Victoria on track for further easing as state records 246 new local cases
Victoria has recorded 246 new cases of COVID-19, after Premier Daniel Andrews flagged the state could get extra freedoms in the coming fortnight when the state hits its first vaccination milestone.
Of the new infections, 121 have so far been linked to known outbreaks or cases. It is unclear how many were in the community while infectious.
The 246 caseload represents the highest daily figure so far this outbreak, and the most cases reported in a 24-hour period in more than a year.
Health authorities said 42,258 test results were received while 26,955 doses of a vaccine were administered in the last 24 hours.
Of the new 246 cases:SOURCE: Victoria’s COVID-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar
On Monday, COVID-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar revealed that four of the new cases are connected to Pascoe Vale Primary School, including three students and a staff member.
A security guard at a testing centre in Maidstone in Melbourne’s northwest has tested positive and is believed to have contracted the virus in the community.
The testing site was closed on Monday for deep cleaning and testing.
Two COVID-19 positive truck drivers, from Shepparton and Wodonga, are both believed to have contracted COVID-19 in NSW while working.
Mr Andrews on Sunday said restrictions could be eased beyond what he had outlined last Tuesday when 70 per cent of eligible Victorians have received at least one dose of a vaccine, now due to be ahead of initial expectations.
Premier Daniel Andrews is pictured at Friday’s press conference.Credit:Darrian Traynor
He also confirmed Victoria would receive 1 million Pfizer doses from the extra 4 million vaccinations the Commonwealth secured under a deal with Britain last week.
An analysis by The Age, based on the current trajectory of vaccination uptake and not considering external factors such as the extra doses of Pfizer the Commonwealth secured, indicates Victoria could meet the target about September 18.
“Every [vaccine] appointment that gets made, every shot in the arm between now and then will bring that date forward,†Mr Andrews said on Sunday.
Initially, the state was expected to hit 70 per cent single dose targets on September 23.
In a major policy shift last week, the Andrews government abandoned its COVID-zero strategy and focused its attention on vaccinating the state out of the latest Delta outbreak, which has reached 1619 active cases.
Victoria to offer rent relief paymentsVictorians who have lost large swathes of their income and struggle to pay rent will be assisted with a one-off $1500 grant paid made directly to their landlords.
Renters will need to have lost at least 20 per cent of their income as a result of the pandemic, since May 27 this year, and need to pay at least 30 per cent of their pay on rent.
Singles will need to earn less than $62,860 and couples will need to earn no more than $94,300.
People will also need to have less than $2000 in savings.
Another almost $45 million will also be added to provide emergency hotel accommodation for people experiencing homelessness.
The program, which has 1600 in hotels, will be extended until June 30 next year.
With Sumeyya Ilanbey
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