Experts reveal how COVID vaccine could free us northernstar.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from northernstar.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Victoria s five-day coronavirus lockdown is expected to end at midnight on Wednesday - but at least some restrictions will remain, experts have warned.
Senior government ministers met on Tuesday night to discuss the lifting of restrictions, which were sparked by an outbreak of the UK strain at Melbourne Airport s Holiday Inn where returned travellers were being quarantined.
Another meeting is due on Wednesday morning, when Premier Daniel Andrews and his ministers will consider any new locally-acquired cases before authorising plans to release the state from lockdown.
Victoria recorded no new locally-acquired or hotel quarantine cases on Wednesday.
Australian Open crowds are expected to return to Rod Laver Arena on Thursday but with further restrictions. Pictured is a women s quarter final match in action at the deserted venue on Wednesday
Deakin University Chair of Epidemiology Professor Catherine Bennett says it is a “real pity” everything which Victorians have worked towards “hasn’t been deemed enough” by the state government.
It comes after Victoria announced it will enter a five-day snap lockdown from 11:59pm, to act as a circuit-breaker against the UK strain of COVID-19.
“The real risk reported was that we did have that household contact who went to work for a day,” Professor Bennett told Sky News host Peta Credlin.
“We don’t know, but they might have been infectious.
“I think it’s a real pity that everything we’ve worked for – including our upgraded public health response – hasn’t been deemed enough by the government to combat this.”
Deakin University Chair of Epidemiology Professor Catherine Bennett says the variant strains of COVID-19 are “very good at establishing an infection” which is why they are more transmissible.
Her comments come after new cases of COVID-19 were detected in Melbourne, with one being a woman who tested positive just days after exiting her 14-day hotel quarantine period.
Discussing concerns about whether the development could mean the incubation period is longer for mutated strains, Ms Bennett said it would be “surprising” if it was the case.
“It’s probably even less likely in a way that they would have a longer incubation period.”
COVID-19 Victoria: How Daniel Andrews oversaw a divided year heraldsun.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from heraldsun.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.