Melbourne ends one of the world’s longest lockdowns

A renowned coffee culture is a hallmark of life in Melbourne, known as one of the world’s most liveable cities. Yet with some of the harshest pandemic restrictions, caffeine took on a new role: one of few ways to make human contact. 

At Nomadi Coffee House, in the Australian city’s southeast, locals have been coming by for as many as three takeout coffees a day -- one of only a handful of permitted activities under strict under stay-home orders -- just “so they go outside,” according to head roaster David Bueno. Now, after more than 260 cumulative days under the measures, on Friday Melbourne’s five million residents can finally taste freedom, too.

Movement restrictions have been lifted, while venues from salons to restaurants are reopening for fully-vaccinated people after hitting a state-wide target of 70% full inoculation among those aged 16 and older. Art galleries, gyms and other venues are expected to begin opening their doors early next month, when Victoria state reaches the 80% threshold.

From Nov. 1, vaccinated international travellers arriving in Victoria state who test negative before boarding their flights will no longer have to quarantine, premier Dan Andrews said at a press conference on Friday. There will be a cap of 250 hotel quarantine places for travellers who are not inoculated with an approved vaccine.

“This is a freedom of movement we’ve not been able to enjoy for a long time. And that’s all because Victorians have got vaccinated in record time and in record numbers,” Andrews said. The state recorded 2,189 new Covid-19 cases on Friday.

The easing marks an end to six separate stay-home mandates over 18 months, as authorities adhered to a strict Covid Zero policy they have now abandoned in favour of living with the virus as endemic. It follows the reopening of neighbouring New South Wales on October 11 and federal leader Scott Morrison’s doubling down on his plan to end state border closures by Christmas. 

The city enforced some of the world’s toughest virus measures, managing to keep case counts relatively low compared with global hotspots. Victoria state, with a population of roughly 6.5 million people, has recorded over 73,000 cases and 1,005 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic, mostly in Melbourne. That’s compared to Australia’s biggest state, New South Wales -- home to about 8 million -- which has clocked over 72,000 cases and 543 deaths. 

Equally sunny Los Angeles County -- home to 10 million people, and with less-severe lockdowns -- has recorded 1.48 million cases and 26,473 deaths. London, having celebrated its so-called “Freedom Day” months ago, has recorded 1.1 million cases and nearly 16,000 deaths in a population of around 9 million. 

Hanging On

The suppression level achieved has not been without costs. The lockdowns have been part of a global debate about the impact of such stringent Covid-related orders on mental health. Headspace, a Melbourne-based foundation providing 12 to 25 year olds with intervention services, said two in five young Australians feel their mental health has deteriorated since the pandemic’s onset. 

Lifeline, a charity offering 24-hour mental health crisis support and suicide prevention, saw the busiest days in its 57-year history in recent months. 

“Just two years ago we were averaging under 2,500 calls a day. Today we are regularly seeing more than 3,500 -- a 40% increase,” Lifeline chairman John Brogden said in a statement. 

The local economy has also taken a hit. But economists expect consumption in Victoria to pick up in the coming weeks, following similar post-easing moves in NSW.

The Westpac Card Tracker index, which is based on millions of daily card transactions processed by Westpac Banking Corp., rose to a three-month high in the Oct. 16 week, led by NSW, with activity still soft in Victoria.

“Card activity in travel and related segments has been the standout underperformer throughout Covid, but is now rising and looks likely to see stronger gains in the weeks ahead,” Westpac said in a Thursday note.

A key part of Melbourne’s recovery will involve bringing back to full speed its world-famous live events scene, including January’s Australian Open and April’s Formula 1 Grand Prix.

The sector is a driver for Melbourne’s hospitality and tourism sectors, pumping billions of dollars into the economy, said Evelyn Richardson, chief executive of Live Performance Australia. But it will face challenges -- venues will still need to adhere to restrictions related to the easing.

“While much of the economy will be returning to pre-Covid activity, the live music and entertainment industry will be constrained by venue capacity and border restrictions for some months,” she said. 

For Jay Fredricson, manager at Plain Sailing, an eatery in the trendy Elwood neighbourhood, the mood is high. “We’re so happy to have people back again,” he said as he readied to welcome diners. “It’s been six times now, so we know what to prepare for.”

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