By Victoria’s most hated and bizarre Covid restriction ends at midnight Friday – the requirement to wear a face mask even while drinking beer or wine.
Victoria’s director of health, Brett Sutton, described the change, made at Friday’s Covid briefing, as “small but significant” as the state prepares to allow more freedom outside.
“At midnight tonight, instructions were changed to allow mask removal outdoors for alcohol consumption and this reflects a push towards more outdoor leisure activities, including picnics.” said Mr. Sutton.
Victoria’s most hated and bizarre Covid restriction ends at midnight Friday – the requirement to wear a face mask even while drinking beer or wine. Masked Spanish revelers are pictured juggling drinks and Covid rules
Once 70% of the state’s population over 16 are fully vaccinated, expected around October 26, Melbourne’s curfew will ease, travel limit will be extended, and venues can open. outdoors for fully vaccinated people (pictured, masked dinners in Melbourne)
The change comes after it was revealed that Victoria Police were investigating images of Prime Minister Daniel Andrews not wearing a face mask.
Police confirmed they were investigating a video showing the prime minister going to a press conference on Thursday.
“As the incident is being investigated by investigators, we will not provide further comment at this point,†a spokesperson said.
Victoria recorded 1,838 new cases of Covid-19 and five deaths on Friday.
The growing outbreak is blamed on unvaccinated residents as the state anxiously awaits restrictions to ease.
Impossible task … a woman examines a bottle of wine that she cannot drink while wearing a mask
beer garden last year – when you could still drink a beer without wearing a face mask” class=”blkBorder img-share” style=”max-width:100%” />
Customers are pictured at a Melbourne beer garden last year – when you could still drink a beer without wearing a face mask
The new cases mark a pandemic record and bring the total number of active infections in the state to 16,823.
Acting health director Professor Ben Cowie said he was disappointed with the number of new infections and said the peak could have been avoided if the majority had been vaccinated.
“It’s unfortunate because this is despite the fact that 87% of cases were eligible for vaccination at the time they were diagnosed with Covid-19,†he said.
Daniel Andrews was filmed without a face mask as he walked with police now investigating the footage after sparking outrage in the community
Despite the increase in the number of cases, the percentage requiring hospital care was down to 3.35% on Friday from 6.25% a month ago.
Five more deaths with Covid were reported on Friday, bringing the toll of the current epidemic to 70.
The infection rate continues to grow, with 1,838 cases out of 77,554 tests, a positive rate of 2.37% compared to 2.12% a day earlier and 1.82% a week ago.
By comparison, NSW’s positive rate at the height of its Delta outbreak was 1.1%.
Of the new cases from the week to Tuesday, 79% were not vaccinated.
Victoria recorded 1,838 more Covid-19 cases on Friday, with the outbreak worsening just weeks before the state begins to ease restrictions
Premier Daniel Andrews said daily cases were “higher than we would like” and urged Locked-out Melburnians and regional residents to follow the rules for a few more weeks.
Once 70% of the state’s population over 16 is fully vaccinated, expected around October 26, Melbourne’s curfew will ease, travel limit will be extended, and venues can open. outdoors for fully vaccinated people.
Victorians will have to wait for the 80% double-dose target for significant changes, scheduled for November 5, including the reopening of the Melbourne hotel business for seated service and visitors allowed into homes.
Conversely, fully vaccinated adults in NSW will enjoy a slew of new freedoms starting Monday, with up to 10 adults allowed to visit homes and people allowed to eat out and go. to the gym.
Mr Andrews has said he has no plans to change Victoria’s roadmap out of lockdown, but state opposition has said the Prime Minister’s plan “is not enough”.
The opposition calls for a return of the customer density limits to the target of 70%, paving the way for the opening of reception areas inside.
Some 55% of Victorians over the age of 16 are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, while 84% have received their first dose.
Dr Katherine Gibney of the Doherty Institute said the state should expect more cases in the coming weeks, straining the healthcare system.
More Victorians are being hospitalized to fight the virus, with 39 people admitted on Wednesday, bringing the hospital total to 564 (pictured, Melbourne residents)
Busy St Kilda beach on weekends, lockdown fatigue spreading throughout town, possible contributor to skyrocketing infections
“Modeling shows the numbers will rise over the next two weeks before they start to level off and recover,†she told the Nine’s Today Show on Friday.
“There is no doubt that the hospital system is already under pressure and it will get worse, but it is being handled in terms of the spread of cases among Victorian hospitals.”
Meanwhile, a Victoria police officer has been admitted to hospital with COVID-19 after working during recent anti-vaccine protests in Melbourne’s CBD.
Police Association of Victoria secretary Wayne Gatt has confirmed that two officers from a police station in northwest Melbourne have tested positive for COVID-19.