By Danielle Kutchel
Premier Daniel Andrews has announced a seven-day lockdown extension for metropolitan Melbourne, based on advice from the Chief Health Officer.
The extension was announced on Wednesday 11 August after Victoria recorded 20 new local cases in the preceding 24 hours, with five of those under investigation.
The Premier cited the uncertainty around the level of community transmission of Covid-19 in Victoria as the reason for the extension.
The Chief Health Officer’s advice is for the current restrictions in Melbourne to remain in place until at least 11.59pm on Thursday 19 August.
“With more than 100 active cases in our community and more than 12,000 primary close contacts, we cannot afford to open up and let this variant run free – we need to get in front of this, just like we have done before,” Mr Andrews said.
Speaking to media on Wednesday 11 August, Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said it was clear Melbourne was “not in a position” to open up yet, but that he was confident the metropolitan area would reach that point “in time”.
“I am confident we are getting ahead of it,” he said.
He encouraged anyone with any symptoms to get tested to help authorities understand chains of transmission quickly.
Authorities say contact tracers are working around the clock to put a ring around the virus’ spread.
Victoria currently has 116 active locally acquired cases, nearly 300 exposure sites and more than 12,000 active primary close contacts around Greater Melbourne.
On Tuesday 10 August, 23,811 vaccine doses were administered in Victoria and 41,571 test results were received.
There are currently five reasons to leave home: to get the food and the supplies you need, for exercise for up to two hours, for care or caregiving, permitted 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 are mandatory indoors (not at home) unless an exception applies, including at all workplaces, and secondary schools.
For more information call the coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398 or visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au
