Source: ABCnews
Victoria has recorded one new locally acquired COVID-19 case as restrictions ease further across the state.
The new case is a primary close contact of an existing case, Victorian health authorities said.
The result was detected from among 35,252 test results processed on Thursday, when 16,710 vaccination doses were delivered at state-run sites.
From today, travel restrictions between Melbourne and regional Victoria will drop and masks will no longer be mandatory outdoors.
Melburnians will be able to host up to two people plus dependents in their homes each day and the city’s gyms will be able to reopen, with strict density limits.
However, Melburnians travelling to alpine resorts for the snow season will be required to obtain proof of a negative COVID-19 test result in the three days before heading to the slopes.
State and Commonwealth at odds over Pfizer supply
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has disputed the Victorian government’s claim that the state’s supply of Pfizer vaccine is effectively being cut by 20,000 doses a week.
Last month, the Commonwealth temporarily increased Victoria’s supply to 105,000 doses a week to cope with increased demand in the wake of the state’s outbreak.
That arrangement expires in early July, and the Victorian Health Minister, Martin Foley, has questioned whether the state will have enough supply to meet the demand for first and second doses of the vaccine.
Mr Hunt said the supply of 105,000 doses a week was always a temporary measure, and the base supply for Victoria would be raised next month.
“In June, Victoria received 380,000 doses, in July, there will be approximately 560,000 doses between the state and general practice,” he told ABC Radio Melbourne.
“We’re moving the base from 71,000 to 83,000 (doses a week).”
Mr Hunt also dismissed criticism of Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton over an interstate trip during Melbourne’s lockdown.
Professor Sutton flew to Canberra for an awards ceremony held by the National Health and Medical Research Council when Melbourne was still subject to a 25-kilometre travel restriction.
Mr Hunt said Professor Sutton was entitled to travel for the event.
“I think that story was deeply unfair, this was a meeting of the National Health and Medical Research Council, he plays an important role,” he said.
“My understanding is he followed all permitting, all appropriate restrictions and so I think it was completely appropriate and professionally reasonable.”
