Masks will remain mandatory in workplace settings for the foreseeable future, despite mounting pressure from business leaders and the Victorian opposition for them to be scrapped as an incentive to woo staff back to the office. It comes as Victoria recorded 7169 new Covid cases and six deaths in 24 hours. There are 652 people in hospital, with 73 in intensive care and 28 on ventilators.Department of Health deputy secretary Kate Matson on Saturday backed the government requirement to not force CBD workers back to their desks.It comes after the Saturday Herald Sun revealed Premier Daniel Andrews had no plans to mandate a return, despite allowing big tennis crowds. “I’m sure (chief health officer) Brett (Sutton) will look at everything and look at all the data – how hospitalisations are going, how mobility data is tracking – before he makes any recommendation to the minister,” Ms Matson said.Asked if the stubborn stance made sense given kids had returned to school and childcare, Ms Matson said: “I take Brett’s recommendations … he is the professional in this area, he’s certainly very well experienced to make those recommendations to government (and) given that is his advice, I think it’s the right thing to be doing”.Though workers can return to the office, it is the government’s “strong recommendation” they continue to work from home.Prominent Melbourne restaurateur Chris Lucas joined the opposition on Saturday in calling for workers to be pushed back with force.NED-5151-Covid-19-booster-shots-graphic“Sadly I just don’t see how it makes any sense to continue with these archaic rules. These rules are killing our businesses and killing our CBD,” Mr Lucas said. “We’re pleading with the Premier to listen to small business. The damage being caused by these restrictions will far outweigh the minor, or in fact health benefits (of the restrictions).”Opposition small business and CBD recovery spokesman David Southwick said: “The Premier has single-handedly destroyed our CBD because he doesn’t want to get workers back”.On Saturday, Victoria reversed its ban on non-urgent elective surgeries with some private and day procedure centres to resume at half capacity from next week.From February 7 Victorian authorities will allow private hospitals and day procedure centres to recommence surgery to up to 50 per cent of their normal practice levels.It comes after the government banned all non trauma or category one surgeries amid the spread of Omicron.If numbers continue to fall, authorities will look at continuing further elective surgeries in the state systems in the weeks ahead, with a goal to initially operate at 75 per cent capacity in regional areas and 50 per cent in the metropolitan public health system.
Powered by WPeMatico
