- Melbourne and Mitchell Shire will re-enter stage three lockdowns from midnight on Wednesday night for six weeks.
- The stay-at-home order means people should not leave their homes except for four reasons: essential shopping, giving or receiving medical care, attending work if it cannot be done at home, and exercise.
- The announcement followed news the NSW-Victoria border would close from midnight on Tuesday night.
Australia’s second-most populous state announced a six-week lockdown across metropolitan Melbourne as a coronavirus outbreak risks triggering a second wave of infections in the nation.
Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said from midnight Wednesday people must stay home except for work, essential services, medical treatment or school. The state recorded 191 new cases overnight, the biggest daily increase since the crisis began.
“These are unsustainably high numbers of new cases,” he told reporters. At such levels it is impossible to “suppress and contain this virus without taking significant steps.”
Based on the advice of the Chief Health Officer and across metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire, Stage 3 “Stay at Home” restrictions will be reinstated from 11:59pm on Wednesday 8 July.”
“For six weeks, and if you live in these areas, there’ll be only four reasons to leave your home: Shopping for food and essential items. Care and caregiving. Daily exercise. Work and study – if you can’t do it from home.”
“Otherwise: Stay home. Stay home. Stay home. In case it needs repeating, stay home. We are fighting a global and deadly pandemic.”
“This Stay at Home direction will apply to your principal place of residence – that means no escaping to holiday homes.”
“And because we need to limit the spread of the virus across our state, there will only be three reasons to cross the border of these metropolitan areas: Shopping for food and essential items. Care and caregiving. Work and study – if you can’t do it from home.”
Earlier today, an Australian newspaper reported that Andrews was considering a 4-week state-wide lockdown.