Read on Twitter
This is rightly worthy of celebration. After the toughest year for many Victorians, it’s important to recognise this achievement. It took all of us to get here and it was a long and painful journey but we held the course. I can’t thank Victorians enough for that. https://twitter.com/vicgovdhhs/status/1332068932270903297
Many have suffered enormously through recent months and many more continue to struggle. We should never forget that, and so we must continue to reach out to help each other. Over 800 Victorians tragically died. Parents, grandparents, people we love and miss.
So it’s also only right that many of us still feel anxious, angry or burdened by sadness. Mistakes were made and we owe a duty to learn from everything we’ve been through. I have only ever had protecting the health and wellbeing of Victorians in mind and I will always do so.
Not everyone supported the path we took to get here, but I am convinced it was right. A path that means we’ll open up internal borders, kick-start economic activity and protect the most vulnerable in our community. The alternative was more illness and longer or repeated lockdown
I’m confident there’s not active transmission in Victoria but we have to maintain alertness. Not fear, but a precautionary approach and readiness to respond. With 600,000 new cases globally each day, the risk is always there. We must - and will - strengthen quarantine.
We need strong, ongoing surveillance and really robust capability to rapidly respond to any new cases and to hit transmission hard. I know we will. Restrictions will ease again in December but we will need ongoing habits as insurance against this virus getting away...testing!
For today, be proud of the role you played in this unique achievement. We did it together, against the odds, and with the grace, grit and determination that will bring Victoria a brighter 2021. Bring it on. And again to frontline staff and all in the community - thank you!
