Everyone in Victoria on Friday night in an effort to contain the ballooning Holiday Inn coronavirus cluster in Melbourne.
From 11:59pm on Friday until 11:59pm on Wednesday, Victorians will essentially be under the same Stage 4 restrictions .
Here’s what you need to know about the rules.
Reasons to leave the house
The four reasons people can leave their houses have returned. In addition to specific exemptions, those reasons are:
- to shop for food and essential items
- to provide or receive care
- to exercise
- to work or study if you can't from home
The 5km travel limit will also be reimposed, as will compulsory use of masks, both indoors and outdoors.
Private gatherings with people who are not intimate partners are not allowed.
While exercise is allowed in groups of two, indoor recreation and sport will cease.
Outdoor recreation, pools and community facilities will close, but playgrounds will stay open.
Businesses
Essential businesses such as supermarkets, bottle shops, pharmacies and petrol stations will remain open, so there is no need for panic-buying.
However, non-essential retail businesses, such as hairdressing and beauty services, will need to close.
Hospitality businesses can remain open, but for takeaway only.
Education and childcare
Early learning, childcare and family day care centres can remain open.
Schools will be mostly closed, except for vulnerable children and children of essential workers. Higher education and training will revert back to remote learning.
Weddings, funerals and religious gatherings
Places of worship have been asked to close, though they are permitted to conduct broadcasts.
Funerals will be limited to 10 people outside of those needed to conduct the ceremony.
The rules on weddings are little more nuanced. Indoor and outdoor weddings will not be permitted, except for in end-of-life or other exceptional circumstances. In those cases, five people will be allowed: the two people getting married, the celebrant and two witnesses.
Care and hospital visits
Visits to aged care or residential care will not be allowed, except for end-of-life reasons.
The rules for hospitals are similar. No visits are allowed except for end-of-life reasons, a parent accompanying a child, or support during a birth.
Spectators at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on Friday Source: AP
What’s happening with the Australian Open?
The tournament, which is close to the halfway point, is proceeding, but without crowds.
Announcing the lockdown on Friday, Premier Daniel Andrews said professional sporting events such as the Open would essentially function as a workplace and not an entertainment event due to the lack of crowds.
He said tennis players were not considered "essential workers" but the nature of their profession meant they could not work from home.
"That's their (players') workplace,” he said. “If it wasn't just for five days things might have been different."
There are a number of games on Friday scheduled to finish before 11:59pm when the lockdown comes into effect. Mr Andrews has urged people to "use good judgment" and not go out.
What’s happening with state borders?
The announcement prompted all other states and territories to announce.
More information is available on individual state and territory government websites.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your jurisdiction's restrictions on gathering limits. If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
Please check the relevant guidelines for your state or territory: , , , , , , ,
