The state of Victoria in Australia on Sunday extended a hard lockdown in its capital Melbourne until September 28th as the infection rate has declined more slowly than hoped.
The hard lockdown was ordered on August 2nd in response to a second wave of infections, that erupted in Melbourne.
Australia’s second most populous state has been the epicentre of a second wave of Covid-19, now accounting for about 75 per cent of the country’s 26,282 cases and 90 per cent of its 753 deaths.
Victoria on Sunday reported 63 new coronavirus infections and five deaths, down from a peak of 725 new cases on August 5th. By contrast, Australia's most populous state, New South Wales, has had no more than 13 cases a day since early August.
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Melbourne’s stage 4 restrictions, which had been due to end on September 13th, shut most of the economy, limited people’s movements to a tight zone around their homes for one hour a day and imposed a night time curfew.
From September 14th, the rules won’t be quite as tough, as the curfew will begin an hour later at 9 pm and people can go outdoors for two hours instead of one, while those living alone will be allowed to have a visitor.
Infection rate
If the infection rate subsides as hoped by the end of September, state premier Daniel Andrews said restrictions would be relaxed gradually over the subsequent two months, though some businesses would have to remain shut until late November.
Mr Andrews said modelling showed cases would continue to average around 60 a day by next weekend, and if the state opened up too quickly it would be on track for a third wave by mid-November.
“You’ve got to defeat the second wave and do it properly. Otherwise you just begin a third wave. A third wave will mean we can’t do the economic repair that people desperately want us to do,” Mr Andrews said.
The federal government has blamed the lockdown in Victoria for dragging Australia deeper into its first recession in nearly 30 years, while other states have largely reopened their economies.
"Today's announcement from the Victorian government to extend lockdown arrangements will be hard and crushing news for the people of Victoria and a further reminder of the impact and costs that result from not being able to contain outbreaks of Covid-19," prime minister Scott Morrison said in a statement.
The pandemic has resulted in the loss of around 500,000 jobs in Victoria, including 250,000 under the stage 4 restrictions.
Business groups were disappointed with the slow reopening outlined by Andrews.
Back to normal
After September 28th, if daily infection rates have dropped to between 30 and 50 for 14 days, child care, construction sites, manufacturing plants, and warehouses, will go back to normal, allowing 101,000 workers to return to their jobs.
Schools will also partially reopen and outdoor gatherings of up to five people would be allowed.
After October 26th, if daily cases have dropped below five, cafes and restaurants could reopen, mostly for outdoor service, and shops and hairdressers would reopen.
At the same time, the curfew would be lifted, with no limits on leaving home, outdoor gatherings could increase to 10 and homes would be able to have five visitors.
After November 23rd, cafes, bars and restaurants could have more people indoors, schools could reopen more fully, museums and other entertainment venues could reopen, and larger gatherings would be allowed.
Restrictions in regional Victoria will ease from September 14th.