This was published 5 years ago
We've reached the end of another working week on the blog. Today marks six months since The Age newsroom in Melbourne was last together as a group - that's at least six months of us bringing you this blog from our kitchen tables, bedrooms and sparerooms.
Thanks to all of you for reading and commenting along each day - for your news tips and support.
I wish you all a good weekend, the COVID-19 blog will be back early tomorrow morning.
In some good news, a resident from Echuca who was diagnosed with COVID-19 in Echuca yesterday has been declared a false positive by health authorities.
The Public Health Unit Bendigo, who is overseeing testing for the area, confirmed on Friday afternoon that the false positive test was "due to a rare laboratory error".
After returning a positive test yesterday, the person was re-tested today returning a negative result. All close contacts of the person have tested negative as well.
The case was announced at the Victorian Premier's daily press conference on Friday morning.
We're approaching the end of a week where Victorians have had to come to terms with the prospect of being in lockdown until late October. It's been a week full of emotion - there's been criticism of the validity of the ongoing curfew in stage four lockdown areas, anti-lockdown protestors threaten to re emerge again this weekend and experts have warned of the effect on our mental health as the crisis continues in Victoria.
Perhaps reflecting the difficult week, messages of encouragment have been posted on Premier Daniel Andrews social media accounts this evening.
On Facebook, this message was posted with the description, "This success belongs to you."
Year 12 students will have to bring their own pens to sign each other's yearbooks or T-shirts as they farewell their final year, but NSW Health has confirmed formals and graduations can be held from the day after HSC exams finish.
Each student can invite two people from their immediate family or household to their graduation ceremony under the guidelines issued to principals on Friday, so long as events abide by the four-square metre rule.
Schools will draw up plans to ensure 1.5 metres of space separates households, visitors remain seated as much as possible and parents don't mingle before or after the event.
Students and staff are also allowed to attend school-organised formals. "If the venue has the capacity, the school can decide to allow the attendance of external visitors such as partners, DJs, and photographers," the guidelines say.
Dancing is permitted, despite early signs it would be off the agenda, but it comes with caveats: dancefloors must be outdoors or in well-ventilated areas, and students should pick their partners wisely.
Vision Australia has confirmed that its Carols by Candlelight 2020 event will buck the trend of Christmas cancellations and go ahead in a modified way.
It is expected to be held at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl and broadcast on Nine as usual.
"We are busy working with our partners and the government on how best to facilitate attendees in a COVID-safe, socially distanced manner, if permitted to do so,' a statement on its website read. "We look forward to celebrating Christmas again with you this year."
The Myer Christmas Windows have become the latest Christmas tradition to be cancelled because of COVID restrictions.
An organiser of an anti-lockdown rally planned for Saturday has been granted bail after a court heard he secretly buried his mobile phone in his solicitor's front yard and told police he may continue to organise protests.
Police have urged protesters to be "less selfish and a bit more grown up" ahead of a "freedom walk" rally planned for the Tan track on Saturday.
Noting that it was the third time in two weeks he has addressed the media about anti-lockdown rallies Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius said on Friday it was “incredibly frustrating” to have to continuously urge people not to attend the protests.
More on the protests here.
The 14-day average for new coronavirus cases is probably the most important daily number for most Victorians at the moment, because the state's roadmap to reopening is tied to this average dropping below certain thresholds.
Metropolitan Melbourne's target is for the 14-day average to drop below 50 on September 28 so that restrictions could ease slightly. Under what has been dubbed 'step two' by the state government, one of the changes would be that gatherings of up to five people would be allowed.
Melbourne's 14-day average is currently sitting at 65.3.
This week, the Victorian Health Department started publishing places where people may have been exposed to COVID-19.
This afternoon they updated that list, adding Circle Shopping Centre at Altona Gate on August 31 and a Woolworths in Altona North on September 4.
The Dandenong Police Complex was also added (from September 25 until September 3) and a Woolworths in Glen Waverly (September 6).
People who visited the locations on the listed dates are advised to monitor symptoms and get tested if they feel any symptoms.
Our list of the sites has been updated:
The Victorian Health department has revealed it is investigating two separate family clusters in Melbourne’s south-east and a ward at Monash Health.
There has also been some change in the state's biggest non-aged care outbreaks.:
It's worth noting that 50 per cent of the active cases in Victoria are still linked to aged care.
Today we released an interactive map to show how aged care outbreaks are driving postcodes with the highest active cases this week.
If you live in a postcode with more than 50 active cases this week, chances are there's a significant aged care outbreak in your neighbourhood.
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