Andrews hopes to downgrade more NSW zones - The Canberra Times

Most of NSW should soon turn green under Victoria's coronavirus traffic light system, potentially freeing hundreds of police from border duties. Premier Daniel Andrews expects changes will be announced by Friday afternoon that will further free up travel from NSW into Victoria. Victoria has reached 22 days with no new local coronavirus cases, with 27 active cases in hotel quarantine. "I'm very confident that tomorrow we'll be able to make some announcements about changes to settings," he said. "That will mean a much greater freedom of movement. "I would hope to have by the end of tomorrow no red zones in NSW, a much larger green zone, but there may be some remnants, a couple of local government areas, that remain orange." Victorian Police Association secretary Wayne Gatt on Wednesday said it was time to bring home the 850 officers deployed to the border operation, which he described as a "huge chunk" of the force. On Thursday, Mr Andrews stressed that was a call for Victoria Police, not the state government. He also praised police for their work during a "very difficult" 12 months. "Logic tells you that if we can get just about every part of the country green, barring one or two local government areas, then Victoria Police, there will be less of them on the border," he said. "We ask a lot of them and working on the border is not easy, but it is playing a really significant part in keeping us safe and keeping us open." Under Victoria's travel permit system, the Cumberland local government area is the only red zone. Wednesday marked the end of the Black Rock restaurant cluster that sparked before Christmas, with the last local active case in Victoria. But Mr Andrews said he would not follow NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian's lead in easing restrictions on mask-wearing in shops, including supermarkets, from Friday. "No, we are not likely to do that," the Victorian premier said. "Masks are a very important insurance policy and if you think about the Vermont South case that person ... did spend a considerable amount of time on Boxing Day in a very crowded Chadstone. "I'm not aware we've had any cases, despite record testing, coming out of that shopping centre." Coronavirus testing numbers are up, with 14,494 results in the 24 hours to midnight on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Education Minister James Merlino said more than one million Victorian students would return to school this week. He also announced that 14 new schools would open across the state in 2021, following last year's lockdown disruptions. "We're in the middle of the biggest school building boom in our state's history - that's good for children and their education, and it's good for jobs," Mr Merlino said in a statement. Australian Associated Press

Most of NSW should soon turn green under Victoria's coronavirus traffic light system, potentially freeing hundreds of police from border duties.

Premier Daniel Andrews expects changes will be announced by Friday afternoon that will further free up travel from NSW into Victoria.

Victoria has reached 22 days with no new local coronavirus cases, with 27 active cases in hotel quarantine.

"I'm very confident that tomorrow we'll be able to make some announcements about changes to settings," he said.

"That will mean a much greater freedom of movement.

"I would hope to have by the end of tomorrow no red zones in NSW, a much larger green zone, but there may be some remnants, a couple of local government areas, that remain orange."

Victorian Police Association secretary Wayne Gatt on Wednesday said it was time to bring home the 850 officers deployed to the border operation, which he described as a "huge chunk" of the force.

On Thursday, Mr Andrews stressed that was a call for Victoria Police, not the state government.

He also praised police for their work during a "very difficult" 12 months.

"Logic tells you that if we can get just about every part of the country green, barring one or two local government areas, then Victoria Police, there will be less of them on the border," he said.

"We ask a lot of them and working on the border is not easy, but it is playing a really significant part in keeping us safe and keeping us open."

Under Victoria's travel permit system, the Cumberland local government area is the only red zone.

Wednesday marked the end of the Black Rock restaurant cluster that sparked before Christmas, with the last local active case in Victoria.

But Mr Andrews said he would not follow NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian's lead in easing restrictions on mask-wearing in shops, including supermarkets, from Friday.

"No, we are not likely to do that," the Victorian premier said.

"Masks are a very important insurance policy and if you think about the Vermont South case that person ... did spend a considerable amount of time on Boxing Day in a very crowded Chadstone.

"I'm not aware we've had any cases, despite record testing, coming out of that shopping centre."

Coronavirus testing numbers are up, with 14,494 results in the 24 hours to midnight on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Education Minister James Merlino said more than one million Victorian students would return to school this week.

He also announced that 14 new schools would open across the state in 2021, following last year's lockdown disruptions.

"We're in the middle of the biggest school building boom in our state's history - that's good for children and their education, and it's good for jobs," Mr Merlino said in a statement.

Australian Associated Press

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2021-01-27 23:43:13Z
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