Victoria has recorded 183 new local Covid cases overnight, 101 of which are linked to known outbreaks. A total of 29,950 people rolled up their sleeves to get vaccinated on Saturday, with 48,487 test results received. There are 1417 active Covid cases in the state. More details on the cases will be revealed at a press conference later today.‘ONLY JABS CAN SAVE US’Prominent Melbourne hospitality operators are pushing for patrons and staff to be fully vaccinated to help revive the city.The traders say mass vaccination is the only way to save devastated businesses and ensure that the city bounces back after crippling lockdowns. Bruce Keebaugh, owner of major catering and events company The Big Group, wants his staff and clients to face mandatory jabs.“Our clients need confidence to plan and book, our staff need to foresee a future. Our suppliers and sole traders need our support to restore their livelihoods,” he said. “And we will do this by ensuring each member of our staff is fully vaccinated to greet our fully vaccinated guests.” “There is no way out for the hospitality sector without frontline hospitality worker vaccinations as an urgent priority.”“We would like to see government adopt a triage approach where vaccination is the number one priority, supported by rapid antigen testing to provide inclusion for those unable to vaccinate, and to provide environments that are Covid-free,” he said. Cherry Bar owner James Young said his venues had been closed for over a year.“If you can get children back to school, me back to work and artists back on stage, I’d have the jab every weekend,” he said.“Like so many other businesses, I continue to suffer crippling losses. The government grants are very helpful, but they’re a Band-Aid.” NED-4476-Covid-19-Vaccine-Rates-MelbourneMr Young, who is also a City of Melbourne-appointed “night mayor”, said he and his business partners were finalising a rule that all staff had to be vaccinated to work. “I don’t want to see anyone die needlessly, so that’s why I’m so passionate about everyone getting the jab,” he said.“We’ve got to get off this lockdown rollercoaster. The government has made it perfectly clear that the only way out is through vaccination.” Owner of Epocha restaurant, Angie Giannakokadis, said mass vaccination was the key to opening up, but she stopped short of calling for mandatory jabs, believing it would be too divisive. NED-4486-Vic-roadmap“All my staff are getting vaccinated, they’re all invested in that,” she said.“If you care about the individual, then you must take care of the community first – that is how I see it.”Ms Giannakokadis said vaccination was not about the individual. “This is about all of us together, because that’s how we look after each other. This is what we have to do, for each other,” she said. “(To encourage vaccination) it has to be emotive and show people what we’re missing out on right now.”THE SHOW MUST GO ONAustralia’s peak live performance industry body wants theatre shows to reboot rehearsals in late September with a plan to return to capacity crowds by December. Live Performance Australia — which represents promoters, producers, performing arts companies, arts and music festivals, and stadiums and arenas — says industry leaders are also discussing proof of vaccination and “no jab, no entry” issues as part of Covid-safe measures to reopen gigs. LPA’s chief executive Evelyn Richardson said vaccination targets, including 70 per cent getting a first jab by September 20, and 80 per cent in November, gives performers a hopeful timeline to get back on stage. “We’re going for gold with those targets of 70 per cent and 80 per cent. At 70 per cent we want to see rehearsals permitted, otherwise as we get to the end of the year – November, December, January – we won’t have shows ready to go,” Ms Richardson said. “We need to be able to get back into rehearsals, so if we’re able to activate later in the year, come November-December, we’ve got shows ready, particularly on the theatre side. “At 70 per cent, we recognise there will be ongoing restrictions and health overlays, but once we get to 80 per cent, we will be looking for the industry to reopen at 100 per cent capacity with overlays like masks, QR codes and Covid-safe plans.” Ms Richardson said the LPA had made submissions about the industry’s targets to Victorian and NSW governments.Vic Locally-acquired Covid-19In Melbourne, epic Broadway musicals Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Frozen, have been dark since mid-July.Lockdowns also shut down Potter for most of 2020 and early 2021.Moulin Rouge, which had its premiere postponed twice, is planning to open on October 3. Meanwhile, LPA said industry leaders are also discussing proof of vaccination and no jab-no entry issues for theatre shows and music gigs. “We’re talking about that with state governments, particularly in NSW and Victoria, The discussion is how that would work, and what tool would be used,” Ms Richardson said. On the no jab-no entry talks, she said: “Those discussions are very live at the moment. I don’t know that you can have a hard and fast, one size fits all rule.” In the US, Broadway shows will require theatregoers to be vaccinated against Covid-19 in order to attend performances, under new rules to take effect in October. Concert giant Live Nation will also require all artists, crew and attendees show proof of full vaccination or a negative test at their US venues and festivals. Ms Richardson said Australians need to get the jab so performers can get back to work.“We are very focused on everybody getting vaxed.”DAN’S KIDS SERVE UP AN EARLY TREATHe wasn’t on the beers but Premier Daniel Andrews was in a spritely mood in an early Father’s Day snap on Saturday night. Mr Andrews shared a social media post showing him being treated to steak and chips by his children Noah, Joseph and Grace. “Work tomorrow, so the kids cooked up an early Father’s Day steak and chips for tonight. Beats socks and jocks. Love them more everyday,” he wrote.
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