Sixteen new cases, two deaths as Melbourne holds its breath for further eased restrictions
Victoria recorded 16 new COVID-19 cases and two deaths, as the state prepares for the announcement of eased restrictions on Sunday.
Metropolian Melbourne's daily average over 14 days is now at 22.1, with 31 cases having an unknown source between September 11 and 24. Regional Victoria's 14 day rolling average is at 0.6.
Victoria's 14 day rolling average is now well under 30 to 50 daily cases, which was the threshold required to trigger the announcement of changes to COVID-19 restrictions on Sunday.
Under the current road map to recovery, childcare centres will now be able to reopen to all families without the need for a permit, more school students will return to classrooms and up to five people from two different households will be allowed to gather in public places.
But Premier Daniel Andrews said on Saturday that with cases dropping faster than expected, health authorities would be working "into the evening" to decide on additional restrictions that could be eased.
"There's no dramatic departure from [the roadmap], but there are a couple of areas where we can do more," he said.
"Ultimately, we are getting these numbers down, they are coming down perhaps a little faster than what we thought.
"People can be optimistic and positive ... once you get them low, you can keep them low. That's what the science and logic tells you."
Mr Andrews said Sunday's COVID-19 update would also share a window into the future, and discuss what Melbourne will look like after additional easing of restrictions at the end of October.
The eased restrictions come after the resignation of former Health Minister Jenny Mikakos on Saturday morning, who said in a statement posted on Twitter she was "disappointed that my integrity has sought to be undermined".
The resignation came after the Premier gave evidence to the hotel quarantine inquiry on Friday that it was Ms Mikakos' department that was "primarily responsible for the program".
There were 12 new virus cases announced in Victoria on Saturday, with three of those positive cases linked to aged care homes.
Ashleigh McMillan is a breaking news reporter at The Age. Got a story? Email me at a.mcmillan@theage.com.au