Australia: Authorities to ease some COVID-19 restrictions in regional Victoria state from October 27 /update 56

Event

Victoria State Premier Daniel Andrews announced on Sunday, October 25, that regional areas of the state will be permitted to resume some activities previously curbed amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic from Tuesday, October 27. From midnight on Tuesday, restrictions for gyms, indoor pools, food courts, and school graduation ceremonies will be eased. Notably, Melbourne will not be included in the next phase of reopening as test results from a northern metropolitan outbreak are pending. The initial date for the city to move into the next phase of reopening was November 1, which may be moved up if infected cases continue to drop.

Australian authorities previously announced that travelers from New Zealand from Wednesday, October 21, have been permitted entry into South Australia State and Victoria State without having to quarantine. New South Wales and the Northern Territory already allow travelers from New Zealand to enter without quarantine requirements.

Social distancing and hygiene measures remain in place throughout Australia as do restrictions on public gatherings. 

As of Sunday, October 25, there have been 27,499 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia with 905 associated fatalities. Further international spread of the virus is to be expected in the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). 

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell, or a rash on the skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover the mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the virus.