Thousands to attend Melb Cup, live music

DOUBLE-vaccinated Victorians will be able to attend the Melbourne Cup and live music within weeks under a large-scale trial of crowd numbers.

About 10,000 racing fans can go to the Melbourne Cup on 2 November, while Oaks Day and Stakes Day will be allowed similar-sized crowds if the state reaches its 80 per cent COVID-19 double-jab threshold.

A live music event will also be held at the Sydney Myer Music Bowl on 30 October with thousands of people attending.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the events send an important signal about changes over the coming months.

“We’re going to normalise this virus, we are going to move through this difficult gateway, we’re going to open up and we’re going to be back doing what we do best,” he said.

The events are part of a large-scale trial of vaccination status checks that will see patrons asked to show a digital or printed vaccination certificate, immunisation history statement, or a medical exemption to enter a venue.

The checks are part of plans to open up the economy when the state hits 80 per cent vaccination targets, expected on about 5 November.

Derby Day on 30 October, which attracted more than 80,000 people in 2019, won’t be included in the trial.

The state’s racing and major events minister Martin Pakula acknowledged that the race meet limits were tighter than the 11,500 people the industry had been aiming for, but he said they were an important test.

“I think there is a powerful emotion and urge in the community for us to get open … I think it’s a really important signal to send to the nation and to the rest of the world that Melbourne is opening up,” he said.

The large-scale events will follow smaller trials in regional Victorian venues to start from Monday including cinemas, hotels, a gym, a church, and a beauty clinic.

The 15 venues participating include pubs in Cowes, Wycheproof, and the Pyrenees, and several venues in east Gippsland, Bendigo and Warrnambool.

On Sunday Victoria added 1890 COVID-19 infections to its caseload and an additional five deaths over the past 24 hours.

Victoria is managing more than 18,340 active cases. Another 609 people are in hospital, with 126 in intensive care and 88 on ventilators.

Less that seven per cent of those in hospital have been fully vaccinated.

Almost 40,000 vaccines were administered across the state on Saturday, while 74,105 tests were conducted.

Meanwhile, tracing efforts have been scaled back to focus on positive cases and primary contacts.

About 16,000 secondary contacts are being allowed to leave isolation this weekend as authorities change their processes to manage escalating case numbers.

Primary contacts are being asked to isolate away from the rest of their household and secondary contacts are being encouraged to get tested if they show symptoms.

Vaccination rates continue to rise in Victoria. As of Saturday evening, more than 86 per cent of over 16s had one dose and more than 58 per cent were fully vaccinated.

Residents of Mildura are again in lockdown to contain growing cases, with 18 new cases recorded on Sunday and 55 active infections across Sunraysia. 

– BY AAP