A vaccine passport experiment begins in regional Victoria as the state records 1890 new COVID-19 cases and five deaths.
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Here is the latest COVID19 vaccne update.
As a vaccine passport experiment begins in six regional Victorian communities, 1890 new local coronavirus infections have been reported, including five deaths.
More than 73,138 COVID-19 tests were performed in the most recent case count, down from 1889 instances on Sunday and 1965 cases on Saturday.
On Sunday, at least 34,279 people rolled up their sleeves to get vaccinated at state-run vaccination centers.
COVID-19 has 19,012 active cases in Victoria right now.
The vaccine passport trial, which will begin with just 14 firms in six regional local government regions, is expected to be a major measure of the state’s readiness to live under “COVID-normal.”
The trial will serve as a test run for the system, which will be implemented across the state once 80% of the eligible population has received two coronavirus vaccines. Premier Daniel Andrews stated on Sunday that the state would meet that goal around November 5.
Customers will be forced to use the Service Victoria app on their smartphone to demonstrate proof of vaccination.
Hotels, cafés, movies, a gym, a church, and a beauty salon are among the companies participating in the inaugural passport testing. They can be found on the Bass Coast, Warrnambool, Buloke Shire, Greater Bendigo, Pyrenees Shire, and East Gippsland local government districts.
Trish Howden, part-owner of Darlings of Beauty in Warrnambool, said her Warrnambool salon was approached to participate in the vaccine passport study 10 days ago and she gladly accepted.
“Because if no one raises their hands, Victoria will just keep going in and out of lockdown,” she explained.
“Hopefully, by doing the experiment, we will obtain evidence that a double-vaccinated community is the way to go, and that by increasing the number of people who are double-vaccinated, our lives will return to normal.”
“It implies that nobody can come into the salon [if they are not completely vaccinated], not even the postman or parcel deliveries or anything like that.”
Ms Howden said she didn’t expect any problems with clients being required to get vaccinated as long as everyone kept in mind that “we’re all just trying to find a path ahead.”
The salon first opened in March, but due to repeated lockdowns, it has been a rollercoaster ride.
Ms Howden explained, “There is no manual for us to follow or anything; this is all brand new to everyone.” “As long as everyone relaxes and remembers that we’re all simply trying to perform our jobs and find a way forward,” says the narrator.
Reece Tuohey, proprietor of Body Fit Training Bendigo, said the trial will show how life might return to a more normal routine after the tremendous disruption caused by lockdowns.
He described it as “the closest it’s felt to normal in the last few months and a sense of what the new normal will look like.”
The company will continue to hold sessions outside for those who have not yet been vaccinated. However, it will now be able to seat 24 people inside and 12 outside.
Customers will be able to check in and validate their vaccination status at the same moment, according to Mr Tuohey.
The success of the passport testing will clear the way for a crowd of 10,000 at the Melbourne Cup, where there will likely be four access zones for supporters and one solely for racing participants, according to Victorian officials.
Regardless of whether the state has reached the 80 percent double-dosed criteria, 10,000 fully vaccinated spectators will be able to attend Flemington on November 1st. If the 80% threshold is not fulfilled, the 10,000 fans must live within a 25-kilometer radius of the racetrack.
The Cup usually draws up to 100,000 spectators, but Victorian Racing Club chairman Neil Wilson said his team was overjoyed and that “we think it’s a fantastic amount.”
The vaccine passport study will also involve a concert with thousands of fans on October 30 at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, subject to Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton’s clearance.
Meanwhile, late Sunday evening, Victorian health officials identified more schools as COVID-19 exposure sites.
Between 8.45 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Tuesday, October 5 and Wednesday, October 6, Woodend Primary School in the Macedon Ranges was deemed a tier-1 or close contact exposure site.
On Tuesday, October 5 between 8.30 a.m. and 4 p.m., Queen of Peace Parish Primary School in Altona Meadows was designated as tier-1.
On Tuesday, October 5 and Wednesday, October 6, Virtual School Victoria in Thornbury was deemed a close contact site between 7 a.m. and 12 p.m., and again 4.30 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Anyone who attended the schools during those times must be tested for COVID-19 and placed on a 14-day quarantine from the exposure location, unless the Department of Health advises otherwise.
