Victoria to enter five-day snap lockdown from midnight tonight

There will only be five reasons to leave home.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has introduced more restrictions in Victoria, imposing a five-day snap lockdown as the state deals with a fresh COVID-19 outbreak in the state, being driven by the fast-moving Delta variant of the virus which is spreading in New South Wales.

The last time Victoria recorded any Delta cases, the state was already in its fourth lockdown, meaning movement in the community was limited.

The key takeaways

• Victoria to enter a five-day snap lockdown from midnight tonight
• There will only be five reasons to leave home.
• This will see Victoria return to the circuit breaker lockdown format.

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The Department of Health today reported 10 cases of COVID-19 were detected in the past 24 hours, including the seven infections that were announced yesterday morning. A further three infections later emerged last night. The cases are linked to a family who breached quarantine rules and infected Sydney removalists who failed to wear masks while on the job. Further cases have been announced since, resulting in 18 cases.

There are now more than 75 venues listed as COVID-19 exposure sites in Victoria as the state’s health authorities try to contain another outbreak. In regional Victoria, two schools, Barwon Heads Primary School and Bacchus Marsh Grammar School, have been closed after being visited by active cases of COVID-19.

Already, mask rules came back into effect at midnight, meaning face coverings musty be worn in all indoor settings, other than at home and anywhere outdoors where social distancing is not possible, and now the Premier has revealed these drastic measures to curb the growing COVID outbreak.

“This will be a hard lockdown similar to or identical to what we did a couple of weeks ago,” Mr Andrews said.

“If you are authorised to work then, you will be authorised to work now. If you were close then, you will be closed now.

“It is essentially a repeat of the successful strategy from couple of weeks ago.

“That was successful then and this will be successful now.”

The Victorian lockdown action will begin from 11:59pm tonight until 11:59pm on July 20, and will see Victoria return to the circuit breaker lockdown format.

Circuit Breaker Restrictions include:

• There will only be five reasons that you are permitted to leave your house and only if you really have to. Food and supplies. Authorised work. Care and caregiving. Exercise, for up to two hours and with one other person. And getting vaccinated.
• Face masks will need to be worn indoors and outdoors and no visitors will be allowed in homes other than an intimate partner.
• Public and private gatherings will not be permitted.
• Single bubbles will be permitted. If you live alone, you can make a bubble with another person.
• If you can work from home, then you must work from home.
• Schools will close and move to remote learning except for vulnerable children, and children of authorised workers.
• Childcare and early childhood centres will remain open.
• Higher education is closed, move to remote learning.
• Restaurants, pubs, and cafes can provide takeaway only.
• Essential retail, so supermarkets, food stores, petrol stations, banks, bottle shops and pharmacies, other retail stores can provide click and collect.
• Approved professional sporting events will proceed but proceed without crowds.
• Community support and recreation, accommodation will close, but there will be some exemptions that apply.
• Hotels, clubs, TABs and the casino will be closed, indoor and outdoor entertainment venues, swimming pools, spas, saunas, indoor and outdoor springs, community venues, drive in cinemas, amusements parks, creative studios, art galleries and museums, tourism, tours, and transport, and auctions can only happen online.
• Religious activities will not proceed other than through broadcast with a maximum of five people.
• Weddings are not permitted unless on compassionate grounds.
• Aged care facilities, no visitors except for limited reasons.
• In terms of ceremonies, funerals, a maximum of 10 people plus those running the service.
• In hospitals, visitors only for end of life, to support a partner during birth, or a parent accompanying a child. In terms of ceremonies, funerals, a maximum of 10 people plus those running the service.

“You only get one chance to go hard and go fast. If you wait, if you hesitate, if you doubt, then you will always be looking back wishing you had done more earlier,” Daniel Andrews said.

“I am not prepared to avoid a 5-day lockdown now only to find ourselves in a 5-week or a 5-month lockdown.”

In some lighter news for those in regional Victoria, in areas far east of the state and in the Alpine region, Andrews has revealed that if he can, they will ease restrictions in these areas prior to Tuesday.

“In terms of business support, I’ll have more to say as early as tomorrow and we will look to fast track payments principally to those who received payments last time,” Andrews said.

“We expect the Commonwealth government will step up and help those people who need the help,” he said.

While we thought 2021 would be on the up, this will be the fifth lockdown since the pandemic began and the third this year.

If you suspect you may have coronavirus (COVID-19) call the dedicated hotline 1800 675 398 – open 24 hours, 7 days – and get tested.

If you or anyone you know needs help, please call:

• Lifeline on 13 11 14
• Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
• MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
• Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
• Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636
• Headspace on 1800 650 890
• ReachOut at au.reachout.com
• Care Leavers Australasia Network (CLAN) on 1800 008 774