Victoria records 176 local COVID-19 cases as AstraZeneca dose interval is reduced to match Pfizer

Victoria has recorded 176 new local coronavirus cases as the acting Chief Health Officer announced people will be eligible for their second AstraZeneca dose after six weeks and children presenting to the Royal Children’s Hospital with symptoms of mental ill-health rose.

In a small reprieve for families, however, playgrounds are set to reopen across the state from midnight and babysitters will be allowed back in the home for some school-aged children.

Rocco, 9, Reggie, 7, and Evie Moesch, 4, are among those excited for playgrounds to reopen at 11.59pm on Thursday. Credit:Joe Armao

Thursday’s case numbers are the highest since August 22 last year when there were 202 cases, and the highest recorded in Victoria’s current outbreak of COVID-19. They bring the total number of active cases in the state to 1029.

Eighty-three of the new cases are linked to current outbreaks, and authorities are investigating the acquisition source for the remaining 93 cases. Thursday’s cases were reported from more than 48,370 COVID-19 tests.

AstraZeneca interval reduced

Victoria’s Acting Chief Health Officer Ben Cowie has announced that the time between doses for the AstraZeneca vaccine in the state has been revised down from 12 weeks to six weeks, in line with the Pfizer schedule.

Professor Cowie said the change would help the state to reach its vaccination targets faster. “But more importantly, they will really … [aid] the response to community transmission, put a downward pressure on cases and contribute to protecting our health system as we look after all Victorians.”

The decision was made in the wake of increased community risk, as a second dose increases protection from mild illness from 30 per cent to 70 per cent, and protection from serious illness to about 90 per cent.

Professor Cowie said dosage intervals were a balance between long-term vaccine efficacy, and getting the highest levels of protection against the Delta variant right now. He said experts knew from original clinical trials that the efficacy of the AstraZeneca vaccination was higher at 12 weeks than at less than six weeks, but “the risk benefit here is clearly in favour of dropping this interval”.

“It’s why ATAGI have recommended this, and it’s why our own external advisory group to the vaccination program has recommended this change, and so that’s why we’re implementing it,” Professor Cowie said.

“Essentially the message to people [...] is that essentially if you’re sitting at seven weeks, eight weeks, nine weeks, go and get your double dose now.”

Mental health a growing concern

Victoria’s Chief Psychiatrist Dr Neil Coventry has encouraged families who are struggling with their mental health during the state’s extended lockdown to reach out for help and take advantage of professional services, as well as their social networks of family and friends.

“We need to identify the people who are finding this extremely challenging and we need to reach out,” Dr Coventry said.

He said parents could help their children by doing simple things such as maintaining normal routines during lockdown.

“That’s particularly important when we’ve got the situation of home-schooling at the moment, to get that balance between study, relaxing downtimes ... certainly exercise and meal plans, but also more importantly around sleep patterns, particularly for our vulnerable teenagers,” Dr Coverty said.

“It’s really important to acknowledge kids’ feelings, to recognise and help them to understand how they can manage these stressors that they’re experiencing.” He said it was critical that parents spoke to their children about how they were coping.

Dr Ric Haslam, director of mental health at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, said staff had seen children presenting with anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicidal behaviours and eating disorders, with the number of children and adolescents presenting to its emergency department increasing by between 30 and 80 per cent.

“We’ve also seen an increase in young people presenting with aggression, both verbal and physical, and often these are children who might have developmental difficulties, such as autism spectrum disorders,” he said.

Dr Haslam said a number of measures had been put in place to support families dealing with those issues.

“My key message really for parents is that there’s excellent information trusted reliable information that, that’s available for you,” he said. “I would direct you in particular to the old Children’s Hospital website, where you’ll find links and resources, podcasts, and other information, which will support you.

“What parents really need is to know how to support their children through this time, and also how to recognise that their child or adolescent may be struggling.”

The Health Department did not specify how many of Thursday’s new cases were in isolation while infectious, and said more information would be provided later in the morning.

Minor easing from 11.59pm

Victoria’s Health Minister Martin Foley says it was “sobering” to have a dramatic shift in public health policy advice on Tuesday evening, with authorities pivoting away from COVID-19 case numbers and towards a focus on vaccination rates.

High case numbers meant Melbourne’s lockdown was essentially extended until 70 per cent of Victorians have had at least one vaccination, and even then there would only be minor shifts.

“But you’ve got to follow the advice of the science, Delta has changed the script,” he said, noting Burnet Institute research showing Victoria had avoided about 6000 cases in the past month alone.

“Who knows how many that will have exponentially grown to over the coming weeks - those measures were valuable - but when you have to follow the science, and follow the advice that is a really significant moment,” Mr Foley said. “All Victorians, I’m sure, were equally sobered by that news.

“But what we can do as a community is take the public health advice, pursue the vaccination programs really, really hard, and continue to follow the public health advice to protect our healthcare system.”

The lockdown restrictions have allowed for playgrounds reopening across Victoria at 11.59pm on Thursday to children under 12.

Under accompanying new rules, only one parent or carer will be allowed to take their child to the playground, and they cannot remove their masks to eat or drink. They also have to check into the playground with a QR code.

In-home care, like babysitters, is also being extended to school-aged children from 11.59pm on Thursday, but only if both parents are authorised workers.

Still, families are excited about the small freedoms. Corinne Moesch’s three children were among those jumping for joy at the news playgrounds will reopen.

“I’ve been bored out of my mind because I can’t go to the playground,” Ms Moesch’s son, nine-year-old Rocco Crupi, said. “I just love the monkey bars.”

More than 33,700 people received their COVID-19 vaccine doses in Victoria in the past 24 hours. No new cases were recorded in the state’s hotel quarantine.

Warning on home transmission

Victoria’s Acting Chief Health Officer Ben Cowie says there is “significant transmission” of COVID-19 between households and occurring in occupational settings and workplaces.

“And I get that we really are desperate to see our extended family - so am I, so is everybody here today,” he said.

“But right now, that is the worst thing we can do if we’re trying to protect our loved ones and look after them and protect their health system, and ultimately get to a point where the vaccination levels push everything down and we can start to safely reconnect and see our loved ones again.

“Spread between households is definitely occurring … and that’s a tragedy.

“The last thing anyone wants to see or to think is that they unwittingly have put their loved ones at risk, and it’s a horrible, horrible thing for someone have to reflect on. \

“So please, if you’re planning to catch up with family. Don’t do it now.”

While families rejoice, businesses ‘shattered’

While families rejoice at Thursday’s changes, though, businesses are “absolutely shattered” by the wider lockdown being extended.

Authorities have flagged announcements about restrictions easing in regional Victoria â€" expect, perhaps, in Shepparton â€" could be made as soon as next week.

However, Melbourne will be in lockdown until on or about September 23 â€" whenever the state reaches the goal of 70 per cent of the population vaccinated with one dose.

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is demanding a road map out of lockdown, similar to the plan presented by the government as the state emerged from a long period of restrictions last year.

The chamber’s chief executive, Paul Guerra, who was fiercely critical of the 2020 road map when it was published almost a year ago, said most Victorian businesses faced the reality of being unable to trade for the foreseeable future.

“Victorian businesses are absolutely shattered today,” Mr Guerra said on Wednesday.

“We asked for a plan, a road map, ambition and hope. Instead, we got confirmation that most Victorian businesses will remain unable to trade for the foreseeable future.”

Exposure sites grow

Meantime, exposure sites continue to grow in Victoria, with health authorities identifying nearly 40 after 7pm on Wednesday.

Among these were several tier-1 or close contact sites, including Base Backpackers at St Kilda, an office building at Essendon Fields, a dessert shop at Coolaroo, and Broadmeadows Family Health Care.

The remainder of new exposure sites identified late on Wednesday were tier-2 or casual contact sites.

They included several supermarkets, an apartment complex at Hawthorn, Sunshine Fruit Market, and an Australia Post at Brunswick East.

With Petra Stock

If you or anyone you know needs support call Lifeline on 131 114, or Beyond Blue’s coronavirus mental wellbeing support service on 1800 512 348.

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