Victorian government confirms seven-day statewide lockdown as COVID-19 outbreak worsens

The Victorian government has announced a snap lockdown for the entire state following another increase in new COVID cases.

At a press conference this morning Victoria’s acting Premier, James Merlino, said the lockdown will start at 11:59pm tonight and last for seven days.

Victoria recorded 11 new coronavirus cases overnight, taking the state’s total to 26 cases.

Reported yesterday: 12 new local cases and no new cases acquired overseas.
– 12,677 vaccine doses were administered
– 40,411 test results were received

More later: https://t.co/lIUrl0ZEco #COVID19Vic #COVID19VicData pic.twitter.com/e9rfizWbGp

— Victorian Department of Health (@VicGovDH) May 26, 2021

The list of exposure sites across Victoria has ballooned to 80 and now includes venues and businesses in Mordialloc, Carnegie, Burwood East, and Red Hill on the Mornington Peninsula.

The lockdown means the AFL’s top-of-the-table clash between the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne tomorrow night may not go ahead.

South Australia went early in closing its border to Greater Melbourne last night, and the Northern Territory has declared metro Melbourne and Bendigo as hotspots, meaning any travellers who have visited these areas will have to quarantine.

Queensland has declared the city of Whittlesea a hotspot, but is yet to make any new border announcements.

Restrictions are in place for travellers to NSW who have visited exposure sites in Greater Melbourne, with Premier Gladys Berejiklian urging the state’s residents to avoid unnecessary travel to Victoria.

All arrivals in Western Australia from Victoria are being tested within 48 hours and self-quarantining until they return a negative result, but Premier Mark McGowan has warned stricter border controls could come into play for the state.

The ACT is banning travellers who have been to a close contact exposure location in Greater Melbourne from entering the territory without an approved exemption prior to arrival.

Travellers to Tasmania who have visited an exposure site in Greater Melbourne are not allowed to enter the state unless they are approved as an essential traveller.

New Zealand paused quarantine-free travel to and from Victoria earlier this week in response to the state’s COVID outbreak.

More to come.

Featured image source: iStock/bgblue