Fourth day of zero cases in Victoria as Queensland opens its border to regional NSW
Victoria has recorded its fourth consecutive day of zero coronavirus cases and no further deaths, as Melburnians enjoy their first public holiday since emerging from lockdown.
The latest figures, issued by the Department of Health and Human Services, bring Melbourne's 14-day rolling average to 1.9 cases.
"This is the quaddie we want for the last 4 days: 0,0,0,0," Victoria's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton posted on Twitter.
The number of 'mystery' cases in Melbourne has risen from one on Monday to two on Tuesday. The statistic covers the fortnight to October 31.
Professor Sutton tweeted on Monday afternoon it was not a cause for alarm.
"We have three cases still under investigation from the last week. There are no 'red flags' with these cases, with all close contacts testing negative and two of the cases possibly historical or resolved," he wrote.
"Will probably add to our #mysterycases but doesn't materially change risk."
Regional Victoria, meanwhile, has recorded no cases in the past fortnight.
Professor Sutton said 12,841 tests have been received since Monday.
Melbourne Cup Day will be marked on Tuesday with Flemington off-limits to any spectators for the race that 'stops the nation'.
Pubs and bars are open to pick up the slack but limited to caps of 50 people outdoors and 20 indoors.
Only two adults plus dependants from one household are allowed over for a cup day party.
Parks are likely to be a popular option for groups up to 10, as temperatures across the city soar into the high 20s.
As of Monday, there were 49 active COVID-19 cases in Victoria, the lowest number since June 15, after peaking at 7880 on August 11.
![Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan has linked the low case numbers to people practising social distancing and wearing masks.](https://images.thewest.com.au/publication/B881710957Z/1604362952385_GIN30LLOQ.1-0.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3)
Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan has linked the low case numbers to people practising social distancing and wearing masks.
"We are going to need to continue to do that for the months ahead," she said on Monday.
More restrictions are due to ease in Melbourne from 11:59pm on Sunday, including the scrapping of a so-called "ring of steel" dividing the city from the regions and a 25km travel limit.
Patron caps on pubs and restaurants will also increase to up to 40 people inside and 70 outside.
The state's virus death toll remains at 819 and the national figure at 907.
Meanwhile, hardware giant Bunnings announced its much-loved sausage sizzles will restart at regional Victorian stores from mid-November.
Decision on Vic border could be this week
Travellers from regional NSW are now able to go to Queensland for the first time in almost four months, but Sydneysiders are still not welcome in the Sunshine State.
Travel restrictions eased at 1am on Tuesday, with the Queensland border flung open to everyone except those in Greater Sydney and Victoria.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is fuming that Sydney residents are banned, arguing the bar Queensland has set for resuming free travel between the states is too high.
Meanwhile, Ms Berejiklian has indicated a reopening of the NSW border with Victoria could happen soon.
"We're talking weeks not months in terms of when the Victorian border may come down, but that again is based on health advice," she told reporters on Monday.
"I wouldn't be surprised if we moved more quickly against Victoria than Queensland did against us."
When asked if an announcement would be made this week, Ms Berejiklian said, "potentially, yes".
Only one locally-transmitted case of coronavirus was diagnosed in NSW from 8550 tests in the 24 hours to 8pm on Monday, which is linked to a known cluster in south-west Sydney. Two cases were also reported in overseas travellers in hotel quarantine, bringing the total number of cases in NSW to 4,246.
NSW Health on Monday night said a staff member at Jasmins Lebanese Restaurant in Liverpool had also tested positive for coronavirus and would be included in Tuesday's virus numbers.
A public health alert has been issued for patrons who visited the restaurant for at least an hour on October 26 between 4pm and 9pm, October 31 between 3pm and 8pm and November 1 between 9am and 1.45pm.
They are considered close contacts and should get tested immediately and isolate for a full 14 days regardless of the result.
![NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is fuming that Sydney residents are banned, arguing the bar Queensland has set for resuming free travel between the states is too high.](https://images.thewest.com.au/publication/B881710957Z/1604362952385_GCN30LLOL.1-0.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3)
Those who attended for less than an hour should get tested and remain in isolation until a negative result is received.
The restaurant closed on Monday and will remain closed until further notice.
Contact tracers have battled for days to find the diners because the restaurant did not comply with the requirement to record the contact details of all patrons.
A frustrated Ms Berejiklian warned there is no excuse for non-compliance seven months after the pandemic was declared.
"We will throw the book at anybody who doesn't have a COVID-safe plan, (and anyone) who not only doesn't have a QR code system in place but doesn't even have a sign-in system in place," she said.
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