The lockdown across Melbourne will be extended and a curfew will be put in place across metropolitan Melbourne.
Victoria’s Premier Daniel Andrews has announced that from tonight the lockdown restrictions will be strengthened and extended in metropolitan Melbourne, until 11.59 pm on Thursday, 2 September.
This is an additional 14 days on the previous directions.
The strengthened settings will see a curfew imposed from 9 pm to 5 am every night. This will operate as it did last year, with very limited reasons to leave the home during this time.
There will be increased police presence across metropolitan Melbourne to ensure public health measures are enforced.
While the restrictions commence from 11.59 pm tonight, Premier is asking people to respect the curfew from 9 pm.
“Permits will be required to leave the house for authorised work, consistent with the arrangements that were in place last year.”
Additional restrictions will also apply to the construction industry, again operating as it did last year with staffing reductions in place except for critical infrastructure and emergency repairs.
Premier Daniel Andrews said, “These restrictions are hard work for every Victorian. Everyone wants this pandemic to be over, but the rules are in place for a reason – we know they work and if we follow them together, we’ll be able to lift them sooner.”
At large scale construction sites, staffing must reduce to 25 per cent or five workers on site, whichever is higher.
Authorised workers will be required to carry permits when working, and when travelling for work, from 11:59 pm on Tuesday, August 17. The permits need to be certified by an employer.
“Permits will be available on the coronavirus website before these directions come into effect.”
Permits will also need to be carried by higher education students who are on the Authorised Provider list.
Incidents that occurred in Melbourne over the weekend – people congregating together on pub crawls with no social distancing, different families meeting in parks together, large groups of people visiting other households– were unacceptable.
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said, “At the moment we have a steady number of cases who are out in the community each day, and an increasing number of mystery cases, and we need to get ahead of that. These new measures will help us limit movement, so we can catch up and shut down this outbreak.”
Under the strengthened restrictions designed to curb potential transmission events, playgrounds, basketball hoops, skate parks and outdoor exercise equipment will now be closed. People will not be able to remove their masks to drink alcoholic beverages in public.
Exercise will be limited to just you and one other person, plus dependants if they can’t be left at home. This is similar to the current rule but with a slight change,
“If you live in a larger household such as a share house, or with extended family, you can no longer exercise with all members of your household.”
Otherwise, the restrictions will remain the same – there are still only five reasons to leave your home:
1- Shopping for the things you need – One person per household per day
2- Care and caregiving,
3- Exercise,
4- Authorised work and study
5- To get a vaccine.
Exercise and shopping are still limited to 5km from your home.
If there are no shops within your 5km radius, you can travel to the ones closest to you.
You are also able to travel more than 5km to get a vaccine if you need to.
And more than ever, it’s critical people do not have visitors to the home.
All Victorians are encouraged where possible to book their vaccination appointment by visiting portal.cvms.vic.gov.au or by phoning the Coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398.
Visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccination-centres for more information on Victoria’s vaccination centres, including locations and opening hours.