Victoria 'winning the battle' as 15 new coronavirus cases recorded
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews declared the state is winning the battle against coronavirus after it recorded 15 new cases of coronavirus and five deaths in the past day.
The figures bring Melbourne's crucial 14-day average down to 29.4, from 32.8 on Tuesday as the government clarified the rules around workers moving between locked-down areas and regional Victoria and announced new funding for the mental health sector.
The city's reopening targets are tied to its 14-day average, and the target for the second step of reopening is for it to be between 30 and 50 on September 28 (next Monday).
"We are winning this battle and we will prevail, it's just a matter of us staying the course, not letting our frustration get the better of us, not allowing our desperate hope and wish that this were over, to lull us into a sense of pretending that it is," Mr Andrews said.
"There's still a ways to go, for we are making very, very significant progress."
Mr Andrews said there were 15,741 tests conducted in the last 24 hours which was a "strong number"
"It's a powerful contribution ..it is critical in order to have a clear picture of how much virus is out there and the impact of restrictions and therefore the tolerance of easing those is, to make the best and most well informed decisions," he said.
Under the current government map, minor restrictions set to ease from Sunday night including the opening of outdoor pools, childcare and some schools levels resuming and the allowance of public gatherings of up to five people from two different households.
But more significant lockdown measures, including the five-kilometre radius rule and the 9pm to 5am curfew, will not be lifted until late October as the road map stands - and only if the number of 'mystery' cases with an unknown source over the previous 14 days is less than five. Currently, the number of mystery cases (measured between September 7 and September 20) is 41.
Regional rules
Mr Andrews gave more detail on the rules for those who live in metropolitan Melbourne but work in regional Victoria, including those in industries able to operate in the regions but not in Melbourne.
Mr Andrews said the primary rule was that if you can work from home you must work from home, regardless of industry or location.
"A person travelling from Metropolitan Melbourne to regional Victoria to work must have a valid work permit. The worker permit allows them to issue a permit to a worker who lives in Metropolitan Melbourne," he said.
"When a person from Metropolitan Melbourne is in regional Victoria, the Metropolitan Melbourne restrictions apply to them, even though they're not in Metropolitan Melbourne, the rules follow them to their work in regional Victoria."
Mr Andrews said it means those who live in metropolitan Melbourne are not allowed to go out for dinner in regional Victoria.
"They can't be engaging in that activity if they are [are a permitted worker], they have a permit to go to work and then to return back to their home in Metropolitan Melbourne."
Mental health funding
The government announced it would spend more than $21 million to help mental health and alcohol and drug services prevent and prepare for coronavirus outbreaks, as the state moves towards "COVID normal". More than $8.6 million will go towards increased cleaning for the sector.
About $5 million would be used to reduce the need for staff to work across multiple sites by increasing hourly rates, backfilling staff who may be unable to work due to exposure to the virus, or retaining workers in the non-government organisation sector.
More than $6.5 million in grants will be available for minor upgrades to reduce contamination risks, such as installing sensor taps or modifying facilities.
Mental Health Minister Martin Foley said the lockdown had taken a toll on the mental health of many people and providers had stepped up during the pandemic.
"We're ensuring these vital support services are safe and ready for those who need them," he said.
More exposure sites revealed
More sites have been added to the list of locations visited by people who have since tested positive for COVID-19.
Those include Baby Mode in Sunshine (on September 13), FMIG radiology in St Albans (on September 10) and Woolworths in Oakleigh South (September 14 and 16).
Three more locations were also added to the list, including Pacific Shopping Centre in Werribee (on September 17), Hoppers Crossing Woolworths (on September 19), Melton Primary Medical and Dental Care (on September 16 and 17).
The number of active cases in Victoria dropped to 620 on Tuesday, with aged care cases still making up half of that number.
People evacuated from aged care at the height of the crisis are being returned to the nursing homes where outbreaks occurred, as case numbers drop.
More than 600 elderly Victorians in care have died of the virus.
On Tuesday, active cases within aged care homes had dropped to 328 from a peak of more than 2000 in mid-August.
Victoria's death toll from COVID-19 is now 771. The national death toll is 859.
More to come
Rachael Dexter is a breaking news reporter at The Age.