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Melbourne businesses are waiting on a reopening announcement today with bated breath as the state records no new cases overnight.
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Businesses push for reopening as Victoria records no new coronavirus cases
26 October 2020
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The renewed hope in the lifting of lengthy lockdown restrictions comes after Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews dashed hopes on Sunday by hitting pause on anticipated reopening plans despite the state reaching its target 14-day rolling average of 4.6 cases.
Mr Andrews said it was necessary to wait on the results of tests in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, where an outbreak saw 39 cases spread across 11 households.
On Monday, the government announced that over 2,100 tests had returned negative, reducing metropolitan Melbourne’s average to 3.6 cases over the past fortnight.
The business community has now urged Mr Andrews to be forthcoming with plans to ease restrictions, with Business Council of Australia chief executive Jennifer Westacott noting the extreme toll it has taken on many Victorians.
“We cannot go on like this. Victorians cannot hang on week to week. People are at a financial and mental breaking point,” Ms Westacott said.
“A pattern of delays, maybes and apologies doesn’t excuse Victoria’s failure to manage local outbreaks. It is taking too long and too much is being lost.
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“There are going to be future outbreaks, we cannot pause or threaten state-wide lockdowns every time this happens.”
Victorian Chamber of Commerce chief executive Paul Guerra said the delays were leaving businesses in limbo and experiencing “Groundhog Day”.
“Victorians have done everything asked of them to reduce infections to an average of less than five new cases per day — meeting the government’s very cautious target for metropolitan Melbourne — only to see the goalposts move once again,” Mr Guerra said.
More to come.
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