It is the number that Mildura has been sitting on for many months.
Yet, despite hitting that landmark number, regional Victoria’s freedoms remain chained to Melbourne.
Until Melbourne can achieve that same rolling average of zero for a 14-day period, regional Victoria will not move to Premier Daniel Andrews’ “last step” towards a COVID-normal life, even with the “ring of steel” in place.
It continues to hinder our roadmap to recovery, with restrictions that remain prohibitive for local businesses to turn a profit.
Businesses, particularly in hospitality, need more capacity to open up in a COVID-safe way.
Last weekend, I enjoyed my first pub lunch for many months.
It was fantastic to see Mildura’s streets bustling again.
And here’s the thing: everyone we came across was doing the right thing. Everyone.
We lined up to get into the pub, standing at distance. We filled in our details. We sat down and ordered and enjoyed a meal and a drink.
After months of lockdowns, staff and customers know the score.
We follow the rules. It’s a simple process.
And it is a process that has been happening in New South Wales for quite some time now.
But the trust that NSW Premier Glady Berejiklian has in her people and her state’s contact tracing systems, Daniel Andrews does not.
While the folk in Buronga and Gol Gol can freely breathe in fresh air, on this side of the Murray River the Premier threatens us with fines for walking outdoors on hot days without masks.
Hospitality venues in outback NSW towns like Wentworth have been opened up to increased capacity for months, yet no new cases have emerged.
Across NSW, there have been more than seven million gym visits since the state came out of lockdown, yet not one new coronavirus case has been linked to a gym.
If Dan wants to follow the data, follow the evidence, there is so much there.
Yet Victorians are still treated differently to other states by a Premier who has tackled this pandemic his own way and shows no signs of abating.
The fear remains what will happen if there is another small outbreak anywhere in Victoria. Will the big keys just come straight back out of his pocket?
Victorians should be proud of their efforts in crushing the second wave.
But let’s be honest, did we really have a choice?
In Mildura, months of brutal lockdowns have driven case numbers in this region down from zero to zero.
It’s been a heavy price to pay.
Hopefully the lifting of restrictions in Melbourne this week is a sign that brighter times are ahead for Victoria. That confidence in the business sector can return.
And hopefully, at some point, our Premier brings his rules into line with the rest of the country.
He could start with regional Victoria.
