Al-anwar Newspaper English news in Australia
Victoria has recorded 176 new locally acquired COVID-19 infections on Thursday, a day after the Premier conceded driving the state’s Delta outbreak down to zero was no longer possible.
Contact tracers have linked 83 of the new cases to existing outbreaks.
Health authorities say more information will be provided later about the number of cases who were in quarantine while infectious.
The state processed 48,372 test results on Wednesday when state-run clinics administered 33,720 doses of vaccine.
On Wednesday, Premier Daniel Andrews said Victorians could no longer “hold out hope” of stamping out the Delta outbreak, and must instead limit the growth of cases while the community urgently vaccinates itself.
Exposure sites grow across Melbourne and Geelong
More tier 1 exposure sites have been listed across metropolitan Melbourne, with anyone who attended the sites urged to get tested immediately and isolate.
Positive COVID-19 cases attended Base Backpackers hostel in St Kilda, Kasr Sweets in Coolaroo, Broadmeadows Family Health Care in Broadmeadows, and Serco Services Australia in Essendon Fields.
Tier 2 exposure sites have been listed in Altona North, Keilor East, Tarneit, Southbank, Hawthorn, Brunswick East, Sunshine, Elsternwick, Hadfield and Albion.
In wider Victoria, tier 2 sites have been identified in at a Coles, the 7 Origins Café and the Poco Café Express, all in Geelong West.
No new exposure sites were identified in the Greater Shepparton area.
Businesses crushed by reality of extended lockdown
Victorian business owners said Wednesday’s state government announcement marked a “day of disappointment”, warning of the long term economic consequences of the lockdown.
Victorian head of the peak employer association Ai Group, Tim Piper, accused the government of dragging its heels on business support, saying the announced reopening of playgrounds was an insufficient reward for struggling business owners.
“Kids back into playgrounds is a positive change,” he said.
“But it doesn’t create any new economic activity, offer any security for jobs or job creation, help high school and VCE students or young adults.”
General manager of the Chapel Street Precinct Association Chrissie Maus echoed Mr Piper’s sentiments, saying Victorian businesses had been given no hope by the government.
“It’s only small privileges like playgrounds that are being dangled in front of us. Businesses are begging for some relief. We are not children, it’s as though we’re all in class detention,” she said.
The government said it would have more to say about business support in the next few days.
