New rules in Victoria for regional businesses, close contacts of COVID-19 cases

Victoria's three-day run without a COVID-19 death has come to an end with the state reporting another person has died, and there are 12 new cases.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he was 'shocked' to learn of Mr Eccles' phone call. Source: AAP

Close contacts who refuse a COVID-19 test in Victoria will spend 21 days in quarantine under a new rule.

The state government has announced mandatory quarantine will be extended 10 days for close contacts if they opt not to be tested on day 11 of isolation.

The change will come into effect from 11.59pm on Sunday.

Premier Daniel Andrews said a "very, very high percentage" of people had submitted to testing but the rule was designed to provide authorities with an even more complete picture.

"This is just double checking, triple checking that you haven't, in fact, still got the virus," he told reporters on Sunday.
Under another new rule from Sunday, regional Victorian businesses will have to take all reasonable steps to ensure patrons aren't from Melbourne before seating them.

Metropolitan Melbourne residents are only allowed to travel into regional Victoria for permitted reasons, but must abide by the city's rules while there.

It comes after an infected Melbourne man illegally dined at a Kilmore cafe, sparking a fresh outbreak in regional Victoria.

Victoria's state of emergency and state of disaster have been extended to 11.59pm on 8 November.
"This comes from detailed public health advice, and there will be a time where we do not need to extend these things and I look forward to that day," Mr Andrews said.

The premier said the board of inquiry into Victoria's hotel quarantine system had sought from him and his senior staff relevant text message and phone records and they would be handed to the board as soon as possible.

Victoria reported one more death and 12 new cases on Sunday, ending a three-day stretch without a fatality.
The latest figures take Victoria's death count from the virus to 810 and the national toll to 898.

In the fortnight up to Saturday metropolitan Melbourne recorded a rolling average of 9.3 new cases per day, with the figure at 0.4 for regional areas.

Public health authorities decided weeks ago that the two-week rolling daily case average needed to drop to five, with less than five mystery cases, for lockdowns in the city to ease in line with regional Victoria.

Cases with an unknown source for 14 days as of Thursday were 10.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said a cluster linked to Box Hill Hospital had grown to 12, with two cases added on Sunday.
The Chadstone Shopping Centre outbreak also recorded one new case, taking the total number of infections to 33.

Prof Sutton said he was aware of several new family outbreaks, with one in the city's west linked to five infections.
Another has resulted in three cases across two households.

People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your jurisdiction's restrictions on gathering limits.

If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. News and information is available in 63 languages at 

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3 min read
Published 11 October 2020 8:58am
Updated 11 October 2020 12:41pm
Source: AAP



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