Victorian construction restarts amidst record daily case numbers of 1,763 COVID infections

This represents the highest daily record for any Australian jurisdiction since the pandemic began, and comes as four people with COVID-19 died in the last 24 hours.

Despite the large number of cases recorded in Victoria every day the state is trucking along with its plans to reopen swathes of the economy, beginning with the construction sector which exited a two-week pause overnight.

As of 11.59pm on Monday, 4 October, the construction industry was allowed to reopen as long as all workers carried an Authorised Worker Permit and had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose.

In addition, every construction site in Victoria must also have a designated and fully-trained COVID Marshal to ensure compliance with the Chief Health Officer’s directions.

As part of the reopening of the sector, up to five workers and a supervisor will be able to work onsite for small scale projects, while large scale sites can have up to 25 per cent of workers on the ground.

Further, if crib rooms meet best practice and the entire workforce is fully vaccinated, large scale construction sites can have up to 50 per cent of workers onsite.

Projects on the State Critical Infrastructure list will operate at 100 per cent as long as crib rooms follow best practice guidelines.

Subject to continued high levels of compliance by the industry, workforce caps will progressively increase. At the 70 per cent double dose milestone, large scale construction can return to 100 per cent of its workforce.

Caps will be removed when Victoria reaches its 80 per cent target, and in addition, all onsite workers must be fully vaccinated by 13 November.

“We’ve worked really hard with the industry to ensure they can reopen safely – but the message is clear: we won’t tolerate it operating in a way that puts the rest of our community at risk,” Victorian Treasurer and Minister for Industrial Relations Tim Pallas said.

“I want to thank the large number of men and women from the construction sector who have gone and got vaccinated, and if you haven’t booked your jab – get it done today.”

SA border communities under tightened COVID-19 restrictions

Three border communities in the southeast of South Australia were placed under Level 3 restrictions at 4pm yesterday, giving health authorities time to trace the movements of a Mount Gambier resident who tested positive to COVID-19.

The local government areas (LGAs) of Mount Gambier City, District Council of Grant and Wattle Range Council saw the new restrictions introduced yesterday which cap gathering numbers in the home and in venues.

New restrictions for Mount Gambier City, District Council of Grant and Wattle Range Council:

• One per four square metre density for all defined public activities
• No communal consumption facilities
• Seated food and beverage consumption only
• COVID Management Plan events of more than 1,000 people outside only
• Shisha ban
• Masks for high risk settings, passenger transport services, health care services and personal care services (except for the person receiving the service, if necessary for the provision of the personal care service)
• Restrictions on dancing and singing
• Gathering at home cap: Residents plus two people (gatherings at residential premises, including residents of residential premises)
• Private activity cap: 10 people (private activities at non-residential premises)
• Masks for shared indoor public places (except bridal parties during ceremonies) and indoor fitness facilities (except while exercising).

Updated at 8.40am AEST on 5 October 2021.

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