WITH 81 cases (14 active) of COVID-19 recorded in the municipality on Friday 31 July, Mornington Peninsula Shire made the statement that the peninsula is “winning the battle” against the coronavirus.
“Now that we’re at the half-way point of the current six-week lockdown, we can see how the responsible actions of local residents are paying off,” the mayor Cr Sam Hearn said.
The statement was made two days before the state government declared a state of disaster and stage four restrictions for six weeks from 6pm Sunday (2 August), including an 8pm-5am curfew.
The new restrictions include exercising (one hour a day) and shopping (one person a household) only within five kilometres of where you live, if practicable.
The Premier Daniel Andrews said Sunday was “by far the hardest day – and the hardest decision” he had experienced during his six years leading the state.
He said the latest actions being taken to stop the spread of COVID-19 would be “imperfect … [with] more questions than answers”, but asked Victorians to “please be calm, please be kind, please be patient”.
Cases of COVID-19 cases released by the Department of Health and Human Services linked to postcodes, show Mornington, with 12 confirmed (3 active) as the highest on the peninsula, followed by Mount Martha 10 (2 active) and Mount Eliza 9 (2 active).
Other postcodes that have had COVID-19 cases on the peninsula are: Sorrento 7 (1 active); Flinders 7 (0 active); Portsea 5 (0 active); Boneo, Cape Schanck, Fingal Rosebud 5 (0 active); Rosebud West 3 (2 active); Pearcedale, Somerville 5 (0 active); Blairgowrie 4 (0 active); Somers 4 (0 active); Arthurs Seat, Dromana, Safety Beach 3 (1 active); HMAS Cerberus 3 (1 active); Crib Point 2 (2 active); Bittern 2 (0 active); Baxter, Langwarrin South 2 (0 active); Moorooduc 2 (0 active); Main Ridge 1 (1 active); Hastings, Tuerong 1 (0 active); Tyabb 1 (0 active); Rye, St Andrews, Tootgarook 1 (0 active).
Postcodes without any recorded cases cover: Balnarring, Balnarring Beach, Merricks North, Merricks Beach; Red Hill, Red Hill South; Merricks, Point Leo, Shoreham and McCrae.
The reported cases indicate the area of residence, not where people were infected.
Cr Hearn said the peninsula had fewer cases than several other non-metropolitan municipalities “and has not seen the spike in cases we’re seeing in the metropolitan region and Geelong”.
He urged residents to continue to look after each other and support “local businesses who are having an incredibly tough time under the current restrictions”.
“The shire has led the way by providing rent relief to all of our commercial tenants for at least six months. I would really encourage other local landlords to look at what they can do to support our local business community. Having businesses fail due to a temporary inability to pay rent benefits no-one,” Cr Hearn said.
“These are tough times and it’s only natural to feel a sense of despondency, but the reality is we are doing really well and I hope the community can take heart from that.”
