Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announces the state will enter a seven day lockdown from 8pm tonight.
The lockdown will last for seven days, Premier Daniel Andrews said, with concerns revolving around the fact that majority of the eight new cases are unlinked.
He said health authorities advised that if the lockdown was postponed for even two days, it could last until Christmas.
“If we don’t follow the rules and if we don’t make difficult decisions, then, there is an alternative, and that’s where cases run wild and no contact tracing can pull it up,” he said.
“Each day gets worse rather than better, and then you are locked in until we are all vaccinated.”
He said that the state treasurer would be speaking on Friday to announce support for businesses.
Five reasons to leave home
Victorians will revert to having only five essential reasons to leave their home.
They are for food and supplies, medical care, exercise, permitted work and education and to get vaccinated.
The 5km radius for exercise or shopping for essentials returns.
Outdoor gatherings are not allowed and schools, cafes, pubs and restaurants will close.
Mask wearing indoors and outdoors is already mandatory under the current rules and home gatherings have been banned since July 15.
Childcare and Early Childhood Care will remain open.
Schools will close, with primary and secondary school students returning to remote learning – except for vulnerable children, and the children of authorised workers who can learn on site.