Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash
In a situation of dreary familiarity, Victoria last night (Thursday night) entered its sixth state-wide lockdown due to the Covid-19 cases reported in the last 24 hours that are suspected to be the highly infectious Delta variant.
The latest lockdown took effect from 8pm and is scheduled to last for seven days.
“With suspected Delta cases infectious in the community, as well as a high number of associated close contacts and exposure sites, Victoria’s Acting Chief Health Officer has declared stay-at-home restrictions will be reintroduced,” the Office of the Premier said in a statement.
This means there are only five reasons for Victorians to leave home: getting food and supplies; exercising for up to two hours; care or caregiving; authorised work or education if it can’t be done from home; or to get vaccinated at the nearest location.
Shopping and exercise must be done within 5km of home. Face masks will remain mandatory indoors except at home, and outdoors unless an exception applies. This includes compulsory masks at all workplaces and secondary schools.
Private gatherings are not permitted except for an intimate partner, nominated partner or nominated person visits. Public gatherings are not permitted. Exercise is limited to two people.
Childcare and Early Childhood Care remain open. However, schools are closed, with primary and secondary school students returning to remote learning. The exceptions are vulnerable children and the children of authorised workers who can learn on site.
Higher education students must also return to remote learning, except for learning programs allowed on the Authorised Premises and Authorised Workers (APAW) List.
“Given these new cases we’ve seen over the last 24 hours, we need to put these restrictions in place and follow the rules to drive down the spread of the virus,” said the state’s Minister for Health, Martin Foley.
Added Premier Daniel Andrews: “No Victorian wants to be in this position. 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.”
Andrews told journalists yesterday that the virus had been discovered during wastewater testing at Wangaratta, about 250km from Melbourne.
“We have some reason to believe that there is Covid either in that community or has been in that community,” he said.