Premier Daniel Andrews is absent from a coronavirus update for the first time in four months, as chief health officer Brett Sutton says Victorians have earned the right to “enjoy ourselves now” while taking the necessary COVID-19 precautions.

Leave a commentLive updates11mminutes agoSatSaturday 31 OctOctober 2020 at 2:49amBy Simon SmaleDo intimate partners count in the one visit per day limit?                 With the one household vist a day, does that count for romantic partners visting?-Wondering heart           Hi, Wondering heart              I’m glad you asked this, because this is a question that we expressly put to the DHHS earlier in the week in response to a large volume of questions.             Today, they got back to us (YAY!) and gave us this, 12 word answer.                 “Intimate partners are not included in the daily limits for household visits.”              So there you go.15mminutes agoSatSaturday 31 OctOctober 2020 at 2:45amBy Simon SmaleSpace to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume.WatchDuration: 2 minutes 17 seconds2m 17s Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton is encouraging Victorians not to feel anxious about going out after restrictions were eased earlier this week. (ABC News)17mminutes agoSatSaturday 31 OctOctober 2020 at 2:42amBy Simon SmaleMessages from those of you with family overseas                The message from Grabi a short time ago has struck a chord with a number of you with families overseas.                 Thank you Grabi for saying those with families overseas need a little love too! I was supposed to be visiting my family in Japan in May. Now with borders closed I have no idea when I’ll be able to see them and I haven’t been over since maybe 2018. Besides my immediate family in Melbourne, they are all I have. My grandma is 94 and in good spirits but I just hope I will be able to go over and spend time with her once we are free to travel internationally again. I miss them so much :(-A                      Thanks for mentioning and acknowledging this. My family is overseas in Europe, and while I’m relieved of lockdown here now, I’m anxious about them going into it with much more grave numbers than we ever had. My grandma died in August and both my and my partner’s parents are over 70 and/or have preconditions. I am scared for them, and not even having the opportunity to go there due to Australia effectively not allowing us to leave is very hard.-Family overseas                  My family are overseas & haven’t seen them for over 2 years already. Can’t afford the airfare to visit more often. Don’t know when I will see them again. It upsets me when people say they haven’t seen loved ones in months when in my case it been years….Trying to be positive though & am very lucky to have a wonderful partner… Planning a romantic Christmas just the 2 of us for the first time in 20 years!-Totally agree with Grabi                        I am missing my partner who lives in China and was supposed to be living here I las planned for June 2020. He is American so stuck in limbo….we don’t want to live in America as we have a house in Sydney which I am now living alone in in my mid 50’s. We are the forgotten people that can’t see each other even though we are prepared to Quarantine as Visa’s are left on bottom of piles since early 2020. And had been extended from 48day approval to 6 mth approval which has also passed. How do relationships survive months & maybe years apart? I don’t know how to deal with this.-Louise                  I hear you Grabi, I’d give anything for a big brother hug. We lost both our parents during lockdown and neither of us could be there. But I did witness 3 random acts of kindness today which cheered me up. Thanks to the kind people and a hug to Grabi.-Same same               Remember, if you feel like you do need support, there is always someone you can call.               Lifeline on 13 11 14Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36Headspace on 1800 650 890QLife on 1800 184 52727mminutes agoSatSaturday 31 OctOctober 2020 at 2:32amBy Simon Smale35mminutes agoSatSaturday 31 OctOctober 2020 at 2:24amBy Simon SmaleNew venue for the presser?                Where was the press conference held today?-New stage?               You’re right, New stage?             Today’s press conference was held in a different venue to “normal”.                 Mr Foley said both his and Professor Sutton’s offices were in that building, adding that it seemed an appropriate place.52mminutes agoSatSaturday 31 OctOctober 2020 at 2:08amBy Simon SmaleA word about those with families overseas             Hello,Everyone is complaining about state borders being closed and how sad they are about not having been able to see their families, and it’s perfectly understandable and devastating. However, no one is talking about those who have families overseas and how they will not be able to see their loved ones until end if 2021, if not 2022, and the uncertainties around it. It would be nice to get a bit if recognition too!-Grabi           Hi Grabi,           You’re absolutely right and it’s a big issue for a very large number of Australians.