By Jed Lanyon
Victoria’s latest lockdown is set to be extended by at least another week as the state government says the level of community transmission is still too high.
Premier Daniel Andrews also announced that travel to Victoria using red zone permits will be temporarily paused for a period of two weeks.
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer declared that the current restrictions in Victoria will remain in place for at least another seven days in order to stamp out the Delta variant.
Speaking today, 13 positive cases were found with nine isolating during their infectious period. The results come from over 49,000 tests administered yesterday.
Victoria’s contact tracers work around the clock to contain the virus but there remains 85 active cases with more than 15,000 primary close contacts in quarantine, more than 250 exposure sites and daily cases in double figures.
“We need to avoid what is going on in Sydney at the moment and we are determined to do that,” Premier Andrews said.
“The speed at which this has moved through the Victorian community confirms that we did the right thing to lock down and it also sadly confirms that we need more time.”
“Just as Victorians have gotten through the last four or five days and indeed for the last 18 months, we will continue to stick together, continue to work hard, continue to follow the rules, come forward and get tested if you have got any symptoms and we’ll get through this and back to something approaching normal.”
Until Tuesday, 27 July at 11.59pm. There are only five reasons to leave home: getting the food and the supplies you need, exercising for up to two hours, care or caregiving, work or education if you can’t do it from home, or to get vaccinated at the nearest possible location.
Shopping and exercise must be done within 5km of your home or the nearest location. Face masks will remain mandatory indoors (not at home) and outdoors unless an exception applies – this includes all workplaces, and secondary schools.
Minor changes will be made to the Authorised Premises and Authorised Worker List to include services that operate solely outdoors where physical distancing can be maintained at all times, pet grooming mobile services and pamphlet delivery services. Further details can be found at coronavirus.vic.gov.au.
