By Luke Voogt
The trigger point for a significant third step of easing COVID-19 restrictions is “achievable”, according to Barwon Health’s head of infectious disease Eugene Athan.
Professor Athan described an average five or fewer new COVID-19 cases per day in regional Victoria for a fortnight, with no unknown transmission, as “an achievable target”.
The step is part of state government’s controversial ‘reopening roadmap’.
Regional Victoria has averaged 5.3 new cases a day over the past fortnight, slightly higher than the roadmap’s trigger point for step three.
Step three allows regional Victorian residents to have five visitors over, leave home without restriction and gather in public in groups of up to 10.
The step will also allow restaurants and other hospitality venues to reopen, predominantly with an outdoor seated service only.
Professor Athan said Barwon Health was “well placed” to manage any potential outbreaks amid the planned changes but urged locals to remain vigilant.
Barwon Health’s now vacant Acute Respiratory Clinic remained on standby to reopen if required, he said.
Two small clusters of COVID-19 in Geelong’s north were “well contained”, Professor Athan said.
“The local contact tracing and monitoring teams have worked effectively to respond quickly to any new cases and outbreaks.”
Geelong Chamber of Commerce chief executive officer Ben Flynn described the roadmap as “disappointing”.
“Businesses need that clarity to plan and, if anything, the roadmap made things less clear,” he said.
Premier Andrews warned on Sunday that Geelong could be treated “separately” from the rest of regional Victoria.
But if Geelong’s low case numbers continued it would be included under regional Victoria, Mr Andrews indicated on Monday.
Mr Flynn said the statements made the future even more unclear and warned that grouping Geelong with Melbourne could be disastrous for local businesses.
While the easing of restrictions in the roadmap’s third step would help, businesses would still be operating well below usual levels, he said.
He urged state government to consider indoor dining and “remain flexible” to further easing restrictions if Geelong’s case numbers dropped further.
“I think it should be considered because people in Geelong are very good at following the social distancing rules and [other COVID-19 safety measures].”
Mr Flynn also described the roadmap’s threshold of zero new cases in regional Victoria for 14 days, to trigger its last step of further easing of restrictions, as unrealistic.
