[VIC] Face Masks Mandatory in ALL of Victoria from August 3rd

Update - Face masks/coverings will be mandatory from August 3rd for ALL Victorians.

Dan Andrews just announced that it will be mandatory to wear a mask when leaving the house in Melbourne and Mitchell Shire lockdown areas, anyone caught not complying will face a $200 fine.

This goes into effect 23:59 July 22nd.

Update - Mask Guidelines
https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/face-coverings-1159pm-wednesday-…

Update - DHHS Guide - How to make a cloth mask
https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/20…

Comments

  • +128

    Cool story bro

    So wear one, better than wearing a ventilator

    • +14

      FYI for people looking for where to buy face masks from - buy from Aldi if you can and not Chemist Warehouse. They are both selling the same boxes, but Aldi is selling them for $30 vs $50 at CW.

    • -3

      Why not 00:00 July 23rd?

      • +8

        Because some people would get it wrong.

        Same with 12 am - any thinking person would put that 1 minute after 11:59 am.

  • Too bad for the 1000 plus people who will get it before then. Melbourne should of been locked down weeks ago.

    • +49

      Weeks ago, you mean during the 1st lockdown when it was locked down? Am confused.

      The outbreak could have happened in any state, it's not like Vic did anything drastically different to the other states to cause the outbreak.

      • -3

        No it's got way worse in last 2 weeks if you haven't heard, stage 3 isn't a lock down 4 is, like NZ did.

        • +1

          The last stage 3 we shut all shops except the Essentials.

          Why this stage 3 they haven't shut hair salons and gyms?

          • +1

            @capslock janitor: True, the amount of traffic and people walking around city is a bit less but I wouldn't call it Lock down at all, the peak hour traffic is the same as pre covid though i notice more accident for some reason

          • +2

            @capslock janitor: Gyms are shut, just like last time. What makes you think gyms haven't closed?
            Hair salons were allowed to open last time also after they reviewed this a couple of weeks in.
            Beauty parlours are closed, as per last time.
            Take away only at restaurants, the same as last time.

        • +6

          Arguably, it hasn't got worse, they've just ramped up testing massively.
          Of course you're going to find more cases if you do more testing - it's aways been there.
          Look at any graph of testing vs cases.

          • +5

            @MIKEPICKARD: The % of positive cases per test is increasing too

          • +1

            @MIKEPICKARD: the only way we'll really know about how this played out is by comparing death stats once the year is out VS projected natural attrition due to old age/disease etc.
            will be able to break that down by state and month as well but thats a combo of chicken VS egg and maybe schrodingers cat or something in that analogy because yes our testing improves over time, as you would hope - is every state doing well on testing ?

            countries that got testing rolling out quickly did well I think ?

          • +3

            @MIKEPICKARD: Donald logic tbh. Look at transmission graphs and cases, not testing vs cases. For (profanity) sake dude. First time around it was all returned travellers. Now that’s like 2% of cases. Now the community transmission is a thing, so graphs of testing vs cases are only just becoming important. It’s not like there was thousands walking around with it for months who just didn’t get tested. Get real.

          • @MIKEPICKARD: Where can you see how many people have been tested and the percentage of positive tests?

      • +29

        ("The outbreak could have happened in any state, it's not like Vic did anything drastically different to the other states to cause the outbreak")

        Yeah its not like Vic was the only state to use security companies to 'supervise' the hotel quarantine program that ignited the outbreak. :)

        • +10

          Don't (profanity) the hotel quarantine guests. they need to tell security companies staff that. cleanly had no clue Security read like a Eps of Housos.

        • -1

          What did other state use?

          • +3

            @Herbse: State police.

            • +16

              @PissLUR: Do you have any source for this information?

              Reports online state that Sydney is also using private security guards

              Link
              Link
              Link

              • +8

                @Herbse: At the time the news everywhere was reporting that VIC was the only state using private security companies exclusively. Others did use them, but in co-ordination with and controlled by state police and/or armed services…

                • +3

                  @papachris: Would really like to see some evidence of this. Everything I've read does not confirm it. There might have been some police presence along with private security which Vic has also had. But no where does anything suggest that Vic was alone in using private security guards.

                  It seems strange that at the start, Sydney would use police and then after the Vic incident stop, and start to use security guards as you claim.

              • @Herbse: NSW use them but augmented with Police. the difference is Victoria was the only state to exclusively rely on them, and yes as can be seen elsewhere that was a really bad decision.

                • @gromit: Source? As I've linked. Nothing I can find suggests this.

                  • +1

                    @Herbse: Your Own link says NSW had 500 police + some ADF across the 22 hotels in addition to the security guards.

                    i.e. "NSW Police said 500 officers were deployed to the 22 hotels per 24-hour period, with assistance from 150 Australian Defence Force personnel and private security contractors."

        • +5

          In another world, we find that State Police sleep with the guests and that the security companies are perfectly fine. As others have mentioned, other states used security companies without issue. It was just bad supervision/luck that what happened in Vic happened, and it could have happened in any state.

          Public outrage of "How could government send state police?? They should have used security companies like the other states!!!! Can't trust government!"

          Foresight is 20/20.

      • +12

        Not like they had a big protest or anything while still posting covid cases everyday

        • +27

          NSW also had the protests bud, so where's the spike there eh? Maybe you didnt know that, Murdoch press chose not to report it widely like the Vic protests for some unknown reason… lol

        • +24

          NSW had a bigger protest turnout, and several more after.
          Every state has had multiple protests. Melbourne had one.

          • +25

            @Herbse: Yup, exactly. Also I believe VIC police are still the only ones who issued fines to the BLM organisers which is likely the reason no more were held in VIC. However Lib supporters generally dont like to discuss these facts and still give Dan a hard time for "Not fining protestors" lol, go figure.

            • +8

              @SkMed: Ok, down vote the facts guys, cool and normal (and thanks for proving my point)

              https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-12/victoria-coronavirus-…

              • +4

                @SkMed: Or that there are people with covid, and people without. So either :

                A) no one attended the other states protests while they had covid; or

                B) they did, but no transmission occurred and they got lucky.

                Either way it was a dumb thing to do, no one can argue with that.

                • +3

                  @smpantsonfire: Well unfortunately for your argument there's no data to back up your claims that BLM was a factor in the outbreak, so you're basing it purely off the fact that there was a protest. The only way to back up this claim without said data is to look at other examples where the same occured and see if the result was the same, which it wasn't.

                  Opinions don't mean shit without data to back them up. I'm not saying it isn't entirely possible there could have been some transmission at BLM but there's no link in the data currently (despite Murdoch's best attempt using sensationalised headlines and skewed data which is dismissed by DHHS). I'd bet my bottom dollar you (and many others) who hold the same opinion weren't aware of the other states even having rallies, Murdoch has that effect.

                  • +1

                    @SkMed: I'm a stoic, so no real interest in arguing. But if you would like data, here you go

                    Cases locally acquired between 18/5 and 6/6 (dates are arbitrary and I put no thought into selecting a range apart from 2-3 weeks leading up to the rallies.

                    NSW - 1
                    SA - 0
                    QLD - 4
                    VIC - 78

                    Now however you would like to look at that, is up to you.

                    I look at it this way. NSW, QLD, SA had almost eradicated it from their communities. VIC however was still posting cases every day, upwards of 4 EACH day. Covid was still doing the rounds in Melbourne, while going nowhere everywhere else.

                    The chances of catching it at a rally in a state other than Victoria, was pretty slim if you ask me. The chances of catching it at a rally in Victoria was up to 78 times higher than compared to NSW or SA.

                    I don't watch TV or read the newspaper, and I sense check every piece on information I come across. That's thanks to my very logical brain.

                    Argue away, but like I said, there is no argument that having the rallies was a good idea.

                  • +12

                    @SkMed: It's been widely reported time and time again that they found no link whatsoever between cases and the BLM protest.

                    It's beyond clear that the people obsessively repeating this lie aren't actually interested in whether it's true or not and just have an agenda, so there's no real point in arguing against it any more.

                    Especially people who "sense check" made up claims instead of actually looking into their veracity, while laughably believing they're being "logical".

                    • @callum9999: I'm not actually sure you are reading anything I've said, but I never said I believe the second wave was from the protests, just that you'd be silly to think it didn't contribute to it.

                      • @smpantsonfire: Except it is being reported that almost every case in this second wave can be linked back to the hotel quarantine fiasco. 10K people at the BLM protests and all fo the outbreaks are localised to the kinds of suburbs where people wouldn't leave their house to actually go to work, let alone attend a virtue-signalling protest.

                  • +1

                    @SkMed: Actually there is data, been in the news in the last few weeks.

                    They was locking down public housing towers, some towers with no known cases of covid.

                    People in public housing are the least likely to go on overseas trip compared to average Australian; probably the least likely to skip on free hotel accommodation and return to their rundown apartments; probably lack the means in terms of money, power, or connections to skip quarantine.

                    So obviously there something other than poor hotel quarantine that caused the outbreak in those towers.

                    I'd say poor hotel quarantine would have contributed to the outbreak. But there is something else admist with the public housing towers lockdown.

      • except it happened in VIC worst handling of Covid-19 state

        • -2

          I think our problem was handling randy Sydneysiders who were happy to trade sex for "freedom".

    • +4

      I know right. You know the first sign of infection is when you confuse of and have?

      Sign of brain damage apparently. When you start misusing ‘your’, you’re in big trouble.

      • +4

        Youre Yaw Your You're rite write right Burnertoasty.

        • +2

          Than Then youre yaw your you're rite write right their they're there Hithere.

      • Ah the old of and have nugget. For sime reason it gets my goat. Don't know why as there's bigger problems out there I don't give a crap about. Pretty sure they don't teach grammar in school anymore?

      • 24-hours limit for voting negative on comments is currently capped at 5

    • +14

      I've seen about 10 different online petitions calling for Andrews to resign given the economic impact of lockdowns. There's no way he could have just implemented a widespread lockdown.

      Should of been in lockdown, yes. Could of been in lockdown, probably not. There would have been protests to rival the BLM protests if it had happened earlier or suddenly, I think.

      • +28

        'have'

        • I am a sheep lol.

      • +5

        Leadership is about leading, not becoming ineffectual due to fear of online petitions. I've seen some pretty ridiculous online petitions, and they usually have zero impact.

        The fact is if we'd stayed in lockdown for about 1 more month and eased off more slowly we'd be more like NZ and less like we are now.

        • +2

          My point isn't about the petition itself but rather the impact of them and what it signifies. I don't think it's accurate to say they have 0 impact, they are the catalyst of sheep (just like me above lol.)

          Asking people to sign a petition is an easy ask, you don't even have to know what they're asking for but next thing you know you hate Daniel Andrews and think he's the worst thing that's ever happened to Victoria because your mate shared the petition on Facebook and you've hated not being able to go out for beers with your mates after work.

          Obviously everyone is not going to be happy with everything a leader does but the more people are personally impacted by the crisis, which we all are, the more people are going to complain and look for someone to blame and people jump on bandwagons easily, which long term doesn't bode well for any leader.

          For every person thinking we should have been in lockdown, there's one person thinking we shouldn't be in lockdown at all ever.

          • +3

            @kanmen:

            For every person thinking we should have been in lockdown, there's one person thinking we shouldn't be in lockdown at all ever.

            So how well does it bode for a leader when parents or co-workers start dying? The difference of opinion is true for almost every topic you can think of. Leadership is about leading without letting that paralyze you. I'd be happier if people's opinions were informed but when most people think a little math or science is too hard and for nerds, I am not about to give their opinions weight in what is literally life and death.

            This is why education is important. Democracy needs to be informed and realistic. It should not mean every opinion is equally valid. Otherwise it's lunatics running the asylum.

            • @syousef: Yes I agree with you that education is important. But I think those opinions unfortunately need to be taken into consideration in ensuring that responses are measured, balanced and slowly implemented otherwise we'd have a lot of dissent on our hands which could be more ineffective than anything else. This is the exact reason why we are having to slowly work with society around issues on sustainability, refugees etc.

              It's referred to as pragmatic leadership. Yes you have to be decisive and make tough decisions, but you also have to take into account other opinions and what the reality is for implementing things, recognising you have to compromise and be patient. Ironically the term 'Dictator Dan' is still making the rounds.

              I don't disagree that we should have been in lockdown, but I think that it couldn't happen as it just was not feasible in our society unfortunately.

              • +2

                @kanmen: This isn't a "slow measured response" We have quite literally thrown away what we were in lockdown for. All that damage to the economy and all we're going to see is a 2-3 month delay to what was coming anyway because we don't have the gumption to stick with it.

                Pragmatic leadership would be saying "This is a damn panedmic, and if you don't like it, tough, and if you don't comply, we'll use the full weight of the law". What you're seeing is incompetent and cowardly leadership. We got lucky the first time because the overall response wasn't terrible despite some mis-steps like Ruby Princess. This time we're going to take a similar route to what we've seen in the US. Good luck.

                • -1

                  @syousef: Wisdom of hindsight is wornderful eh? What do you think medical experts, the national cabinet, and govts across the nation have been doing?

                  • +1

                    @[Deactivated]: Hindsight? NZ did it, and we could have too. I guess their experts are just better than ours. Made our "medical experts, the national cabinet, and govts across the nation" look like incompetent chumps didn't they. Or perhaps our "experts" did that themselves. So many backflips and so much misinformation I'm surprised we managed to get it under control at all. Listening to the NSW CMO insist that we haven't changed our advice on masks today was just the latest eyeroller. I turned off the briefing in disgust.

                    Not that expertise was required. I was saying all along that we needed around 4 more weeks in lockdown. This isn't something I've said with hindsight. I've got the social media and private message posts to prove it. It's not hindsight. It's freakin' obvious. I wasn't and am not a genius. This wasn't my field of expertise. It's called looking at trends and understanding the basics of transmission.

                    We didn't do what had to be done because oh no the sky is falling we have to reopen the businesses before they fail. Well let's see how it pans out now huh. Let's see how the economic carnage pans out now.

                    • -1

                      @syousef: YOUR hindsight. Your knowledge has improved as the situation has developed no doubt but you expected people charged with managing and balancing economies, health, community behaviour etc to know everything from the start - despite no-one having had to deal with a such a pandemic. Lol, take a bow and put yourself up for election champ. If that's too hard offer your expertise on lockdown periods to the government. They clearly don't have any - either medical or economic.

                      How exactly do you envision a complete lockdown occurring btw? Because as we know, the virus has been spread by people at work. At some stage we will have to transition out of lockdown and manage the health/economy balance. When does you brilliant mind tell you that this should occur?

                      • +2

                        @[Deactivated]: If someone's brakes fail, do you tell them they shouldn't complain about the mechanic and they should become one instead?

                        It's not difficult to be consistent and on point. Telling parents one day that they can keep their kids home and the next day that they'll be subject to truancy investigations if they don't comply is incompetence. Those brakes have failed, mate. And you're not just supporting that, you're cheering it on.

                        The some stage at which you transition out of lockdown is when you haven't had new community transmission for a month. Multiple countries have managed to beat this. And again, we nearly did.

                        • @syousef: I'm not cheering anything on, I'm suggesting that your ego and criticism of authorities are inversely proportional. Yes there has been mixed messaging but changing circumstances and knowledge require different approaches, didn't your hindsight wisdom tell you that? In practice there is almost zero chance of controlling everyone's movements and behaviour - even those not working or exempt - so lockdowns are problematic as far as eradication goes. New outbreaks can occur irrespective of lockdown lengths, as Canberra has found.

                          • +2

                            @[Deactivated]: No, they haven't acknowledged changed messaging due to changed circumstances. They've performed backflips literally overnight and denied their prior messages.

                            That has NOTHING to do with MY ego and everything to do with theirs. And you are absolutely cheering it on, and making excuses.
                            It has NOTHING to do with hindsight. I criticized the decisions as they were being made.

                            Canberra is smack bang between Sydney and Melbourne, and hasn't continued the lockdown or closed its borders, so I don't even understand why you'd use that example.

                            New Zealand isn't the only country that has beaten the virus. The reason we didn't is that we got the numbers low and instead of waiting for them to hit zero we got impatient.
                            https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-09/countries-that-have-e…

                            I'm tired of arguing with you. You don't have anything new to say and keep repeating the same non-sequiturs, denials and incorrect information. And you think I'm the one with the ego.

                            • -1

                              @syousef: Canberra had zero community transmission for weeks, as did Sydney iirc. Didn't stop the virus for reasons I've already mentioned. You put yourself above people who are far better qualified, have far more knowledge, have far greater responsibility and who are attempting to keep some balance. You expect your view to be the only one leaders should take note of. That's ego in a nutshell.

                              The problem is not with leaders but with some in the community. Turning up sick to work, refusing to social distance, refusing to isolate or get tested etc etc. Complacency and self-interest is the Australian way - as our lack of care about our environment, our resources, our corrupt political system shows only too well. If you have a solution to managing everyone's expectations and fixing the attitudes of every individual then I'll happily bow to your undoubted wisdom. As a smart fella once opined about the ludicrous bushfire disasters we've just experienced - this country is addicted to risk. Still smarting are you Payton? Feel free to join in with your wisdom.

                              • +1

                                @[Deactivated]: Weeks? 4 weeks. The virus can incubate for longer than that?

                                Who's more qualified than me? YOU? Because you're the only one I'm having this conversation with. And I have deferred to experts from other places. So your entire argument is a straw man.

                                The problem is absolutely with the leaders. If you can't understand that after all I have already written, I'm not going to repeat myself further.

                                I wonder if that smart fella who opinioned ****ed off to Hawaii for a holiday while the country he was leading burned. That's the leadership you continue to defend as you put down ordinary Australians (some of whom are idiots mind you but many others would do a better job).

                                Still telling me to get into politics I see. Didn't read a word I wrote, did you champ?

                                • -1

                                  @syousef: I speed read your reply. Easy to do because it contained nothing more than your previous 'I know better' claims. Who's more qualified than you? No-one, you're the oracle. Do I need to explain what I was saying in regard to experts in simpler terms? Speaking of straw men - classic invention from you about Smirkmo there. You can find my opinion on that matter elsewhere on this website.

                                  4 weeks incubation? Possible but the accepted median incubation is 5-7 days and the max appears to be about 14 days, hence the mandated 2 week quarantine. Canberra was free from community transmission for nearly 3 months iirc.

                                  I didn't repeat my comment about you putting your wisdom to test in the political arena - guess you didn't read my reply. I do think you'd do well in politics though - ego, tick; unwilling to accept the wisdom of others better qualified to make decisions, tick; unwavering belief that you know better, tick. Personally I don't expect perfection from either our political leaders or our health experts and I think overall they're doing okay. As I said the problem is primarily with a small number of the public. I will however probably be able to point out everything we did wrong when this is all over - with the benefit of hindsight.

                                  • @[Deactivated]: You just admitted you didn't bother to read my reply. I am not wasting my time reading yours.

                                    • -1

                                      @syousef: Speed read = not read in your world? Lol. If you read more you might understand more about Covid19 (inc incubation times) and what is confronting medical experts and political decision makers. It's never too late to start.

                                      • +1

                                        @[Deactivated]: No it is very clear you didn't read it and/or ignored what I said. You are condescending, hypocritical, insisting I am being arrogant despite your own lack of expertise, and ignoring that I've deferred to other experts. I would be willing to bet you have done much less reading than I when it comes to the math and medicine of this pandemic. Let me know when you've had a play with the SIR model, if you even know what that is. I don't have any time for your straw men or your speed reading or your immature snarky remarks. I may as well argue with a brick wall.

                                        • -1

                                          @syousef: Clear to you - I'm sure it is. How then do you explain what I wrote? Your reading on C19 lacks comprehension if your incubation comment is anything to go by. Irrespective, to claim you know better than numerous medical and economic experts and govt decision makers and what may or may not work in this country is laughable - pure arrogance.

                                          The economy and general mental wellbeing of everyone MUST be factored into every decision, as must the likelihood of any action succeeding, and the practicality of implementing same with limited resources - eg road border closures only some of which can be monitored due to lack of police resources. It will no doubt come as a huge surprise to you that workers have been using rat runs to bypass roadblocks, not because they don't want to be checked, but because the queues often require 2+ hours wait! Self-defeating.

                                          Playing with a SIR model in this situation is no more useful than playing with yourself. We know what models say even if they are constantly being updated, we know what Covid19 IFRs from different countries say. You claim to have the answer to our problem - give your local ember a ring, write to the papers, write to the Premier in your state. I'm sure they'll give your solution the attention it deserves

                                          • +1

                                            @[Deactivated]: You are being vulgar now and trolling ."Playing with a SIR model in this situation is no more useful than playing with yourself."? Really? You want me to take you seriously. Clearly putting in the time to address your points is going to be met with respect and decorum.

                                            You failed to respond to many of my points and expect me to respond to all of yours, picking on the one I didn't reply to and stating the lack of response is due to my ignorance. All the while when I do refer to anything advanced your response is the crass.

                                            You aren't interested in my opinion, or a civil discussion, or a rational debate. You aren't deferring to experts. You believe yourself to be the expert then project that onto others. I told you repeatedly that experts from around the world have done better than us at keeping this virus at bay, and you continue to flog the dead horse that I think I have all the answers and am an expert. And you then to add insult to injury you sarcastically make suggestions you know perfectly well are ineffectual.

                                            Go bother someone else. I will consider any further response from you to be harassment.

                                            • @syousef: So precisely how does fiddling with a SIR help determine best national health and economic policy in a crisis? I've already said we know what models say - experts are constantly reviewing all such information.

                                              "Experts from around the world have done better than us".

                                              Really? Given medical knowledge is shared how does that work? Countries have adopted different approaches based on their CULTURE, politics, ability to modify behaviour, resources, urgency, ability to quickly ramp up health resources, economic imperatives, etc. A one size fits all proposal is total nonsense. No doubt our leaders are learning now and they/we will all learn what worked best for particular countries when credible analysis becomes available. Were we slow off the mark to close borders etc? In hindsight, undoubtedly. Should we have used offshore detention centres as isolation given the irresponsibility of some, including guards? Possibly. There are plenty more things which will be on the table once the crisis is calmer.

                                              Many people believe that lockdowns are too big a price to pay, that personal freedom >> societal responsibilty. In that environment a heavy hand is likely to cause far more damage as irresponsible fools - who think they know better or simply couldn't care because they aren't in a threatened demographic - rebel.

                                              • @[Deactivated]: Quit with the trolling and harassment. I have said all I have to say to you.

                                                • -1

                                                  @syousef: I'm doing neither. Bottom line it's easy to criticise authorities when you don't have responsibility for balancing the need to keep a functioning society in a crisis. Good luck trying to control public behaviour via a forum.

                                                  • @[Deactivated]: You're doing both, and you're like a broken record. You have said nothing new and are just trying to annoy me. That is practically the definition of trolling. GO AWAY.

          • @kanmen: Asking people to sign a petition is an easy ask, you don't even have to know what they're asking for but next thing you know you hate Daniel Andrews

            Oh - I didn't realise thats how it worked.

            Sign a petition to stop dog eating in China = hate Chinese people.

    • +19

      Melbourne should of been locked down weeks ago.

      Melbourne should have been locked down weeks ago.

    • +6

      Should've*

      • -6

        same diff

        • Don't be a sore 'looser' ;)

          People need to understand 'there' mistakes.

          • @manbearpig:

            Don't be a sore 'looser' ;)

            People need to understand 'there' mistakes

            I 'here' you.

      • -1

        please kill me.

    • -6

      Melbourne should of been locked down allow BLM protest weeks ago.
      Melbourne should of been locked down take a proper care around the 'infested hotel' weeks ago.

    • *should have

    • should have recommended to wear masks from the beginning (i.e. February), instead of promoting that it is not necessary and does not help.
      Now that message has gotten into people's head and it is hard to change that.

      And doing a backflip on the earlier decision has proven the earlier decision was made poorly.

  • +7

    Alot of store is going to be bombarded with people buying mask now. Hope they have enough stock for everyone.

    • +25

      It doesn’t have to be a commercial mask, scarves are considered adequate.

      • +6

        I have a few bandanas, time to break them out!

        • +34

          It's cold man, just go straight for the balaclava. Keep them ears warm too!

          All jokes aside, I'm completely supportive of masks at this point if it means less people die. I'm grown quite fond of my parents, and I'd rather them not die because I was too precious to handle a bit of fabric over my mouth when I go outside. I'm glad I ordered 2 boxes of the surgical masks last week as I expect
          they'll be in short supply at Digitalco points out.

          • +10

            @TEER3X: My parents? Nah, they're worn and have no warranty left.

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