Surf Coast to exit lockdown tomorrow, Geelong unknown

HEALTH Minister Martin Foley today said the Surf Coast Shire would come out of lockdown at 11.59 tomorrow night, Sunday, September 26.

It is unknown if the Greater Geelong region will be exiting lockdown tomorrow, but Mr Foley has said things were looking “relatively positive” for the region at today’s press conference.

The announcement comes as the state recorded 847 new local infections – the highest daily tally since the start of the pandemic. There was also one death, a man in his 80s.

There is one new case in the Surf Coast Shire, and one new case in the Corangamite Shire, both linked to existing cases.

Mr Foley said 79 per cent of the state’s new cases were in people aged 50 or under.

“This is still largely an outbreak of people under 50, the young and the unvaccinated,” he told reporters.

Half of the nation’s population aged over 16 is now fully vaccinated.

As police in Victoria prepare for more protests on Saturday, Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton has pleaded with people not to gather to watch the AFL grand final, which is being played in Perth.

“Everyone in the state deserves to enjoy the day, and I hope they will, but there is a curfew in place in much of Victoria,” he said.
“It’s those close contacts that put you, your friends, and your household at risk.”

Meanwhile, Tourism and Trade Minister Dan Tehan has urged the states to rethink their position on home-based quarantine as Christmas nears.

Asked on Saturday if Australia needs to adopt a national position on home quarantine arrangements, he said: “It would be wonderful if every state and territory began to trial it like they are in South Australia.

“The early indications there are that it is working and working well

“The more states and territories that we can get on board … the better, because in the end that’s going to be the best way we can – in particular for all those Australians who want to return for Christmas – bring them home.”