'Kicking us when we're down': Typo in roadmap leaves industry crushed
A typo in Victoria's roadmap out of lockdown has left entertainment venues crushed, after it wrongly stated they could reopen when 70 per cent of the state was fully vaccinated.
Changes to the roadmap — which were posted to Premier Daniel Andrews' Twitter account on Sunday— stated that pubs, clubs and entertainment venues could open to 20 fully vaccinated people indoors from 11.59pm on Thursday.
However, the roadmap has since been updated, now saying pubs and clubs can host patrons indoors, but entertainment venues can only open to 50 fully vaccinated people outdoors only.
Amended to reopen at 80 per cent
Entertainment venues are set to reopen when 80 per cent of the eligible population is fully vaccinated.
Premier Daniel Andrews today said the error was a "typo," and was amended within hours of being published online on Sunday.
"That was corrected and again, I apologise if there's any sense that a sector has been included that shouldn't have been – but it does not include entertainment venues," he told reporters on Tuesday.
"Entertainment venues will be covered by 80 per cent and again I'll just stress that is not this Thursday, not the Sunday straight thereafter, but the Sunday after that, probably."
Typo could cost thousands
The mistake could cost some venue operators and performers thousands of dollars, with shows having to be cancelled due to the changes.
Melbourne Comedy Republic owner Kyran Wheatley told AAP it feels like they've "slammed the door shut on their fingers," after having to cancel eight sold out shows for the weekend.
“It was just a small crack in the door, 20 people just enough to put your fingers in, and it feels like they’ve slammed that door shut on our fingers,” he said.
“To give freedom and then take it away … is the perfect way to kick the arts when they’re down.”
An open letter to the Victorian government as a part of the Save Our Scene campaign has been circulating, pleading for clearer communication as to when the music industry will be able to fully reopen.
“Victoria’s famous music scene is on the brink of collapse and there’s no relief in sight,” the open letter reads.
“We are calling on the Victorian Government to step in and save our proud music culture by preserving the venues where artists play.
“Without government intervention, many of the venues you love will be forced to close the doors permanently.”
Victoria to emerge from lockdown early
Melbourne and other locked down areas of Victoria will exit lockdown on Friday, five days ahead of schedule, when 70 per cent of the eligible population is expected to be fully vaccinated.
1749 locally acquired Covid-19 cases were reported. The Department of Health reported 11 more deaths, taking the outbreak's death toll to 163. The daily death toll is the joint-second highest of the outbreak.
Mr Andrews issued stern words to anti-vaxxers on Tuesday, telling them not to “wait this out”.
“If you make the judgement to not get vaccinated and you reckon you can wait out us or the publican, or whoever you want to think you are waiting out, you won't wait out the virus, because the virus will be here for a long time and your only protection against it is being vaccinated,” he said.
“This will be well into 2022. Well and truly into 2022.”
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