The COVID-19 pandemic has not been far from anyone's mind in recent months but the dangers to us all were brought into stark focus again as numbers climbed in Victoria on Saturday.
Premier Daniel Andrews announced the state had recorded the second highest total of coronavirus cases since the pandemic began.
Victoria recorded 108 new cases of coronavirus on Saturday, which is second only to the 111 recorded on March 28. This thing is a long way from being over.
A further two postcodes - added to those already under lockdown - have "unacceptably high" case numbers and nine public housing towers within them will be under a complete lockdown.
That means that about 3000 residents will be stuck in their high density public housing units for five days. It goes without saying, that's not good.
And while it's not as bad for the rest of us, families planning long-awaited holidays during the term break have had to swiftly change plans with travel bans and quarantine rules coming into effect. Just when we thought there might be a chance of a small taste of normal returning.
Snow resorts are reporting that numbers are down and guests have put off travelling by the thought of Melbourne residents at the same place.
But that doesn't mean you have to put off all thoughts of travel. COVID-19 travel restrictions easing around other parts of the country, and here are ACM's top five dream holiday-at-home destinations.
And seeing as politics is back on the agenda, we can't blame you for wanting to get away.
Polls will soon close in the closely fought Eden-Monaro byelection where COVID-19 has led to a record number of pre poll votes.
About half of 114,000 voters in the electorate had either cast their vote early or mailed it in before Saturday.
Although polling booths had to follow strict social distancing measures it seems democracy sausages did make an appearance.
The electorate was only decided by 1600 votes last year and it is expected to be a very close contest again.
The ultra marginal seat is winnable for both Labor's Kirsty McBain and the Liberals Fiona Kotvojs, although preferences from the Greens, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party and the Nationals were set to play a role in the final outcome. And there's been plenty of pork barelling and finger pointing through the campaign, so maybe that can be our small slice of normal returning.
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