Roadmap out of lockdown announced

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has unveiled the roadmap out of lockdown as infections in the state are expected to keep rising in the coming weeks according to the modelling Health Authorities are conducting.

Most of Victoria will be seeing restrictions ease but from tonight, Geelong, the Surf Coast and the Mitchell Shire will re-enter lockdown for seven days due to increased cases in the region.

“These past 20 months have been incredibly hard on all Victorians. We have missed our loved ones and doing the things we love, all the while buying time for people to get vaccinated,” Premier Daniel Andrews said.

“Opening up too soon – before people had the chance to get the jab – would mean our hospital system simply could not cope and catastrophic numbers of Victorians would become seriously unwell,” Mr Andrews added, stressing that as more and more Victorians get that protection, “we move to the next phase of the pandemic and we have the opportunity to open up. The path to being open again will be difficult – but essential to moving forward as a state.”

Victoria’s new Roadmap to Deliver the National Plan has been designed to support the capacity of the state’s health system ensuring Victorians can still access the healthcare they need, even as cases surge.

According to the Premier, the experts at Burnet Institute has taken up the task of modelling the plan for Victoria to exit the current lockdown rules taking into consideration hospitalisation rates based on COVID-19 infection rates as well as vaccination targets.

The Premier gave some hopeful insight into restrictions easing in the coming days and weeks, while being transparent in terms of the hospitalisation rates that are predicted to rise and overwhelm the system.

Once again Mr Andrews explained that Victoria will not be aiming for zero COVID-19 cases, however, that doesn’t mean that the state can open up all at once, regardless of how imperative the reopening of the economy is for the survival of many businesses.

According to the announcement, a public health team will be in charge of and authorised to adjust restrictions if hospital admissions surge beyond hospital capacity.

Victoria is expected to hit a peak of between 1,400 and 2,900 daily cases between 19 and 31 October while there is a 63 per cent chance hospital demand will exceed 2,500 people, with a peak in mid-October. The modelling also forecasts a second peak in mid-December once restrictions have been eased.

The Burnet modelling deems paramount that all authorised workers across the state are vaccinated and the deadlines to achieve the goals will be assessed progressively as the Chief Health Officer considers each sector. Aged care, construction, and freight workforces have already been prioritised with full vaccination being a requirement to work, with a first dose by 15 October or proof of evidence that they have an appointment to be vaccinated before 1 November to continue working.

The next workforce group prioritised for assessment will be school staff and childcare staff.

“As we reach 70 per cent and 80 per cent double dose vaccination targets, the Roadmap lists certain venues for opening – but only on the condition that all eligible attendees to the venue are vaccinated,” the Premier said. “We will also have more to say soon about Victoria Police and disability worker vaccinations requirements.”

“While we remain constrained by Pfizer vaccine supply from the Commonwealth, the Moderna vaccine will start being delivered through pharmacies this week, more GPs will have access to Pfizer and we’ll continue to do everything we can to prioritise vaccination those who need it – and make access to vaccinations as easy as possible for all Victorians.”

“As we’ve flagged before, there will come a time when Victorians who choose not to get vaccinated will be left behind – that time has now been firmly set in the Roadmap. When Victoria reaches 70 per cent double dose vaccination, changes will include an increase in numbers for public gatherings outdoors, funerals, weddings and religious gatherings – with larger caps for people who are fully vaccinated,” Mr Andrews added.

Once the vaccination rates are achieved, creative studios, amusement parks, entertainment venues and hospitality will also reopen with patron cap and density limits but only to people who are fully vaccinated.

At this stage, there is very little precedence in Australia for fully vaccinated events, which is why the Government will conduct trials to support businesses as much as possible in the lead up to transitioning to a ‘vaccinated economy’ in this state, and ensure we have the right systems in place. Both one-off events and specific venues will be considered – with businesses permitted to operate with higher patron caps if all staff and patrons provide evidence of full vaccination. Areas in regional Victoria with highest vaccination rates and no COVID-19 cases will be the first to be considered for these trials. Proof of vaccination options will also be part of the trials.

To achieve this, the Service Victoria app will be integrated with a Medicare Certificate that shows proof of vaccination. Other proof of vaccination options may also be trialed to determine what works best for both businesses and patrons.

“Another key part of the Roadmap when we hit 70 per cent double dose vaccination, getting more activities outside is a key part of keeping us safe and slowing case numbers. We want to see retail shopping in laneways and fitness classes in our parks,” the Premier added.

“Based on the overwhelming success of last Summer’s Outdoor Dining program, we will be looking to provide additional funding to councils and businesses to get even more activities outside and more details will be released about this soon.”

Mr Andrews said that for the final phase of the Roadmap, we will wait for more details to be developed as part of the National Plan as the state moves beyond 80 per cent double dose vaccination rates. The government will update Victorians on that final phase in coming weeks.

“Finally, government and health authorities are working towards having 30 visitors to the home by late December – and with travel across both interstate and international borders open again, many families will be able to reunite.”

“In our state clinics there are 4,796 AstraZeneca appointments and 9,076 Pfizer appointments available over the next week,” Mr Andrews said, urging Victorians to book through their trusted GP or local pharmacist.

The new announcement, also sees places of worship and community sport able to resume, under the state’s roadmap for fully vaccinated people attending and with attendance caps.

• Once Victoria hits the 70 per cent double-dose target, which is expected to happen around 26 October there will be no limits on travel and outdoor gatherings of 50 people will be allowed.
• At that stage, hospitality will be able to open with up to 50 people allowed outdoors. The government will once again support businesses to use street space outside their premises.
• Swimming pools and community facilities will also be opened in limited numbers for fully vaccinated people. Meanwhile, once the state reaches 80 per cent single-dose coverage, contactless recreation including golf, tennis and bowls will be permitted.
• Schools will gradually reopen from 5 October, starting with year 12 students, while Prep students will return three days a week from 18 October, and students in years 1 and 2 will return for two days a week. The following week, students in other years levels will return on a part-time basis. Year 7, 11 and 12 will be able to attend five days a week from 26 October. Similarly, Childcare will reopen to the general public on 26 October but only for children whose parents are both fully vaccinated.
• Interstate travel will be subject to other states’ rules and may allow vaccinated people to travel. But intrastate travel will resume and all retail and hospitality will resume with density limits of one person per four square metres.
• Hair and beauty businesses will be able to reopen but only for fully vaccinated staff and customers.
• Visitors to the home will remain banned until the state hits 80 per cent of the 16+ population fully vaccinated, with five people allowed as a first step.