Victoria records no new COVID-19 cases

It marks the highest number of pedestrians passing through the area on a Monday morning since March 16 last year, when nearly 3000 people were detected as the number of COVID-19 cases began to climb as the first wave of the pandemic hit the city.

Two weeks ago, when the state was halfway into its snap five-day lockdown, 192 pedestrians were logged in the area during the morning peak.

On Monday, coronavirus fragments were detected in wastewater in Melbourne’s west and residents are urged to get tested.

The Department of Health and Human Services has urged residents in Werribee, Werribee South and Hoppers Crossing to get tested if they have coronavirus symptoms, no matter how mild.

The Victorian opposition has called for patrols by protective services officers at Melbourne train stations to return to pre-pandemic numbers in a bid to give office workers more confidence to return to the CBD.

Opposition police spokesman David Southwick said redirecting PSOs back onto public transport on evenings and weekends would also help revive the number of people supporting Melbourne’s nightlife.

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The Business Council of Australia has warned state and territory governments the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine will make it hard to justify snap border and economic restrictions it estimates are costing $170 billion a year.

A report from the council, including data from Accenture, proposes a three-step plan to limit “knee-jerk” reactions to future COVID-19 outbreaks and lift international restrictions as early as June.

More to come.