Professor Nancy Baxter, an epidemiologist and head of the Department of Population and Global Health at the University of Melbourne, said that the state is unlikely to reach the “three-stage” unblocking goal. Now that the number of confirmed cases is small, the numbers will continue to fluctuate.
Baxter said that the authorities should allow more low-risk social activities and consider requiring contacts of close contacts to self-isolate to fight the epidemic. If people keep social distance and wear masks, although the risk will not be reduced to zero, the risk will be greatly reduced.
Professor Peter Collignon of the Australian National University School of Medicine said that it seems that the 5km travel restriction can be lifted safely. Tony Blakely, an epidemiologist at the University of Melbourne, said Victorians will have a “nervous” week. He said that he believes that by October 19, cases of unknown origin accounted for 10% of the total, or less than 10. The current number of confirmed diagnoses is very low, and we cannot remain in this state of lockdown.