Virus fried as state serves up freedom

VICTORIA is well on track to open up further next weekend and could eliminate coronavirus altogether.

Four new COVID-19 cases were recorded on Friday but two were possibly false positives.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said eliminating the virus from Victoria was now “absolutely possible”.

There were no active cases in regional Victoria, and 80 in metropolitan Melbourne, where the 14-day average fell to just 2.6.

“Elimination may happen by virtue of finding everything that is out there,” Professor Sutton said.

“We aren’t hanging our hats on that because there could be hidden cases, chains of transmission that just go on without being detected, as well.

“If we can find each and every case that identifies the chains of transmission and use the isolation and quarantine in that broad contact tracing that has been done to stop it all, fantastic.”

Daniel Andrews said the state was set to be reunited from November 9 with the scrapping of the metro regional border.

The Premier said he was likely to announce the next easing of restrictions next Sunday.

He refused to say what, if any, thresholds would force the government to abandon that plan.

Mr Andrews, who announced the end of his daily appearances after 120 consecutive press conferences, said some restrictions might have to stay in place until a vaccine was available.

“I think there is a broad consensus that they will get there (to a vaccine),” he said.

“There are timelines about how you make it and get it out through the Victorian community. All of that takes time. It is some way off.”

Professor Sutton said a vaccine would be key to certainty and being confident of avoiding a third wave.

“I don’t want to say it (chance of a third wave) is zero … until there is widespread use of a vaccine that is effective,” he said.