Benjamin Millar
Victoria has been plunged back into sudden lockdown for the next seven days from 8pm tonight.
Premier Daniel Andrew announced shortly after 4pm today that the state would be locked down almost immediately after multiple mystery of COVID-19 cases suspected to be the highly infectious Delta variant were reported in the last 24 hours.
“There are no alternatives to lockdown. If you wait, it spreads…t his thing moves so fast, this is now settled… the Delta variant moves lightning fast,” he said.
“There’s every chance we can bring a sense of control to this, but we all have to play our part and I can’t with any certainty say where we will be tomorrow or in three days or in seven days.”
Victoria’s Acting Chief Health Officer has declared stay at home restrictions will be reintroduced due to concerns suspected Delta cases have been infectious in the community, as well as a high number of associated close contacts and exposure sites across Melbourne’s western suburbs.
Mr Andrews said from 8pm tonight there are once again only five reasons to leave home: getting the food and the supplies you need, exercising for up to two hours, care or caregiving, authorised 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 as near as possible.
Face masks remain mandatory indoors away from the home as well as outdoors, unless an exception applies.
Public gatherings are banned and exercise is limited to two people.
Private gatherings are not permitted except for an intimate partner or nominated person visits.
Schools will close and primary and secondary school students will return to remote learning.
Childcare and Early Childhood Care will remain open.
The restrictions will apply statewide after wastewater detection in Wangaratta and the potential that regional Victorians have been exposed to COVID- 19 linked to the current outbreak.
“No Victorian wants to be in this position,” Mr Andrews said.
“We know that the Delta variant moves faster than anything our public health experts have seen before – and we know what we need to do to drive it down once again.”
Mr Andrews said he can’t change what has happened, he can only appeal to Victorians to make decisions in their own best interests.
“We need to track and trace these cases. We need people to be truthful.
“We all wish this was over. We want to be out of lockdown as soon as we can and the best way to do that is to all work together.
“We have to follow these rules for the best of reasons.”
