A woman walks past the headquarters of the National Australia Bank (NAB) in Melbourne Nov 5, 2020. (WILLIAM WEST / AFP)

Just over four months ago, the premier of the Australian state of Victoria, Daniel Andrews, was facing a life or death dilemma: Either close the country’s second-largest economy or let COVID-19 run rampant throughout the state, killing thousands.

Victoria has been the most severely affected Australian state and accounts for around 75 percent of all COVID-19 deaths in Australia, of which the total number directly related to coronavirus is less than 1000

While knowing it would not go down well with Victorians and would damage the economy, he chose the first option, as the alternative was not even worth contemplating.

Victoria was not alone. Every state in the country has locked down and beaten COVID-19.

Australia has seen no cases of locally transmitted coronavirus for nearly a week, not including some reported cases among those who have returned from overseas and are in isolation.

It is now among a handful of countries seen as a model for how to combat the coronavirus.

“No other place in the world has tamed a second wave this large. Few have even come close. Victoria’s lockdown has been hard, but it now occupies a rare and envious position,” said Stephen Duckett and Tom Crowley of the Grattan Institute, a public policy think tank, writing in The Conversation on Oct 26.

ALSO READ: Melbourne enjoys 1st weekend out of lockdown as COVID-19 wanes

Key to its success was the support of the Victorian people, said Hassan Vally, associate professor in public health at La Trobe University in Melbourne.

Vally said the crucial lesson that was learnt from the lockdown was how difficult it is to bring transmission under control once it has started to escalate.

“The key is to make sure you don’t get a resurgence of cases, and if you see any signs of this, then to act quickly,” he said.

Victoria began its lockdown in July when daily cases topped 700.

Andrews has been heavily criticized for the way he has handled the lockdowns – starting with the state capital Melbourne followed by the entire state.

Andrews was told by scientists and health experts that he would need to achieve a 14-day reporting average of less than five cases per day before even considering lifting some parts of the lockdown.

By Oct 26, the state had reached that target and Andrews began lifting restrictions – cafes, bars, restaurants and shops re-opened and Melbourne came back to life.

The 8:00 pm curfew, a maximum of an hour’s exercise outside and restrictions on going more than 5 kilometres from home were also lifted. Schools and parks have been opened.

Australian Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told parliament last month that the toll on the economy and mental health has been “immense”.

Victoria has been the most severely affected Australian state and accounts for around 75 percent of all COVID-19 deaths in Australia, of which the total number directly related to coronavirus is less than 1000.

Professor Adrian Esterman, head of biostatistics and epidemiology at the University of South Australia, said Andrews and his chief health officer, Professor Brett Sutton, have worked closely together, with the premier deferring to advice from his public health team.

“They have had at their disposal the results of very sophisticated simulation modeling, that allowed them to develop a roadmap of what to lockdown, and when and what restrictions to lift,” said Esterman.

He said the lockdown has had the support of the “vast majority” of Victorians, despite the mental and financial hardship it has caused.

“Some epidemiologists have queried whether some measures were too harsh or arbitrary, and Victoria would have done just as well without them. However, we will never know whether this is true.

“The fact is that the measures have worked, and Victoria is now heading towards the elimination of COVID-19, like all the other states and territories apart from New South Wales.”

He said areas where Victoria was behind the other jurisdictions include contact tracing, communication, and the handling of residential aged care homes.

Asked about the secret to Australia’s success, Esterman said that being an island helps, as it gives the government better control over its borders.

“Australians are used to border security to avoid the importation of plant and animal pests.”

However, there are a number of things that occurred at a national level that European countries (and the US) could learn from, he said.

“Firstly, the federal government quickly established a national cabinet which brought together all states and territories and got everyone working together.

“Then they formed the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, bringing together all Chief Medical Officers of the different states and territories. Finally, and very importantly, the national cabinet listened to the health advice and took it.”

READ MORE: Melbourne lockdown highlights need to wear masks mandatorily

Infectious diseases specialist Sanjaya Senanayake, associate professor at the Australian National University’s medical school, said one factor in Victoria’s success in fighting the virus was its “roadmap”.

“The roadmap was evidence-based, using mathematical modeling to estimate the impact of their strategies on numbers. And the people of Victoria appeared to comply,” said Senanayake.

“Controlling COVID-19 outbreaks is a partnership; public health strategies will not work if the populace doesn't embrace them. This can be especially trying if the restrictions are broad and of a long duration.”

He said the premier's daily press conferences “probably” helped by showing the Victorian people that he was immersed in all aspects of the outbreak, and that the Victorian people “weren't alone”.

“What has become apparent to me over this outbreak is that a state or territory government/public health authority is in the best position to determine the strategy to control an outbreak in its own region.”