The dreaded lockdown in Melbourne is likely to be extended past October 19, with the Premier acknowledging that double-digit “stubborn” cases would restrict the government from relaxing restrictions next Sunday.
Daniel Andrews warned Victorians that he would not sign off on “what’s popular” while reporting a further 14 infections and no new deaths on Saturday.
“The tale of this second wave was always going to be stubborn and that is exactly the way it is panning out. I think it unlikely that we will be able to move as fast as we would like to have done next Sunday,” he told reporters on Saturday.
“We will take steps next Sunday, and (we) will spend an enormous amount of time this weekend and throughout the week determining exactly what those next steps can be.
“We’ve all come a very long way and the last thing that I will sign off on is doing what might be popular and what might perhaps please some, but actions, steps that are not safe.
“That will set us back, that will see all that has been given by Victorians across our state frittered away and count for nothing.”
“I would not say that … there will be easing is next weekend,” Mr Andrews said.
“We will not have these sorts of restrictions on well into November. Will there be rules in November? Absolutely, there will be. They will be safe and they will be as broad or as limited as they possibly can be.”