Mr Andrews warned of “acute stress in the medical system” and in line with Burnet Institute modelling that by December there is an expectation “of over 2500 in hospital with acute COVID 19 symptoms.”
Mr Andrews said, “as painful as the lockdown was, a health system in meltdown would be much worse.”
“You can have all the machines you want, but machines don’t treat patients, people treat patients. “Ultimately, you run out of people” he said.
The CHO Brett Sutton said opening is like “walking a tightrope” and likened the roadmap to a “slow and steady path.”
He accepted that there are “many other factors” such as “mental health, and loneliness.”
“I have said many times, there are only difficult choices to make,” CHO Brett Sutton said.
Pushed on mandatory vaccination the Premier said that “mandating vaccination is not a small thing” and that the “government would do that in reticence.”
Teachers and childcare workers will be on the list for mandated vaccinations, as will other “key sectors.”
Mr Andrews said that there are many AstraZeneca ready and that they are a good vaccination. He added that he was waiting for more Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for younger people.
“I don’t know anyone in their 60s who would take something off their grandchildren,” Mr Andrew said referring to the many AstraZeneca vaccinations available right now 60s and over.
Travel is on the cards after Victoria reaches the 80 per cent double vaccination. Mr Andrews dampened expectation by saying that it would “not be a free-for-all and it will depend on vaccination status” here, in other states and countries.
Mr Andrews said that as far as international travel it will depend on what the national plan calls “green lanes” with certain nations, such as New Zealand, Singapore and others who are deemed safe.
It as likely that interstate travel will resume also once the 80 per cent double dose vaccination rate was reached. Mr Andrews joked that he could “not guarantee that it would be the case with Western Australia”.
The premier was confident that we will get to 80 per cent double vaccinations “possibly before the conservative assumptions in the road map” based on the Burnet Institute modelling.
“I will remind everyone that last year the Burnet Institute modelling got it right,” said Mr Andrews.
Mr Andrews said that the roadmap was “hopeful document” based on the Burnet Institute modelling and emphasised the “modellers did not write this document.”