Latest COVID-19 News (as of 18th October)

AUSTRALIA

An epidemiologist from the medical research institute which has done coronavirus modelling for the Victorian government has encouraged people to “break” their model by increasing vaccination rates beyond what was originally predicted. Margaret Hellard, deputy director of the Burnet Institute, told radio station 3AW that the 1903 cases recorded in Victoria today were not unexpected and it was important to focus on the trends rather than the daily case numbers. Victoria’s daily coronavirus numbers are expected to peak soon before coming down a bit as vaccination rates increase. However, when the state opens up and there is more transmission, the numbers could rise again.

Tens of thousands of prep students in Melbourne have returned to school this morning after a 74-day absence, in a staged return to face-to-face learning that has been fast-tracked to account for Victoria’s rapidly growing vaccination rate. The youngsters will have playgrounds and school corridors all to themselves for the first three days of this week, before returning to remote learning on Thursday to make way for year one and two students. Students in years prep to two would be encouraged to wear a mask at school this week.

Australia’s medical regulator has approved a new combination therapy to treat people at risk of developing severe COVID-19. The Therapeutic Goods Administration has provisionally approved the use of Roche’s ronapreve treatment for those aged 12 and over who weigh at least 40 kilograms and are at risk of becoming severely ill from a coronavirus infection. The federal government also signed an agreement for 500,000 units of a new Pfizer antiviral drug that would be used to prevent infection in people who had been exposed to the virus.

Area	NSW	QLD	VIC
​Numbers / Cases	265 (5 deaths)	0	1903 (7 deaths)
​Restriction/s	Fully vaccinated residents can come out of lockdown. Unvaccinated residents subject to restrictions.	No restrictions on leaving home.	6 reasons to leave house in metropolitan Melbourne & Mildura Metro Melbourne (lockdown until 21st Oct)
*Face mask is still compulsory	Residents of regional LGAs can travel to other areas, but cannot enter Sydney for holidays.	Businesses and venues are now allowed to reopen with one person per 4 sq metres, or 50% capacity when seated.	Metro Melbourne stay-at-home (9pm to 5am).
	Anyone entering an LGA of concern for the purposes of work must carry a worker permit issued by Service NSW.	Restriction in Brisbane & Moreton Bay. Limits of a maximum 50 people during events.	Real estate inspections will resume by appointment only. Essential workers who can’t work from home need to get a permit to go to work.

MALAYSIA (SARAWAK)

The exemption for fully vaccinated Sarawakians from applying through EnterSarawak when travelling back to the state will encourage Sarawakians who are presently outside the state to return home to exercise their voting rights. Minister said although he had no idea when the next state election will be held, he is delighted that the interstate travel ban has been lifted. Without the interstate travel ban now, Sarawakians who are in Peninsular Malaysia can come home to exercise their voting rights.

Restrictions in Kuching (Sarawak)	Cases / Numbers
All business sectors operate from 5am to 12am (80% of employees are allowed present at a time)	199
No public gathering / loitering after 12am.
Movement between cities and districts is allowed.
Only those fully vaccinated are allowed inside government complexes, malls, and shops.
Non-contact sports / activities are allowed.