Victoria records 1,935 new COVID-19 cases, hurtles towards 80 per cent target

Victoria has recorded 1,935 new local coronavirus cases and 11 more deaths ahead of an expected announcement on further restrictions easing when the state hits its 80 per cent full vaccination target.

There are now 787 Victorians hospitalised with COVID-19 and 146 in ICU, 93 on ventilation.

The latest deaths take the toll from the current outbreak to 223.

On the first weekend since Melbourne’s 77-day lockdown ended, the state is managing nearly 25,000 active cases.

Victoria is hurtling towards its 80 per cent double dose vaccination target, when more restrictions will ease, after the state passed its 90 per cent first dose milestone.

More than 99,000 Victorians were vaccinated on Friday, helping the state reach 90.2 per cent first dose among those aged 16 and over, while 73.1 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Premier Daniel Andrews believes Victoria is on track to reach 80 per cent full vaccination by next weekend, with some analysts predicting it could occur on 29 October.

Once the state reaches 80 per cent, outdoor masks will be scrapped, statewide travel will return, indoor entertainment venues, gyms and retail can reopen, and capacity limits increase, according to the government’s original roadmap.

On Saturday, COVID-19 Commander Jeroen Weimar said more than four million Victorians are now double-dosed from state-run hubs, “which puts us in a strong position to continue easing of restrictions”.

He encouraged fully vaccinated Victorians to continue to monitor their symptoms and get tested.

“As we start to open up and socialise more and do all those wonderful things that are now possible again, remember if you have any symptoms – whether you are vaccinated or not – make sure you’re tested,” he said.

“That’s the best way you can keep protecting yourself and those around you.”

Restriction to push events interstate
Meanwhile event companies predict Victoria will lose events to states with more certainty about COVID restrictions.

The $10 million events business DG Global is one of several AAP has spoken to, that say there’s been little consultation about Victoria’s latest set of rules, which stipulate 150 people can attend an indoor event, with one person for every four square metres.

Manager Steve Smith says with those numbers, large-scale corporate events are not financially viable.

“We’ll deliver shows interstate. I don’t have a problem with that but Victoria will lose those,” Mr Smith told AAP.

“When you look at national corporate events, I think Victoria is going to be on the backburner.”

Mr Smith is struggling to schedule three construction industry galas in Victoria and has had to postpone each four times.

He has four more corporate clients putting on events worth a total of $6 million actively considering moving them to South Australia, NSW, Tasmania or Queensland.

“Other states offer more confidence to plan ahead. People aren’t silly, they will look elsewhere,” he said.

Mr Smith has already relocated key parts of his company to Western Australia after 2020 income for his Perth operation hit 124 per cent of expected revenue, while in Victoria that figure was just eight per cent.

Industry veteran Sue Ryman-Kiernan from Wise Connections is facing similar problems, which she blames on a lack of government consultation.

“It makes me want to cry. It’s tragic because we have just been completely ignored,” she said.

It’s not clear whether a two-day 10,000-person Melbourne Showgrounds exhibition she’s organising, rescheduled for February, will be allowed to go ahead.

“We are the events capital but we are not going to be … People will move events interstate. That will happen,” she told AAP.

Victoria hosts more than 120,000 events annually, including festivals, weddings, fun runs and fundraising dinners.

The industry is worth an estimated $16 billion a year in normal times, according to the advocacy group Save Victorian Events.

“Victoria needs events to be happening to start rebuilding and recovery and we need that this year not next year,” he said.

Comment has bee sought from the Victorian government.

Source: sbs.com.au