Victorian coronavirus outbreak expected to worsen as state enters start of five-day lockdown - ABC News
Victorian authorities are expecting an outbreak of the UK strain of coronavirus from a quarantine hotel to grow, as the state enters the first day of a snap lockdown called on Friday in a bid to dampen community transmission.
Key points:
Victorians will be placed under stage 4 restrictions until 11:59pm on Wednesday
Household visits will be banned and stay-at-home orders will be enforced
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton says the circuit breaker is needed to prevent a "devastating" third wave
The outbreak remained at 13 cases on Friday night, but health authorities believe there are more cases in the community yet to be detected, which is the rationale for plunging the state into five days of stage 4 restrictions in a bid to provide a "circuit-breaker".
When Victorians do step outside their homes, a mask must be worn at all times, including indoor and outdoor settings.
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said while the snap lockdown would come at a financial and emotional cost to the community, an alternative scenario where the outbreak got out of control would be "devastating".
On Friday night, the Victorian Government announced a freeze on international passenger flights which would begin from today, excluding flights already in transit.
Victorian health authorities ramped up testing capacity at sites in Melbourne's north-west in response to the outbreak.(ABC News: Zalika Rizmal)
The Premier also suggested recent hotel quarantine infection control breaches around Australia had highlighted the difficulties of containing the UK strain and changes may be needed.
"This is not the 2020 virus, this is different, this is something very, very different," he said.
Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania have essentially shut their borders to Victoria as a result of the outbreak, while Queensland and the Northern Territory have listed Greater Melbourne as a hotspot.
There is no border closure with New South Wales, but anyone there who has been in Victoria since January 29 is being asked to isolate at home and follow the five-day lockdown rules that apply in Victoria.
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