Blog Day 562 Sunday 17 October 2021 - Day 73 of Covid Lockdown V6.0 Extended

Talk about the carrot and the stick.  A week ago the premier was telling us we were all evil little rule breakers and were to be condemned to eternal covid lockdown damnation!  This week we are all good little Victorians and we are to be rewarded for behaving ourselves and following the rules.

I'm thinking there must be some really bad news to come out of the current IBAC investigations and the premier (remember that's the naughty premier who got pinged for not wearing his mask, twice) and the government are trying to build up some brownie points.

Anyway the staged release from the lockdown rules is being accelerated, I will try and make some sense from it all and summarise below.

Fortunately for me and probably you somebody from U3A emailed the following table providing details of the changes to the corona virus rules from 11.59pm in the evening of Thursday 21 October.  If it occurs that will be end of 11 weeks of lockdown this time around.

In summary, the curfew finishes, we don't need a reason the leave home and no time limits apply to being out of the home, there will be no travel limits within Metropolitan Melbourne including the Mornington Peninsula but we will still be unable to travel to Victorian regional areas.  Masks still to be worn indoors and outdoors for the time being.  Households will be able to have up to 10 visitors per day with a recommendation that they be fully vaccinated.  Might have to get a QR code for the Casa De Miller.

Hospitality including hotels, cafes and restaurants will be able to cater for up to 20 fully vaccinated folk indoors and 50 outdoors, subject to space limitations, I think.

And most importantly barbers will be allowed to operate effectively from Friday but only 5 fully vaccinated patrons at a time.  It will be another week at least before I will be able to get in to see my barber and I reckon it will take me a week to get out.

QR codes will still be required to be registered everywhere and proof of vaccination will be required to be produced.  Certification of vaccination can be added to the QR code app on your phone so both will register at the same time.

Restrictions for Melbourne from 11.59pm on 21 October 2021 Curfew None Leave home Any reason Travel No limit in Melbourne But no travel to regional areas Masks Carry at all times Must be worn indoors and outdoors for those over 12 Home visitors 10 per day, recommend only those vaccinated Pubs, clubs and entertainment 20 fully vaccinated indoors and 50 outdoors Outdoor Cinemas Up to 50 per venue for vaccinated Food and drink 20 fully vaccinated indoors and 50 vaccinated outdoors Physical recreation and sport Outdoor recreation facilities open.  Contactless access.  15 people outdoors.   Outdoor personal training for up to 5 for those fully vaccinated, or 2 people plus trainer if not vaccinated   Pools open for up to 50 vaccinated Hairdressing Open for up to 5 fully vaccinated Funerals and weddings 20 fully vaccinated indoors, 50 fully vaccinated outdoors If vaccination status unknown then 10. These changes are being made on the basis that we will achieve 70% of the eligible population being vaccinated by 12.59pm next Thursday night.  Currently Victoria is sitting at 65% fully vaccinated and 88% first jab vaccinated. Seeing has how 88% have had one vaccination it is reasonable to believe that we should achieve 90% fully vaccinated reasonably easy.  Maybe there isn't as many anti vaxxer idiots, covid deniers and vaccine falsehood peddlers out there as what we thought.  It will be interesting to see what these people do when they can't get into a restaurant or a bar without being vaxxed.  There will be a few people who will have to open their minds a bit to the reality of a covid world. The next stage of the roadmap is scheduled for 5 November or when 80% of the eligible population of the state is fully vaccinated. Currently 84.4% of the eligible Australian population has had one dose of the vaccine and 67.2% two doses and 88% of the eligible Victorian population has had one and 65% has had two.   So to the figures that are leading us into our new vaccinated freedoms.  Notwithstanding the good news above Victoria still has some major issues in the number of new infections and hospitalisations.  Victoria reported 1,838 new cases in the last 24 hours and 1,993 the day before which is down from 2,179 the day prior.  Let's hope this pattern continues.  We still have over 23,000 active cases in the state.   Victoria received the results of 74,000 tests in the last 24 hours. NSW new daily new infection figures continue to decline with 301 new infections reported in the last 24 hours from the results of 69,000 tests. Victorian hospitalisations due to the virus are up a little at 777 however ICU patients are down a little with 151 and ventilator patients are down a little with 94.      Corona Virus Daily Stats – 17 October 2021 – Day 73 of Covid Lockdown V6.0 Extended Date Aus Infected Aus Increase Aus 1st Dose Vacc Vic Infected Vic Increase NSW Increase *Aus Active Infection NSW Active Infection Vic Active Infection Aus 2nd Dose Vacc 01/10 107,181 2,064 77.8% 38,476 1,143 866 21,114 9,862 10,944 54.2% 02/10   2,360   39,749 1,488           03/10 111,388 1,928 79% 41,128 1,220 668 21,378 9,215 11,785 56% 04/10         1,377 623         05/10 115,800 2,406 79.9% 44,251 1,763 608 23,376 8,571 14,368 57.4% 06/10         1,413 594         07/10 120,079 2,272 80.5% 47,302 1,638 587 23,435 7,868 15,074 58.4% 08/10         1,823 648         09/10 125,080 2,574 81.9% 51,012 1,965 581 24,984 7,296 17,199 61.2% 10/10         1,890 479         11/10 129,567 2,144 82.2% 54,470 1,612 498 26,276 6,747 19,012 61.9% 12/10         1,466 360         13/10 133,444 2,069 82.8% 57,470 1,572 446 26,479 6,055 19,861 63.4% 14/10         2,297 407         15/10 138,720 2,615 83.6% 61,869 2,179 400 27,123 5,253 21,324 65.4% 16/10         1,993           17/10 143,135 2,172 84.4% 65,605 1,838 301 29,087 5,131 23,376 67.2% Corona Virus Daily Stats Hospitalisation Etc – 17 Oct 2021 – Day 73 of Covid Lockdown V6.0 Extended Date Aus New Infection Aus Hospital Aus ICU Aus Ventilate Vic New Infection Vic Hospital Vic ICU Vic Ventilate AUS Daily Deaths Vic Daily Deaths 01/10 2,066 1,483 300 166 1,143 395 87 59 20 3 02/10 2,360 1,468 302 156 1,488 429 97 54 12 2 03/10 1,928 1,494 298 153 1,220 476 98 57 13 3 04/10                     05/10 2,406 1,535 298 161 1,763 517 101 66 11 4 06/10                     07/10 2,272 1,517 305 165 1,638 564 115 74 10 2 08/10         1,823 620 114 76 16 5 09/10 2,574 1,437 288 163 1,965 578 117 83 16 5 10/10                 11 5 11/10 2,144 1,490 295 170 1,612 677 133 94 16 8 12/10                   8 13/10 2,069 1,463 306 173 1,572 705 146 92 17 13 14/10         2,297 706 147 100     15/10 2,615 1,413 311 183 2,179 695 157 101 11 6 16/10                     17/10 2,172 1,440 299 170 1,838 777 151 94 16 6