Victoria hits 70 per cent vaccination milestone

Scott Morrison has praised Victorians for surviving “the battle of a generation” as the state reaches the 70 per cent vaccination target and is freed from its sixth lockdown on Thursday night. But the Prime Minister is keeping the pressure on Daniel Andrews to repay his state’s sacrifices by continuing to ease restrictions, with Victoria on track to become one of the most vaccinated places in the world.Writing for the Herald Sun, Mr Morrison said it was time for Victoria to be “winning freedoms back” so the state could “stay safely open”.“I look forward to the safe easing of more restrictions across Victoria as the vaccination rate continues to surge,” Mr Morrison said.“Let’s bring this home – that 70 per cent has to become an 80. And most importantly, ensure that we are back together with our families, friends and loved ones this Christmas. Making this Christmas the best ever.”Victoria raced to the 70 per cent threshold ahead of schedule, backed by the Herald Sun’s Call to Arms campaign, and the state is now set to soar above 90 per cent.We now sit at 70.51 per cent double dose coverage.From 11.59pm on Thursday, bars and restaurants will reopen, up to 10 guests will be allowed at home, the travel limit will be scrapped within metropolitan Melbourne and kids will progressively return to school.National – 2021 – Covid Vaccination StatsHospitality workers will be able to leave home after 9pm on Thursday to get their venues ready to welcome eager customers, but patrons run the risk of fines if they head out too early, with the controversial curfew remaining in place until 11.59pm. Covid commander Jeroen Weimar had initially declared staff could not leave home between 9pm and 11.59pm, before the state government cleared up the confusion. Mr Weimar told Victorians who were keen to head out they would “have to wait for the witching hour to strike, and then you can make your way down to the local pub”.Mr Morrison said vaccinations were “clearly winning the fight” against Covid-19, and that if Victoria was a country, it would now be the 12th most vaccinated place in the OECD based on first doses.“You’re about to start reclaiming your lives,” the Prime Minister said. “We can’t be complacent. We still have to take one step at a time safely and ensure we always put that safety goal first as we reopen our country.”Read Scott Morrison’s message to Victorians here.As Victorians prepare to celebrate what some have dubbed Freedom Friday, Mr Weimar said the virus threat remained. “It’s not a mass freedom day or ‘let’s go completely nuts’ – there is still a significant risk,” he cautioned.Businesses are urging Victorians to splurge after lockdown with a new study revealing two out of three plan to spend big when restrictions are eased. Eating at a restaurant, going to the shops and getting on the beers were top of the splurge list, the research by NAB has found. Women were keen to get to the hair or beauty salon while men were prioritising the pub, the gym and live sport. “With many Victorians having been in lockdown longer than anywhere else in the world, it’s no surprise that around two in three are going to splurge once lockdown ends – welcome news for many struggling small businesses,’’ the report said. Vic Locally-acquired Covid-19Victoria on Wednesday recorded 1841 new local Covid cases and 12 more deaths.An announcement on whether Mildura will emerge from lockdown at the same time as Melbourne is expected to be made on Thursday.Loved ones were reunited at Melbourne Airport as the first flight carrying fully vaccinated travellers from Sydney touched down in Victoria. Friends and family threw their arms around one another after health authorities announced last week that fully vaccinated travellers from the northern state could come to Victoria quarantine free. Among the first double dosed travellers landing in Melbourne was Melanie Schilling, who was forced to wait two months to embrace her husband Gareth Brisbane and daughter Maddie on Wednesday.NED-4588-VIC-roadmap-out-of-lockdownBOOSTERS FOR AGED CAREElderly Australians in aged-care facilities across the nation will be offered a Covid-19 booster shot next month, if authorities give their tick of approval. The development comes after the Herald Sun revealed boosters would be rolled out widely by Christmas. Health Minister Greg Hunt will hold talks about the use of Pfizer vaccine for boosters with Australia’s expert immunisation panel and drug regulator on Monday. “We are in a position to commence and to make sure that that additional protection is provided,” Mr Hunt declared on Wednesday. But Mr Hunt said aged-care facilities and states may be able to start boosters before then, if the jab is approved. New data from Israel has shown boosters are effective at decreasing infection and severe disease in all age groups. TEACHERS ON THE MARK About 85.5 per cent of Victoria’s teaching staff are fully vaccinated and 98 per cent have had their first Covid-19 vaccination. This means they will be able to work on October 25 when all education workers are required to have had a first dose. Almost 1400 Victorian teaching staff are yet to confirm if they have received a Covid vaccine.Figures from the Department of Education reveal 1221 Victorian school staff members are yet to disclose their vaccination status, while 166 others have reported that they are not vaccinated and do not have a booking scheduled before the mandate comes into effect. The 166 who have stated they have not made a booking make up about 1.7 per cent of the state’s teaching staff. NED-4476-Covid-19-Vaccine-Rates-MelbourneHOSPITALITY CONFUSIONThe state government has been forced to justify its decision to require bar and restaurant staff to be fully vaccinated before healthcare workers and teachers.It comes amid widespread confusion after contradictory messaging incorrectly advised only one dose was required for hospitality workers.The state government later clarified every worker must be fully vaccinated, despite the authorised worker mandate giving workers until November 26 to receive both doses. Many venues may push reopenings back as employees were working towards the later deadline.Covid commander Jeroen Weimar said longer deadlines for industries such as construction, healthcare and media, were made because they were mandatory, contractual obligations.