Rural Councils Victoria has written to the Victorian Government calling for an easing of COVID restrictions in rural and regional Victoria.
RCV Chair Mary-Ann Brown said:
“Due to the extremely low infection rate in rural and regional Victoria, RCV asks that restrictions in rural and regional areas are eased further as soon as possible.
“We have formally requested that the easing in rural Victoria occur at least on the same day they change in Melbourne, and much earlier if possible.”
This would be consistent with the government’s earlier decision to treat rural and regional areas differently to the metropolitan region due to the massive differential in infection rates.
Ms Brown said:
“Today’s rolling 14-day-average in regional Victoria of new cases is 0.3. There have been zero new cases reported in regional Victoria, which has a population of more than one million spread over more that 220,000 square kilometres.
“There are zero cases from unknown sources in regional Victoria.”
“Many parts of rural Victoria have had zero new cases for much longer than 14 days and, yet have harsher than necessary restrictions imposed on their communities.”
Moving rural Victoria to the final step means that the next change would allow rural and regional areas to have:
“RCV also suggested that rural-based workers to be allowed to return to work – subject to density requirements and COVID-safe plans – as it is our understanding that working from home is largely required to keep people away from high-risk situations, such as public transport, lifts, escalators and other factors more relevant to Melbourne.”
“RCV is committed to working collaboratively with the Victorian Government an ensure that all rural Victorians can transition safely through the easing of restrictions.”