There has been mounting pressure for weeks to reopen Melbourne to the rest of Australia. Businesses and the federal government argue it will delay Australia’s economic rebound.
However, today, for the first time, Victoria has gone 24 hours without detecting any new COVID-19 cases, a milestone last achieved four months ago, raising hopes that a stringent lockdown of Melbourne will be eased.
Melbourne’s 14-day rolling average of Corona virus cases is well below the safe threshold of five, falling from 4.6 to 3.6 overnight. Restrictions are still tight, with Melburnians only able to travel within a 25km radius and only able to leave home for four essential reasons.
While some restrictions were eased in regional Victoria, there was no joy for Melbourne residents with the Premier saying a “cautious pause” was needed due to the outbreak.
“I know it’s very frustrating,” he said.
“We’ll keep people updated today, and tomorrow.”
Testing commander Jeroen Weimar said no new cases linked to the northern metropolitan outbreak was “one of the best outcomes we could hope to see”.